Galveston Getaway

Galveston Getaway: Texas' favorite vacation spot offers new attractions, better beaches & a real sense of history

School’s out and summer is here — which means it’s the time of year when many of us hit the road for a summer getaway.

One of the most popular Texas road trip destinations, especially from Houston, is the historic and fun beach town of Galveston. Part turn-of-the-century historic district and part classic coastal getaway, the island city has a lot to offer this summer, including plenty of new amenities and attractions to add to your itinerary.

Better Beaches
One of the best beach replenishment in the state has come to Galveston. Sand has been added to Seawall beaches between 61st and 81st streets, which also means more recreation space and a broader habitat for marine life.

The island’s beach parks have also been upgraded with new amenities such as live concerts and free DJ entertainment at East Beach on weekends through September 5. Later in June, East Beach will also receive new playground equipment featuring a web climber, swings and slides. This expansive beach is located on the island’s eastern tip and is the only Galveston beach park where alcohol is permitted.

Moody Gardens Additions
As one of the best family attractions on the island, Moody Gardens is always one of the most popular visits. This year its newest interactive attraction, SpongeBob SubPants Adventure, has premiered at Discovery Pyramid. Featuring a live, costumed show with all the beloved SpongeBob characters, the attraction also has an “underwater” 4-D film experience.

Also new to Moody Gardens is a five-tier Sky Trail Ropes Course and Zip Line Adventure to challenge participants’ agility, balance and strength. Of course, all of the other attractions spread over the 242-acre Moody Garden complex are also available, including the Rainforest Pyramid, 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Pyramid, Discover Museum, water park and white sand beaches.

For those interested in aviation, especially combat during World War II, stop in at the Lone Star Flight Museum next door.

Brand New Bryan Museum
Be one of the first to visit this new museum, which showcases the world’s largest private collection of Southwestern historical artifacts, including 70,000 rare items spanning more than 400 years. J.P. Bryan, who co-founded the Bryan Museum with his wife, Mary Jon, started his collection at 14 years old.

A direct descendant of Moses Austin (Stephen F. Austin’s father), the lifelong historian offers such items on display as the Joel Robison sword used to aid in the capture of Santa Anna, and original correspondence from the pirate Jean Lafitte. The basement features a very interactive children’s section that literally makes history come to life for visitors both young and young at heart.

“I hate it when I hear kids say history is boring,” said Bryan. “It shouldn’t be boring, and we want to make it both exciting and accessible for children.”

Awe-Inspiring Historic Homes
Touring the historic grand mansions and hearing the stories behind them reveals why Galveston is sometimes called Treasure Island. Check out Moody Mansion, a four-story, 28,000 square-foot home restored to its 1895 splendor. A tour of this home to one of Galveston’s most influential families depicts life of wealth at the turn of the century.

The 1892 Bishop’s Palace is another of Galveston’s most popular historic mansions and is open for tours daily. Built of stone and steel for the railroad magnate Walter Gresham and his family, this famous house was designed by Nicholas Clayton, Galveston’s premier Victorian-era architect.

Afterwards, hop on an electric shuttle from Galveston Island Tours to check out the entire landmark district, including the unique tree sculptures that dot the island and were artistically carved from trees that were killed in Hurricane Ike.

Where to Stay
Galveston’s hotel scene is offering several new venues and experiences this summer, including the new Doubletree by Hilton Galveston Beach Hotel that opened in February, and the five new luxury villas opening at The San Luis Resort, complete with private check-in/out, a private pool area and personal butler service among other lavish amenities.

Classic hotels that are always popular include The Tremont House, boasting a location right in the heart of the Historic Strand District; and the Hotel Galvez & Spa, facing beachside. Both are part of the Wyndham Grand Hotels & Resorts family and are part of Galveston’s history, dating from 1839 and 1911 respectively.

Galveston beaches are still the main attraction.

Photo courtesy of Galveston Island Visitors & Convention Bureau

Galveston beaches are still the main attraction.

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LATE CHECKOUT

These 2 haunted Texas hotels promise a spirited overnight stay

The Emily Morgan Hotel/ Facebook

The Emily Morgan is steps away from the Alamo.

If you hear something knocking during a vacation in San Antonio, it might not be housekeeping. Two of the city's downtown landmark hotels — the Gunter and the Emily Morgan — have been named among the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 25 most haunted hotels in the U.S.

Each year, the nonprofit’s Historic Hotels of America program recognizes iconic properties where things are said to go bump in the night. It’s a playful way to highlight the organization’s work to preserve the nation’s diverse historic buildings and neighborhoods, whether one believes in the supernatural or not. The San Antonio pair were the only Texas properties to earn the hair-raising honors.

“The list invites heritage and cultural travelers to discover historic hotels where lore and legends make for memorable stays,” explained the trust in a release. “For believers and skeptics alike, these one-of-a-kind hotels preserve tales of guests who never want to leave and staff who never stopped helping.”

The Emily Morgan returned to the list after a year’s reprieve (maybe someone forgot this year’s blessing). The trust noted that the 102-year-old building is considered one of North America’s most active paranormal sites, owing to its original use as a medical building. Carved grotesques on the facade writhe from tooth pain and stomachaches. Inside, spectral nurses are said to be still providing care.

“On the fourteenth floor, guests have reported a hospital-like smell and, on rare occasions, visions of a hospital scene rather than their guestroom when they open the door from the hallway,” wrote Historic Hotels. “On the twelfth floor, guests have reported bathroom doors opening and closing on their own, lights flashing, and apparitions of nurses pushing rickety gurneys down the corridor before vanishing.”

Gunter Hotel Not pictured: Gunter's resident shadowy figure.Photo by Daniel Kelleghan Photography

Although medical manifestations are unsettling enough, the other San Antonio hotel on the list has a more gruesome claim to fame. Built in 1909, the Gunter Hotel boasts a room that is only slightly less notorious than The Shining’s Room 237. Room 636 was the site of one of Alamo City’s most famous murders.

In 1965, a housekeeper found ex-con Walter Emerick standing beside a blood-soaked bed. Police found empty wine bottles, bloody footprints, strands of blonde hair, and women’s clothing, but never found the body. Emerick left a psychic stain all over downtown, booking it to the St. Anthony’s room 536 (he reportedly asked to stay in 636 again), where he offed himself before arrest. The Gunter never quite recovered from his brief stay.

“Since the 1960s, guests and staff have reported unsettling phenomena, including unexplained cold spots, flickering lights, and faint whispers or footsteps when no one is present,” said Historic Hotels. “Some claim to have seen a shadowy figure lingering near the doorway or caught the faint scent of cigar smoke despite the hotel’s smoking prohibition.”

Still, the dark specters have not kept the Gunter from receiving another honor this year. Historic Hotels recently named it the Best City Center Historic Hotel, given to the property that “best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.”

Both of San Antonio’s haunted hotels have largely embraced their eerie reputations. The Emily Morgan proudly touts its mysterious occurrences on one of its webpages. The Gunter glosses over some of the more grisly details of room 636 on its own page, and assures guests the room has since been remodeled.

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