Travelling Texas: Christmas Road Trip Ideas
Galveston is a Great Winter Getaway Option
The beach in Galveston is very accessible. in the winter, we typically we park right on the seawall. If you’re also shopping for souvenirs, park near one of the markets. In Galveston, you can enjoy a full range of beach activities from flying kites to skim boarding to surfing even through the winter. It is not uncommon for Christmas temperatures to be in the 70s.
The Seawall ties together all of the beach areas. Feel free to cruise it a couple of times to get a feel for where you would like to explore.
You can enjoy a trip to Galveston without ever leaving the beach area, but there are a lot of additional family friendly entertainment options.
The Galveston Historical Foundation has museums, a working tall ship (the Elissa), green space, and historical films on subjects from the island’s pirate history to the Great Hurricane that devastated Galveston in the early 20th century.
Do your kids want to see some dolphins? The Galveston Historical Foundation offers dolphin tours that will also highlight local history and attractions:
Schlitterbahn is a favorite with families in Galveston looking for action and adventure. They have built indoor water parks to keep the park entertaining and profitable into the winter and opening again in the spring. They have some of the world’s great waterslides. The lazy river is a great way to get from the park’s different areas. Schlitterbahn allows families to bring in coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages, which is a great way to stretch your budget.
There winter days and hours change frequently, so visit the Schlitterbahn Galveston website to confirm.
Another top Galveston family destination is Moody Gardens. I’ve been to tourist destinations all across the country, and none are put together any better than Moody Gardens. Their natural habitats are world class. The aquarium and rainforest exhibits allow butterflies, sloths, river otters, sharks, and seals to play in simulated natural environments. It is hard to pick a favorite, but I really like watching the penguins. They also have an I-Max and a “4-D theater”. If you are looking for a super clean simulated beach, they have one of those too, featuring super clean water and sand. Are you a fan of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn? Moody Gardens has their own Mississippi style paddle wheeler.
If you visit Galveston during an actual cold snap, head to the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid where the temperature is warm 365 days a year and you can see rainforest natives including a sloth, panther, butterflies, boa constrictor, arapaima, Amazonian catfish, and many more species.
Do you have train lovers in your family? Take them to the Galveston Railroad Museum. They have train engines, freight cars, and passenger cars from different eras. They also have a working train you can ride. Will you be visiting Galveston during the holidays? Ask about the Polar Express!
What this beach has: Galveston is the go to Texas beach destination for families looking for comfortable lodging, excellent fresh seafood, and lots of activities on and off the beach. The boardwalk is nicer than the one you see all the time on shows about Los Angeles. Gaidos in the off season is as good as any seafood restaurant in the world. Winter is really the best time to enjoy Galveston’s seafood restaurants. Throughout the year, Galveston history is on display and accessible.
We hope you enjoyed today’s edition of the Texas Road Trip guide.
Winter really is the perfect time to visit many Galveston attractions and restaurants.
Avoid the summer beach crowd and have Texas’ biggest island all to yourself.
- Daryl Fant, Publisher Southeast Texas Family Magazine
- (512) 567-8068
- SETXAdvertising@gmail.com
We look forward to helping you plan your family’s next memorable Texas road trip.
Would you like help marketing your restaurant, event, or attraction to Texas families? Call anytime.
