Camping while visiting Galveston Island and Houston

When visiting the Galveston/Houston area, there are many RV Resorts to choose from. The time of year and one’s interest in visiting can help determine which campground is best. Staying on Galveston Island has many advantages compared to staying near Houston. For one, it takes a family away from the everyday life of being in a city with all the traffic, and more importantly, many of the campgrounds are located near the beach. The friends the camp offers can help with the decision, since most Galveston camps are like resort hotels. For example, the Jamaica Beach RV Resort is ten miles from downtown Galveston. The community has 181 sites with full hookups, including cable. There are two pools, one with a swim-up bar, a Jacuzzi, and a 700-foot lazy river. Other amenities include, shuffleboard, basketball court, miniature golf, and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. One will note that the forty-five mile drive to Houston is very easy on Interstate 45.

Galveston Island is about 25 miles long and, in some areas, less than a mile wide. At the southeastern end of the island, one has to cross a $2.00 toll bridge to return to the mainland, the northwestern end stops right at the mouth of the bay; however, there is a ferry service that will take you to the Bolívar Peninsula. The other entrance to the island is across Interstate 45 which becomes Broadway Avenue, this is like the main street through the center of Galveston’s business section.

Galveston’s historic downtown is located along Galveston Bay at the Port of Galveston, where cruise ships dock. All the buildings here are historic in nature, while some buildings are offices, others are tourist shops, and some have been converted into historical museums. Along the bay, you’ll find a variety of seafood restaurants and museums.

For the person who enjoys historical and educational sites, Galveston Island is a great place to visit. Buying the Galveston Island City Pass has a great advantage, one has to buy at least four or more attractions and the savings are 40 percent cheaper than individual tickets.

Some of the attractions included are the Moody Mansion, which was built in 1895 and portrays one of America’s wealthiest businessmen of the 20th century with all the original furnishings. I must say that the furniture in the living rooms is quite impressive, but the furniture in the bedrooms lacks comfort and style. At the Navel Museum, you can tour the interior of the famous USS Cavalla Submarine that sank the Japanese Navy Aircraft Carrier Shokaku, which attacked Pearl Harbor. I’m not sure how people could live in such close quarters, one thing was for sure, no one had any secrets. The USS Stewart is the only preserved Edsall-class destroyer in the United States. These are the only two boats located in the museum. Ocean Star, a retired offshore drilling oil rig turned museum, explains the drilling process, oil extraction, safety, and environmental impacts facing the oil industry. The dwellings have been turned into a museum, while the drilling rig and drilling equipment are still intact. Being on this rig can give you a sense of what it’s like to be miles from shore and work twelve-hour shifts. For the person who likes trains, the Railway Museum is a must see. Here one will find many cars that were built from the early 1900’s to the mid 1940’s, all restored to their original dates. There are several engines from different eras; however, only one can be addressed. Although Galveston Island is small, with many historic sites, beaches, and family attractions available, Galveston can keep a family pretty busy for days.

Battleship Texas, located in LaPorte, about forty miles northwest of Galveston, is well worth the drive. The Texas was scheduled to be used as a bombing target, but after a successful campaign by the people of Texas, she was awarded to the people of the state of Texas in 1948. When the Texas was commissioned in 1914, she was the most powerful battleship in the world. In 1925 she underwent major modifications and for the next twelve years she sailed the Atlantic and Pacific, representing American naval power. Battleship Texas is a large and complicated artifact, and getting around it can be very confusing. To our surprise, not only can you tour all the deck levels, but also the engine rooms.

Purchasing the Houston City Pass is the best way to see the top five attractions at one affordable price. Since Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, one can see how spread out the city really is. Three of the destinations are downtown, while the other two are in the outer sections of the city.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science was very educational and informative. The museum shows the age of the dinosaurs, as well as the evolution of mankind. Here one can learn about the minerals that the earth provides us and how they are transformed to create today’s technology. Additionally, the museum displays many species of animals in their natural habitat and their means of survival. The Houston Zoo is small, but very enjoyable for both adults and children. For a small zoo, the variety of animals was quite impressive. My favorite part was feeding the giraffes, big but very gentle creatures, just don’t turn your back on them. The Houston Aquarium is quite small, but it is well worth a visit. Here one will find many species of smaller fish from the Gulf of Mexico, some quite colorful, but inedible. A variety of attractions for younger children are included with the pass. Located right on the water about twenty miles east of downtown Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk is a popular destination for all ages. The boardwalk is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Plus, there are plenty of rides for all ages to enjoy. This is a popular destination for weekends and overnights. Space Center Houston, located in the southeastern part of Houston. The space center showcases past, present and future space exploration. With the space center being very educational. Our favorite part was the space shuttle Independence sitting on top of the Boeing 747. The shuttle is a replica of the original, but it was interesting to see what the inside of a shuttle looks like.

By far, the history and attractions in and around Galveston and Houston will keep a family entertained for weeks.