Hill country Galveston Island Trip

Stewart Beach is your best choice for good, clean family fun. Like most public beaches in Galveston, it charges a small parking fee ($8), but the lot is directly on the beach so you don’t have to lug all of your gear very far. The water tends to remain shallow pretty far out from shore, making it more fun for kids, and there are lifeguards on duty March through October. And although alcohol isn’t permitted on the beach, you’re never far from a local watering hole.

If your kids are older than six and interested in animals, you’ll want to schedule a sea turtle tour at the NOAA Sea Turtle Facility. Free tours are given every Thursday (except on federal holidays) and fill up fast. Make sure to book several months in advance. Spoiler alert! You won’t get to touch a sea turtle, but you will get to see plenty up close, and the staff will teach you lots of interesting facts about their life cycle and what it takes to preserve their species.

Want more than just ocean views? Here, you can choose between three pyramids, each with its own ecosystem: They have a Rainforest Pyramid, a Discovery Pyramid, and an Aquarium Pyramid. It can take up to two hours to work your way through a single pyramid, though, so if you want to see more than one, be sure to allow enough time. Or, divide and conquer, and then share a family slideshow later on during your trip! If you can fit it in, the paddleboat cruise is a lot of fun, the Palm Beach Waterpark is a favorite for kids, and there’s even a zip line and ropes course! If you’re there at the right time, you might be able to catch a behind-the-scenes penguin experience or a shark feeding. You also can stay at the hotel on-site and treat yourself to a day at the spa or a delicious meal at one of the restaurants.

If you’ve worked up an appetite with all of that exploring, then you might need to grab a bite to refuel, and because this is vacation, feel free to start with dessert first! If you only have time for one food stop before you hop on a cruise or head back to your hometown, do yourself a favor and visit La King’s Confectionery. Their specialty is saltwater taffy—even if you aren’t a fan, you’ll probably walk away one after you try the sweet treat 30 seconds after it’s been wrapped up. The 1950s soda fountain ambiance is fun for kids, and the homemade ice cream is some of the best you’ll find in Texas.

Fisherman’s Wharf has had a legacy of serving fresh seafood since 1940, but became the go-to spot for gulf shrimp in the 1960s. In fact, their shrimp was served to President John F. Kennedy at the White House. Make sure to order the bacon-wrapped Shrimp Kisses as you unwind on the back patio. Even though the restaurant is located close to the cruise dock, you probably won’t have to wait long for a table… but if you do, bide your time by enjoying a happy-hour drink until 7 p.m. or strolling over to see the nearby tall ship Elissa.

Need to pack even more fun into your visit? Then definitely check out the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. You must pay a fee to visit the pier as well for each of the 16 rides, but if you opt for the $26 ride-all-day option and get wristbands in the morning, you can come back that evening to see the boardwalk lit up and catch a sunset. A handful of the rides are for kids at least 48-inches tall, but there are other attractions for kids of all ages, including some water rides, so pack towels and swimsuits, just in case.