With the holiday season just around the corner, you may want to look for places that allow you to put up your feet, relax and unwind. While some people might head to snowy destinations where they can enjoy winter sports activities and enjoy the beauty of the mountain views, many prefer to warm up! You might be looking for a quaint beach town that offers plenty of sunshine, gentle sea breezes and sand under your feet.
Galveston, Texas is one of the most charming beach towns in the United States. It boasts sandy shores, iconic restaurants and lovely architecture. This island city not far from Houston, offers a lot more than you can imagine. However, for that, you need to look for experiences that make you feel like a local and make the most of it.
Here are 7 ways to live like a local in Galveston.
Take a Cruise
Cruising is a great way to explore the world around you without having to spend a lot of money. Many locals here prefer to take a cruise that allows them to explore places like the Caribbean and make the most of it. Today, you can find many cruise companies that can help you take a cruise from Galveston and explore places alone or with your family.
Play Volleyball on East Beach
The beaches here are where most of the action happens. If you want to experience the area like a local, you need to get into some action, pack a cooler with your favorite beverages and head for some volleyball on East Beach. Many locals visit this beach for a game with their friends and play until the evening hours. Playing volleyball has many health benefits besides making more friends. If you have the skills, you can enter a local volleyball competition and try your luck.
Step into the Moody Gardens
If you are planning to experience what locals do, you need to head to Moody Gardens which offers you an experience like no other. This 10-story-tall Aquarium Pyramid allows you to dive right into the oceans of the world and explore sea life as you have never done before. Here you can find yourself walking amongst thousands of tropical fish, sharks, seals and penguins. On the other hand, you can visit the Rainforest Pyramid which takes you on a completely new journey as you get an immersive experience of walking amongst tropical rainforest trees, free-roaming animals and birds.
Explore the Historic Downtown Area
Locals here are proud of their heritage and downtown Galveston has still many of the historic buildings and architecture that you can explore. To begin with, you can order a latte or espresso at MOD Coffeehouse and walk yourself towards Hendley Market. The stores here are packed with an eclectic range of trade goods. You can also check out the Tall Ships Museum or take a spooky ghost tour! When you want to sit and chill, Post office Street is the street of bars in Galveston, with local favorites being Molly’s, O’Malley’s, Old Cellar Door, and Murphy’s’s offering something for every taste and style.
Start Your Day with Fishing
Galveston is an island that offers plenty of coastlines and many locals here prefer to start their day early with fishing. If you want to experience and live like a local you can bring your fishing gear and enjoy the early morning on the Gulf Coast. You can head to the piers along the Seawall that offer a perfect opportunity to catch a fish and brag about it to your loved ones. Check out the many fishing gear shops for your fishing gear and other items to help you get better results.
Dine Al Fresco
Galveston has plenty of restaurants along the beach and a great way to spend your day is just idling around and finding your spot on the patio and enjoying some delicious local food and dining al fresco. From pasta items to fresh seafood items, you can find plenty of meal options here that allow you to make the most of the day. You can sit here for hours and watch the beach and hear the waves. If you don’t want to come here during the day hours, you can spend your evenings here and enjoy the pleasant evening breeze.
Walk Local Neighborhoods
Back in time, Galveston was a major Texas city and the city still retains the sophistication it had in the past. Hence, if you don’t have much to do you can walk the historic neighborhood and explore some of the iconic places like the local post office and hospital. This would allow you to go back in time and learn more about the island’s history and heritage.
Author bio
Jyotsna Ramani loves putting pen to paper. She is an avid globetrotter and owner of the adventure travel blog WanderWithJo.com. A thrill seeker and a naturalist in the making, a hobby artist and a spiritual junkie – she wears many hats and is often found looking for Tigers in national parks of India.
Central New Jersey Bike Trails and Rides
