In November James and I went on a little staycation to Galveston for 3 nights. We both needed to use some of our vacation time and thought getting away for a few days sounded like the perfect little trip. Both of us had not been to Galveston in quite some time, and for sure had not really explored the area like we did during this trip. Typically when we both went with our families growing up, it was spent on the beach or later on in life exploring their Mardi Gras scene. A lot of people think that Galveston has too gross of beaches or it just is not worth it to go. We both had a blast and got to explore a part of Galveston that we didn’t know existed, and loved every minute of it. Galveston is only a short hour drive from Houston that has a whole fun history to it, great restaurants to eat at, shopping, and plenty of people watching. Read on for my favorite places to visit and things to do in this historic old name of “Vegas of the South” town in my Galveston travel guide.

To Stay

There are so many great options of places to stay while you are in Galveston. Between beach houses, condos, and hotels there is an option for everyone. Depending on what location you would like to be at, there is typically the area of the Strand and the Seawall where the beach is. Both are great options. The Strand is the historic area close to the bay where the cruise ships dock and it has all of the cute shops and restaurants. The Seawall is convenient if you plan to be at the beach or at Pleasure Pier for a while. Then if you really want to be out there, you can always rent a house on East Beach or one of the other beaches of Galveston if you plan to just be on the beach. James and I stayed both at the Strand for 2 nights and then 1 night on the Seawall below, and loved both of these hotels.

• The Tremont House $-$$: We stayed at this hotel for the first 2 nights and absolutely loved it. It is one of the historic hotels and is a boutique style hotel as well. This was my favorite hotel out of the 2 we stayed at, and I had always wanted to stay here. It is located right in the middle of the strand, only 1-2 blocks away from all of the restaurants and shops. Inside the lobby the architecture and decor is historic and very elegant. During these times with Covid, there were hand sanitizer stations everywhere and I felt extremely comfortable. They have a great bar area where they have amazing martinis and a rooftop bar which I will discuss more on. The rooms were my favorite part of the hotel. They have ceilings that are probably about 20 feet tall with beautiful floor to ceiling window treatments, shutters and hardwood floors. The decor is classic and you feel like you have gone back in time, with the same modern day amenities you would find at any hotel. The rooms were also very large which is always a plus for a hotel room. I really enjoyed it here, and would stay back here next time we come.
• The Galvez $-$$: When we decided to stay a 3rd night in Galveston because we were having so much fun, we stayed at this big historic hotel. This hotel is such a classic and has a lot of history to it that we did not know previously. It is a sister hotel to The Tremont House and is located on Seawall Blvd, very close to the beach and Pleasure Pier. When we stayed here it was Friday the 13th and there are several haunted stories about this hotel that we had looked up. Everyone from Frank Sinatra to JFK stayed here back in the 1960’s, and there is a great history art area in the hotel that depicts this. The rooms are pretty small is the only downside compared to the large wood floor rooms at the Tremont. The location is great though, and the bar, restaurant and architecture is amazing just to look at. We ate here for dinner and for breakfast because we enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The pool and hot tub were opened which is pretty fabulous that we got to enjoy too. Overall it was also a great hotel!

To Eat

Galveston has so many great restaurants to eat at that are not even seafood. There are a lot of chain restaurants and the ones that everyone knows about, but we explored and got local recommendations for some that we really loved. Some of these I had been to before as one of my best friends used to live here. All of these had a different atmosphere and great service with even better food.

• Shrimp N Stuff: This is a classic seafood shack that I have been to several times. I first came here probably close to 10 years ago, and try to make a stop each time I come into Galveston. James and I stopped here when we first got into Galveston for lunch where we got one of their seafood baskets. When you walk in the decor is like a little shack. You order at the counter and they have everything from fried shrimp to oysters and everything in between. I typically get the fried shrimp basket and some of their delicious hushpuppies with homemade tartar sauce. You get to chase down your food with a nice cold beer and sit and enjoy the lunch on their back patio.
• Black Pearl Oyster Bar: We came here on our first night for a late night dinner. This is located in the Strand area and was walking distance to our hotel. The atmosphere is like a small bar and then they have some tables as well. We sat at the bar and ordered oysters on the half shell and had some champagne. The oysters were pretty good and a decent size for the price. It was a chill atmosphere, and we had a great time. They have more seafood items on their menu like oyster po-boys and other seafood items, but we preferred to stick to our favorite oyster on the half shell.
• Sunflower Bakery & Cafe: This restaurant is my favorite place to do brunch in Galveston. We came here on our first full day and enjoyed a classic brunch with all of the things. This was on a Thursday and it was still pretty packed which we were surprised. They have an amazing breakfast/brunch menu that never disappoints. While we waited for our table, we had a mimosa and then got a carafe once we were at the table. One great tip is that they actually give you the whole bottle of champagne when you order a carafe, which is a huge plus. We sat outside on their patio and I had the French toast and bacon and James got the American breakfast. They also have a great bakery if you want some bread or dessert when you leave. I highly recommend this cute place.
• Trattoria La Vigna: This Italian restaurant that we went to on our second night in Galveston was my favorite. It was located in downtown Galveston just outside of the Strand, and was the cutest little place. When we went on a tour below, our tour guide recommended this little Italian restaurant for it’s authenticity and the great food. She even said the lady who makes the pasta typically sings in the kitchen while she makes it. This was a nice place with white table cloths and more of an up-scale vibe. It was our night that we dressed up and wanted to have some yummy food and a great bottle of wine. They had an extensive wine list and delicious food with a cozy intimate atmosphere. We started off with the mussels and then ordered a pasta that was to die for. This would make a great date spot.
• Taquilo’s Tex Mex: After we were walking around the Strand and doing some shopping on the second full day, we were starving for some food. James really wanted a chimichanga and I was craving some chips and queso. We looked at what Mexican restaurants were around us and Taquilo’s had great reviews. We had lunch here and were thoroughly impressed. The wait staff were very attentive and they have tables inside and out on the sidewalk which was great for people watching. During lunch they have specials for $10.99 that includes so much food. They also have several different margaritas that of course are really yummy as well.
• Hotel Galvez Restaurant: Since we stayed at the Hotel Galvez on our last night, we decided to eat both appetizers here and breakfast the morning we left. We thoroughly enjoyed our food, and that was the reason we ate here for 2 meals. When we had checked in and were settled, we grabbed some drinks and a couple of bites. They had amazing crab cakes and French fries that we devoured the night we got in. Then the next morning we ate breakfast, which has picturesque views of the ocean right from your table. We ate the crème brulee French toast and the country skillet breakfast. All of it was very filling and extremely yummy. Stop by here even if you don’t stay at the hotel, it is worth it.
• Riondo’s Ristorante: We did not get to go here on our trip because they had a private event, but we heard great recommendations about this place. It is an Italian restaurant that has a great bar that is located in the Strand that has amazing architecture. Not only has the restaurant received lots of different awards, but it has several different banquet rooms as well. One that is very unique is the wine bank vault that you can have dinner in. This is a private room that you can reserve to eat at and have up to a party of 16. It looks like the perfect setting for a romantic date night.

To Do

There is so much to do in Galveston other than just walk along the beach. I loved exploring this great town and getting to know the history even more. Since it is located right on the water, there is never a bad time to go and do all of the outdoor activities. These are my favorite things to do while on the island.

• Do a Segway Tour: This was one of our most favorite things we did. We wanted to do an activity on our first full day and we thought that this would be unique. I had never done a segway tour before, but had always thought it looked pretty cool. There were several different tours ranging from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours and ghost tours, history tours, and just scenic tours. We ended up doing the 2.5 hour tour that was called the Magical History Tour. You arrive at the tour close to town to get instructions and then ride all through the Strand, Pier, Port and through historical areas. We ended up being the only people, so we had a private tour which was great. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and also took some great photos for us too. During this tour we got to see the house that Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack used to hang out at, saw many tree carvings in historical home’s yards and more. We fell in love with Galveston from this tour, and would highly recommend it.
• Walk Through the Strand: Since our hotel for the first 2 nights was located in the Strand, we did a lot of exploring through this area. Every morning we would take a walk around the Strand and go into different shops. I got several Christmas gifts when I went into these shops. They have everything from cute little boutiques, daiquiris to go, restaurants, antiques, and a full store dedicated to Christmas!
• Enjoy Pleasure Pier: We were not able to go to Pleasure Pier because it was closed at the time we were in that area, but for sure want to go back. I have been several times and I do think that the rides are actually pretty legit. The wooden roller coaster ride and the height of the swings over the ocean beat several theme parks in my opinion. There is also the classic games, cotton candy and a couple of restaurants on the pier as well. I am so glad that they re-built this pier from the 60’s that we can now enjoy again.
• Walk on the Beach: Nothing ever gets old about enjoying your time walking on the beach. I personally love to explore when it is sunrise or sunset, but any time is great. Whether you are picking up seashells, building a sand castle, or just lounging, a leisurely walk on the beach is key. James and I did this before we went on our Segway tour and it was so nice. Since we went in November it was too cold to go in the water, but putting our feet in felt great.
• Shop the Antique Stores: There are so many great antique shops all through Galveston. If you have seen some of my home décor on Instagram, you know that I personally love a mix of antique pieces and more modern pieces. I have my grandmother’s tea set and candle holders that I absolutely love. We went through several antique stores and had a great time exploring and finding all kinds of unique trinkets. There was an AC/DC shirt that we almost bought and a cool beer stein as well. Playing a little game where you have $10 to find someone a trinket is really fun too by the way in an antique store. All of the antique stores had pretty good prices as well compared to back here in the Heights.
• Visit Galveston Arts Center: We stumbled upon this little arts center as we were walking through the Strand, and of course had to go in. This is a non-profit that is a primary center for contemporary art in Galveston. It is free admission and you get to see a couple of exhibits of modern art from different signs, sculptures, furniture and more. It is always nice to broaden your horizons, and this place sure did it.

To Drink

It wouldn’t be a vacation without some type of drinks involved. I didn’t have as much wine as I would have in a place like Napa/Sonoma, but did get to enjoy some great martinis and some good wine while on this trip. There are cute little places all around the island to grab a drink and listen to the ocean and just be on vacation. Some of these below were our favorites.

• Tremont House Rooftop Bar: We really enjoyed this little rooftop bar on top of our favorite hotel that we stayed at. It is a quant place that has a good vibe with couches and chairs all around it. You can see a great view of the Strand from up high. They also make the best gin martinis. We had one every day that we were here because they were so good. The wait staff is extra friendly and this bar has an overall great vibe. The bar in the lobby is also great for cocktails as well if you happen to want to stay inside.
• Playground Patio Bar & Grill: This is a little outdoor patio bar that is located right in the Strand. We came here twice during our stay because of the cheap drinks and the atmosphere. There is plenty of people watching to do as you sit on their wooden patio, and they also have a couple of arcade games inside. They have plenty of drink specials, and it is a chill place to go on a pretty afternoon.
• Old Cellar Bar: We were told that this is the oldest bar in Galveston and is haunted. Of course we had to check it out after our dressed up dinner. It is a local dive bar where a lot of the industry goes. We were the only ones there which was nice, and hung out and talked with the bartender and played some songs on the jukebox. I would check it out, at least to hear some of the stories 😉
• Rum Shack: This bar is one of the 5 areas that is right next to the Spot hamburger place which is always great. There are 3 other bars in this area in addition to the one we went to called the Rum Shack. Of course all of their drinks are rum infused, which is pretty neat since we are in Galveston after all. This bar is all open and has great views of the ocean. It always has good vibes and live music typically as well.
• Beerfoot Brewery: We stumbled upon this little Galveston brewery when we were leaving Rum Shack because they are pretty close by to each other. I am so glad we stopped in and continued to help these local businesses that have been struggling during Covid. They had plenty of beers on tap, and actually make their own beer as well. The atmosphere was warm and there were TV’s that they played movies on as well. We met a couple from up North that we were talking with the whole time. Their beers here were great and the atmosphere was just what we needed.
• Shark Shack: This place we ventured to for a Bloody Mary. It is a casual Seafood place that has nachos, quesadillas, and plenty of salmon. We sat at the bar and enjoyed one of their Bloody Mary’s before walking around the Strand on our second day. They were really smooth, had bacon, and had just the right balance of ingredients.

We had such a great time for 3 nights in Galveston. Even though it is a quick drive from Houston, it is one of those places that seems hours and hours away. It was truly more like a vacation instead of a stay-cation. We loved the history, adventures, food and the slowness of this beach town. I hope you get to explore some different parts of Galveston too!