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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New Parks

54,000-acre Hill Country ranch to become Texas' 2nd largest state park

Photo from property listing by Icon Global

Silver Lake Ranch adds 54,000 acres to Texas' public lands.

Texans will soon have a massive new state park to explore, second only to Big Bend Ranch State Park in size. Silver Lake Ranch, the 54,000-acre plot of land spanning Edwards and Kinney counties, was owned by the Moody Foundation, and now, largely thanks to a major philanthropic gift, it's headed into public hands.

The Moody Foundation gifted its 87.5 percent ownership interest in the ranch to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), with TPWD purchasing the remaining interest for $11.85 million. The funds come from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund and Sporting Goods Sales Tax — both approved by Texas voters.

“The Moody Foundation is proud to help preserve this remarkable stretch of Texas Hill Country and make it accessible for generations to come,” said Ross Moody in a press release. “Silver Lake Ranch represents the natural beauty, history, and spirit of our state, and we are honored to make this gift to Texas Parks and Wildlife to ensure it remains protected and enjoyed by all Texans for years ahead.”

The property will officially become Silver Lake State Park, named for the spring-fed 30-acre lake at its heart. Sitting roughly 350 miles west of Houston, nestled between Rocksprings and Uvalde, the land is home to some beautiful hill country wildlife and nature at a Texas manageable drive of about two hours from San Antonio.

Currently the park is in its most rugged and undeveloped form: steep limestone canyons drop into rolling hills lined with live oaks and juniper trees, with miles of river frontage tracing the West Nueces River. Several creeks wind through the property, including Sycamore Creek, Lost Creek, and North Spring Creek, along with Blue Waterhole and Dutch Waterhole.

Caves and other landmarks dot the landscape, and wildlife includes white-tailed deer, turkey, javelina, and dove. Portions of the property have even been identified as a potential habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.

According to the press release, this land, previously used for sheep and cattle ranching, will be developed in phases over the next several years, also using the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. Initially, access to the park might look like guided tours and limited day-use opportunities while planning and infrastructure are underway. Later, trails and basic visitor facilities will be added, and ultimately, the park will include expanded recreational amenities like camping and paddling access.

Now that the acquisition is complete, TPWD staff and private contractors plan to gather feedback from the public and surrounding communities to help map out recreational opportunities. This may take "many months to complete," says the press release. TPWD will communicate any upcoming milestones, including a potential opening date, at TexasStateParks.org

"This is an exciting addition to our state park system, and we are grateful to our partners at the Moody Foundation for their philanthropy and for bringing this slice of the hill country to the people of Texas," TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz says in the press release.

And as folks are pointing out on TPDW's reel announcing the new park: it's "Better than any subdivision."

silver lake ranch state parks parks nature wildlife animals