A Galveston Summer

About a year ago I had the pleasure of meeting the Galveston Visitor and Convention Bureau team. They were SO incredibly lovely and I had an amazing time hanging with them and exploring Galveston Island. I was lucky enough to be invited to another fun filled day on the island and I knew this was something I couldn't pass up!

After joining up with a few other bloggers, we had the pleasure of meeting Gabriel Prusmack, a local artist. Gabriel showed us some of his favorite pieces around the streets of downtown Galveston. I am a huge fan of street art, you can even read one of my posts about it when I was living in Bristol, home of Banksy. However, I had never really seen any street art in America that compared to the incredible art that lined the streets of Bristol. Gabriel opened my eyes to the world of Galveston's art scene. I was completely blown away by the backstory and dedication of these local artists. If you love to enjoy a city through its local art, take a walk through downtown Galveston. 

Our next stop was Moody Gardens. For native Houstonians, Moody Gardens is the welcoming site you see as you cross over the giant bridge that separates the mainland from the island. The three pyramids, each with their own unique attraction, tower over the skyline as you make your trek to Galveston. After a $37 million dollar renovation, we were excited to see the Aquarium Pyramid in all its new glory.

It had been years since I had visited Moody Gardens. I remember my mom taking me and my sister on trips as a kid. The Aquarium Pyramid was always my favorite, and inside I always found myself wanting to find the penguin exhibit. On this day one of my childhood fantasies came true. I was about to meet a penguin.

Burges is one of the oldest penguins in the exhibit. As we all sat and watched him waddle in I couldn't believe it. Not only was I meeting a penguin, but he was going to paint us a picture too!

It's hard to top meeting a one eyed penguin, but our day was not over yet. Our last stop was to Pleasure Pier. Not many people know about the long history of Pleasure Pier and Galveston. Built in the 1940s, Pleasure Pier was originally used as a recreational facility for military members. After the war it was opened to the public, but shortly after a hurricane swept in leaving it deserted and destroyed. In the decades that followed it served as America's only hotel built entirely on water, only to once again be destroyed by a hurricane in 2008. It opened again as a place of fun and recreation in 2012 and has been a Galveston favorite every since.

Galveston remains a city that I cherish. No matter how many times I visit, I am always learning something new. Its history as one of America's leading cities means there are vast amounts of things to see and do. If you find yourself in Houston or are just looking for something new to do this summer, check out Galveston.com. They will be happy to recommend something, no matter what kind of trip you are in the mood for. 

xoxo

Christmas on the Island | Galveston, Texas

Oh, Christmas in Texas. Where do I even begin? The weather has been warm and muggy, making it nearly impossible to find anyone in the Christmas spirit. Christmas, it seemed, was going to come and go without anyone batting an eye!

That was until I got a wonderful email from my friends at the Galveston Visitors Bureau. Over the summer they invited me to spend a day at some of their best summer attractions. Galveston is a city I know very well but I was still surprised at all the things I hadn't seen! So for this holiday season I was eager to learn all about the Christmas happenings on the island.

I started my day off with a trip to Moody Mansion. Located just a few blocks down from another impressive mansion, Bishop's Palace, Moody Mansion has an entirely different story. 

The Moody name is a familiar one in Galveston. When William Lewis Moody moved his family to Galveston in 1866 he had no idea he would be starting a dynasty. The Moody's quickly became a prominent family in Galveston society, business, and trade. Today you can see remittences of the Moody name plastered across the city. Their family home is just a small reminder of how well off the family had become. One of the most beautiful homes on the island, Moody Mansion was bought by the Moody family in 1900, just months after the deadliest hurricane in United States history. From there, the Moody family help rebuild Galveston through many business endeavors. William Lewis Moody even bought the Hilton hotel chain at one point, helping Conrad Hilton get out of his finical troubles as a result of the Great Depression. 

That evening when the sun went down we headed across the island to Moody Gardens. Moody Gardens, named for the same family who made Galveston their home in the late 1800s, is an education center and tourist attraction. Seen on the Galveston skyline for miles, Moody Gardens is famous for it's 3 tall pyramids. Inside each pyramid you can find an aquarium, a rainforest, and a science exhibition. For Christmas however, Moody Gardens puts on a Festival of Lights that stretches all across the vast grounds. Similar to the Houston Zoo Lights, the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights is a self guided walking tour of lights and Christmas festivities. 

The idea of Christmas usually involves snow or any form of 'winter'. Here in Texas, we have to make do with what we have. Christmas on Galveston Island may not be the traditional sense of Christmas, but it's the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit when that cold weather is seriously lacking. 

xoxo

How To Spend a Day in Galveston, Texas

Unless you live in Texas, not many people consider Galveston as a tourist destination. With its mirky waters and extreme heat it can often be overlooked as a place to vacation to. I was recently given the opportunity to spend the perfect day in Galveston with the Galveston Convention and Visitor Bureau where I was introduced to some amazing thing Galveston has to offer - some I didn't even know about! I learned a lot about this amazing historic city, and would suggest a trip to anyone traveling to the Houston area! So if you do end up in Galveston, here is how to spend the perfect day!

MORNING

Galveston has numerous beaches along the historic seawall, however Stewart Beach stands out more than the rest. Name one of the top ten family beaches in 2013, Stewart Beach is clean, has great parking, and is home to one of the Bucket Brigade Tours. Start the day off at Lifeguard Station 6 with  a few marine biologists learning all about beach wildlife. The Bucket Brigade's mission is educate the public on the nature on Galveston beaches, and rightly so! There is so much you can do to help save this ecosystem. This 45 minute tour takes you from the sand dunes to the water where you may discover something new and exciting!

After the Bucket Brigade Tour, make the short drive down to Pier 21. Here you can catch a Dolphin Sightseeing Tour with Galveston Water Adventures! Not only are you going to see dozens of dolphins, you'll also get an up close look at a variety of amazing ships! First stop is the SS Selma, one of only 12 concrete ships ever made. Although she lays in ruin she is still a popular spot for fishing.

Turn your head slightly to the east and you'll see one of the busiest ship channels in the country. The Houston ship channel sees a constant stream of cargo ships moving through, even the dolphins like to play with these big bad boys! On the way back to land you'll see another surprising ship to call Galveston home. The USS Cavalla is a WWII submarine best known for sinking a Japanese aircraft carrier. Lastly, you'll cruise by a few CRUISE ships. If you listen carefully you can hear the music onboard carry across the water.

AFTERNOON
By this time you've probably worked up an appetite. Pier 21 is full of fun seafood spots, but one of the most iconic is Fisherman's Wharf. Originally a shrimp factory, the restaurant developed over time into a fantastic seafood dining experience.

After that, leave your car at Pier 21 and walk a few blocks down to Post Office Street. Less crowded than the Strand, Post Office Street has a vibe unique to Galveston. From there you can explore the Grand 1894 Opera House.

Named the "official opera house of Texas", the Grand has survived every hurricane since its birth. This extravagant building is really like taking a step back in time. As it is not a attraction known to many you'll have the chance to explore this historic building all by yourself.

As a native Houstonian, I thought I had seen everything there was to see in Galveston. The Galveston Convention and Visitors Bureau proved me wrong! Although I was offered these activities free of charge, all opinions are my own. I HIGHLY suggest spending an afternoon in gorgeous Galveston if you're ever down this way!

xoxo