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

Mission San Jose | San Antonio, Texas

Texas did not receive its first UNESCO World Heritage Site until 2015. The sheer amount of history and culture that embodies this state is remarkable, yet largely overlooked. With the exception of the Alamo, the historical sites of Texas are rarely visited by anyone other than Texans themselves. Even then I find myself guilty. Born and raised here in the Lone Star State I had never visited any of the San Antonio missions other than the Alamo. During a recent trip to San Antonio I had decided it was time to visit a part of Texas' first World Heritage Site. 

The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is made up five Spanish missions scattered across  the city of San Antonio. They are Mission Valero (the Alamo), Mission Concepcion, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission San Francisco de la Espada, and Mission San Jose. The purpose of these missions were colonization. The Spanish had claimed the land that would later be called Texas in the name of Christianity. Although the main goal of the missions was to convert the local people to Catholicism, the missions were also a safe haven. With the threat of Europeans looming on all sides, the Texas frontier had become a dangerous place. The San Antonio missions became communities that would later shape the idea of Texas itself. 

On this hot summer day I only had time for one mission, so I chose Mission San Jose. Founded in 1720, the original church still stands today. I was lucky enough to visit while a mass was in progress. Yes, it is still a functioning Catholic Church to this day. It reminded me just how different historical churches in America are to their European counterparts. 

The whole mission grounds were incredible. Especially if the only mission you have visited is the tiny Alamo. Spreading over acres, it was easy to imagine the thriving community that once called Mission San Jose home. 

I'm hoping I'll get the chance to visit the rest of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park soon enough. Texas is so large that many people are born and raised within the state without even visiting the majority of it. There is so much history in my own backyard that I am just beginning to explore. 

xoxo

Das Peach Haus | Fredericksburg, TX

Deep in the heart of Texas lies the peaceful town of Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg, famous for its beautiful vineyards, also posses a unique German-Texan charm brought by German immigrants in the 19th century. The girls and I decided to make a stop by the best place for fresh preserves in all of Texas. 

As we pulled up we soon realized Das Peach Haus was more than just a store. Surrounded by acres of beautiful Texas Hill Country, this little store had a charm like no other. We were instantly welcomed by the friendly staff as we tasted the wide variety of preserves and salsas. From tasting the original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle sauce to Texas grown peaches, my taste buds were in heaven! 

The store itself was impressive, but the staff graciously invited us to wander the grounds as well. With lots of outdoor seating and the most beautiful view in all of Texas, Das Peach Haus easily became our favorite little store in Fredericksburg. 

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