Envisioning a couple of days of shopping, dining, and hands-on fun for your next weekend getaway? Then a vacation to beautiful Galveston Island, with a two-day stay at the Tremont House, will definitely fit the bill.
The only hotel located in the heart of Galveston’s historic Strand District, the Tremont House, A Wyndham Grand Hotel, has 119 rooms, all of which boast soaring ceilings and sophisticated decor. Plus, the hotel was recently rated on TripAdvisor as the No. 1 place to stay in Galveston, due to its amazing service, ambience, and location.
The Tremont House offers casual dining at the Tremont Café, and it has two bars that are open daily: the 1888 Toujouse Bar, known for its huge selection of martinis and live jazz on weekends, and the Rooftop Bar, which is the only rooftop bar in Galveston. An onsite fitness center exists as well, and guests also have access to the pool at the hotel’s sister property, Hotel Galvez & Spa.
Besides its ample amenities and dining options, one of the biggest advantages of the Tremont House is its downtown location, which is within walking distance of a variety of shops, restaurants, galleries, and tours. If you’re thinking, “Been there, done that,” think again. There are a number of new places to eat and drink, as well as a variety of new activities to try.
Here are some of our favorites.
Dining and Nightlife
Just a block from the hotel is the Proletariat Gallery and Public House (2221 Market St.), which opens daily at 4 pm. Appreciate the art and eclectic feel while you have a drink and enjoy some fascinating conversation.
If you’re looking for new restaurants to try, then wander to Postoffice Street and check out the new ZaZa Bar & Bites (2219 Postoffice) for Indo-fusion cuisine. Opening in late May, at the corner of 21st Street, you’ll find Taquilo’s Tex-Mex Cantina (2101 Postoffice), operated by the Galveston Restaurant Group. According to the owners, Taquilo’s will be the first restaurant in the historic downtown district to feature fresh, authentic cuisine that represents the various regions of Mexico. The cantina will also offer a wide variety of tequilas and specialty margaritas. For Cajun and Creole, try Harborside Merchantile (2021 Strand), which offers po’ boys, muffuletta sandwiches, and seafood platters.
Those with a sweet tooth should venture to Ile Petite Bakery and Deli (2108 Church), which serves French pastries, hot and cold deli sandwiches, coffees, and teas. Ask the owners, though, and they’ll suggest the French macarons. For a serene place to enjoy these delectable treats, we highly suggest heading over to the new Hendley Green, a downtown urban green space that features a sitting wall and fountains.
Activities
Galveston is now home to Texas Pedal Tours, a unique pedal-shuttle touring company that offers tours daily beginning at 10 am. Tours vary in length and must be scheduled at least two tours before the tour time. You can find Texas Pedal Tours, as well as BayWatch Dolphin Tours, Cruise-N-Time, Jet Boat Thrill Rides, and Galveston Harbor Tours, at Pier 21.
Although it’s not located downtown, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Bryan Museum (1315 21st St.). A must-do for history buffs, the museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Southwestern art and artifacts, spanning 12,000 years and including more than 70,000 items.
Galveston Arts Center (2127 Strand) has returned home following a major renovation to its building, after damage sustained during Hurricane Ike in 2008. Galveston Arts Center has three galleries featuring rotating exhibits of contemporary Texas artists, as well as weekly art classes and an amazing gift shop.
Try Island Salt Air (415 22nd St.) if you just can’t stand to miss your yoga and Pilates workout while on vacation. The studio offers daily classes, including hot yoga.
Just a few doors down is Clay Cup Studios (409 22nd St.), an art bar where you can showcase your artsy side. Paint your own pottery, do glass fusion, create mosaics, enjoy art’tini (painting wine glasses, etc.), and try canvas painting. You can stop in at any time to do a project, or sign up in advance for a class. The bar also has a partnership with Island Salt Air, so while parents take a yoga class next door, children can do an art project at Clay Cup.
Newly opened in the Strand neighborhood is Strand Gallery (2418 Strand), featuring artwork by local artist Joey Quiroga, as well as national artists. This is one of many great galleries that you’ll find scattered on Strand and Postoffice streets.
Lastly, if you’re looking for Old Strand Emporium, find this Galveston favorite at its new location at 2425 Strand.
There are plenty of reasons to plan a getaway to Galveston Island and the Tremont House. Take advantage of weekday discounts and advance booking incentives. For more information, call 409-763-0300 or visit www.thetremonthouse.com.
The Tremont House is a boutique-style hotel located in the heart of Galveston's historic Strand District.
