If you're already thinking, "I could use a vacation," here's some good news: Galveston is less than four hours from Austin, and now is a great time to visit. Why? Because you can get your fill of cool culture and fabulous food during the island's Restaurant Week and Museum Day.
Both kick off on January 26, with Restaurant Week stretching into February (so get your stretchy pants ready).
Celebrating the island's rich history and one-of-a-kind museums, Galveston Museum Day features free and discounted admission to 12 Galveston-area museums. Learn about Galveston's place as one of the wealthiest cities in the United States during the late 1800s, the powerful families who helped build the city, Galveston's significance to immigration in the region, and the importance of the industries that keep Galveston thriving.
Participating museums span The Bryan Museum — known for holding one of the world's largest collections of artifacts from the American Southwest — to the 1892-built Bishop's Palace, filled with ornate fireplaces and stain-glassed windows designed by Nicholas Clayton.
Other participating museums include the Galveston Naval Museum, Galveston Arts Center, Galveston Railroad Museum, Moody Gardens, Moody Mansion, Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, Rosenberg Library, Texas City Museum, Texas Seaport Museum, and The Grand 1894 Opera House.
Visitors who pick up a Museum Day passport will also have the chance to win VIP attraction passes and a one-night stay at Hotel Galvez, home to a hall of history and known for its ghost tours.
Galveston Restaurant Week brings the island's vibrant food scene to life January 26-February 10, pairing delicious dining experiences with affordable price.
For two weeks, hungry patrons can enjoy prix-fixe two- and three-course meals priced between $10 and $35, spanning breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Galveston Restaurant Week is sponsored by WAITR, the app that makes it easier to enjoy delivery and carry-out from local restaurants.
Known for its excellent Gulf Coast seafood, Galveston Restaurant Week boasts the participation of such restaurants as Gaido's, Number 13, Olympia Grill, Shearn's, and the Gumbo Diner. See a complete list of restaurants here.
And while your taste buds are celebrating, you can feel good knowing that your participation in Restaurant Week is helping others. This year, Access Care of Coastal Texas — which provides weekly lunches to persons with HIV or AIDS — is the Restaurant Week recipient.
