Guide to Spring Break in Galveston
We are back from our Spring Break and back to real life with school, sports and schedules. But that’s okay, a little break away always rejuvenates and energizes and now I’m feeling particularly ready for all the Spring goodness!
For our Spring Break, we went to Galveston (a nearby beach town) and Waco (hello Fixer Upper!) and today I’m sharing scenes from our Galveston trip, along with where we stayed, good things to eat, and lots of fun things to do if you decide to vacation there.
It’s just an hour south car-ride from Houston, so definitely worth it to go, even for the day. In retrospect, I almost wish we would’ve stayed longer than two days because all the packing required is a bit crazy for just a short time away.
It all fit! Thank the Lord!!
But once you get there, it feels totally worth it!
Our friends have a condo in Galveston, which is where we spent most of our time, though we rented a hotel at the San Luis (more on that later). The condo is called Palisade Palms and they have rentals too, but when we looked at staying there, the only rentals available were for the week, and we didn’t plan on staying that long. But, like I mentioned above, maybe next time we would plan to stay longer and do a week rental so you really get a chance to settle in and do more on the island than the pool and beach.
The place is gorgeous, clean and well-maintained. It’s got two pools, a hot tub, boardwalk to the beach and fitness area, tennis courts, basketball court, and small playground. It’s located on East Beach, close to shopping and restaurants too.
Below is a look at the condos from behind, and you can see the tennis courts and convenient parking, and how close it is to the beach, just a couple minute walk.
The big pools are definitely a bonus because they are only 3 1/2 feet deep, so most of the kids we were with were able to touch the bottom. It’s awesome to have the pool and beach available because sometimes you get enough of the sand and just want to be out at the pool.
It was actually really chilly and windy the first day we were there, but when the wind stopped, it felt nice. The pool was heated and the kids didn’t seem to mind the temps because they played and swam for hours!
And get ready for photo overload of Jordan because I just couldn’t help myself! She was just too adorable in her baby swimsuit!
Baby Rashguard (6-12 mos) | Similar Baby Sunglasses
She was content to just stay on this little ledge and play. She loved splashing in the water- just like in the bathtub!
Swimsuit XS
Y’all remember when I tried on all those swimsuits? This is one of the ones I kept and I loved wearing it. The color and pattern are gorgeous and the wider shoulder straps are very comfortable.
Here’s the cool aerial view from our friend’s condo.
Jordan is really such a good baby. She goes with the flow so easily, eats everything and is generally always in a good mood.
I mean, can’t you just feel the joy?!?!
The beach is just a short walk down the pretty boardwalk. It’s nice too that they have little cubbies for your shoes and a faucet to wash the sand off when you’re on your way back up.
Coverup XS | Flip Flops
I think one of my favorite parts of this trip was introducing Jordan to the beach and seeing how much she took to it. She loved it right from the first feel of the sand.
She might have liked it too much- she kept wanting to eat the sand on the first day!
And she loved the sand toys- she kept digging into the sand and then putting the sand onto the shovel instead of digging with the shovel. Just too cute to watch her do that over and over!
We let her dip her toes in the water too, but I didn’t get a good pic of that.
James and his buddies spent most of that first day splashing around in the water and building sandcastles.
I bought a kite for the kids to play with too and it was a big hit once we figured out how to get it to fly!
All that running around and playing in the water will make you hungry!
Below are a few local favorites and personal recommendations from my friends:
The Spot – sit on the open air deck across from the ocean and order the pina colada in a pineapple! -Me Also great oysters/motorcycle watching – Trisa
La King’s Confectionery – old fashioned taffy-making and best ice cream – everyone!
Blvd Seafood – waterview dining for dinner
Mosquito Cafe – breakfast/brunch, Angela/Karyn/Suly
Waterman’s on the Bay – gorgeous sunset and decent food/drinks – Leslie
Nate’s West End – Not much to look at, but hands down best food on the island – Cyndy
Outriggers Seafood Grill & Bar – in nearby Kemah – Dana
Russo’s – best pizza & pasta – Ali-Shaun
Gaido’s – Dustin
Gumbo Bar – Dustin
Olympia Grill at Pier 21 – Bill
Farley Girls Cafe – amazing food, Heather
Hotel Galvez – Sunday brunch, Kari
Shrimp & Stuff – downtown for an excellent meal and kid friendly food
Saltwater Grill – on Post Office Road – Lynette
Original Mexican Cafe – on Market Street – Lynette
Cafe Michael Burger– yummy burgers and American food – Jessica
Tremont Hotel – has a great little cafe, and favorite hotel – Janice
Russo’s pizza by the pool for lunch is always a good idea. They are our favorite in Houston, but they have locations all over and they deliver!
While we were there, we ate at Rudy & Paco’s (more upscale) and also Nonno Tony’s (lovely to sit outside by the water, very kid friendly).
We were lucky to have warm temps and clear blue sunny skies for the second day.
Back at the beach was sunshiney perfection! A couple plastic glasses of wine didn’t hurt either!
And of course, more playing in the sand with my sweet girl.
Polka Dot Swimsuit (24 mos)
I seriously die over Jordan in this ruffle polka dot bathing suit. The 24 month size fit her perfectly and she just turned one year old.
I seriously die over Jordan in this ruffle polka dot bathing suit. The 24 month size fit her perfectly and she just turned one year old.
Someone was hiding from us – warming up from coming out of the water.
Gingham Swimsuit (2)
This navy/white gingham swimsuit was another winner from the swimsuit try on. The fabric is nice and textured and the ruching on the sides and across the middle is figure flattering. Y’all have seen my “body after baby” one year later and that’s why I currently prefer one-pieces right now. Plus, it’s easier to chase after kids in a one-piece and feel secure that everything is all tucked in place! 😉 The neck strap is removeable and it’s super cute with or without it.
Polka Dot Swimsuit (24 mos)
Babies always want to play with the big kids!
And on Day 2, my husband got to join us! We thought he was going to have to miss the whole trip for a last minute work interruption, but luckily, things resolved quickly.
Since we were traveling with a baby, we stayed at a suite at the San Luis hotel. The hotel is gorgeous and located right on The Seawall, directly across from the beach. Jordan usually goes to bed really early, so we wanted a separate bedroom for her to quietly sleep in while the rest of us stayed up in the living room. They had a crib and crib bedding available and this setup has worked well for us when we’ve traveled in the past, but this time, Jordan hated the crib and didn’t end up sleeping well at all either night. Boo for her and us!
We originally planned to hang at our friends’ condo on day 1 and then come here to the pool for day 2. I booked a cabana at the pool for some guaranteed shade, but the hotel wasn’t allowing any guests to come to the pool that weekend. Such a bummer, but they let me cancel the cabana and we ended up just hanging at our friends’ pool instead.
Since we were only in Galveston for two days, we didn’t get to explore the island, but there’s tons to do, almost everything family friendly, including:
The Seawall – This is iconic Galveston, and you can drive, walk, bicycle along the seawall and soak in the ocean air and great people watching. There’s tons of restaurant and cheap shopping along the seawall too.
The Strand – a quaint neighborhood of restaurants, shops and bars with historic architecture.
Pleasure Pier – amusement park with rides, games, Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant and shopping
Pier 21– waterfront entertainment and dining area with attractions including Harbor House, Willie G’s, Olympia Grill, Noony Tony’s
Pier 21 Museums (Ocean Star- drilling rig & Texas Seaport Museum)
Pier 21 Theater – showing 3 documentary films highlighting major events in Galveston history, including the 1900 Storm
Moody Gardens (amusement park with 3D theater, white sands beach, aquarium and hotel)
Schlitterbahn Waterpark
Fishing at 61st Street Fishing Pier, Jimmy’s on the Pier at 91st, Seawolf Park or
Charter an offshore fishing boat
Baywatch Dolphin Tours
Galveston Island Horse & Pony Rides
Sea Turtle Tours
Capt. Hal Newsom’s Airboat Tours of Galveston Bay
Galveston Island State Park
East End Lagoon Nature Park & Preserve
Galveston Harbour Tours
Kempner Park
Horse Carriage Ride
Magic Carpet Golf
Railroad Museum
Haunted Mayfield Manor
Children’s Museum
Lone Star Flight Museum & Texas Aviation Hall of Fame
Galveston is a beach town and completely casual, no one is really dressed up, but you could wear a flattering shift dress or sundress ($39) and sandals (this pair is quality and comfy) and be both comfortable and cute. You’d also fit right in in a maxi dress (love this one– and it comes in regular and petite!).
Every time I’ve been in the past, it’s been hot, hot, hot, so shorts (new fave!), tanks, and flip flops were the appropriate attire. But, as I learned this trip, it gets chilly too, so you want to bring jeans and sweatshirts. White jeans (under $70) definitely say Galveston too.
Braided High Waist Denim Shorts (26) | Sweater (33% off)
Same goes for the kids. I ordered them a couple new things from Nordstrom when I bought my swimsuits. I love their kids department so much and they have the cutest things! My son wears a uniform to school, so he doesn’t have a big wardrobe, and he is just now outgrowing his shorts and tees from two years ago.
I have to seriously be careful in the Nordstrom baby girl department! It’s true that having a girl to dress is so much fun. They just look so cute in everything! Look at this sweet shorts and top set! It was too cold for Jordan to get to wear that yet, so she’ll be wearing it at home soon.
Baby Top & Shorts Set | Sandals (Size 4)
So, this might be one of my longest posts ever, but I wanted to make it a complete recap and travel guide for you! I hope it’s helpful for those of you looking to travel to Galveston in the future and for my friends (and Grandma Nola – hi!! ? ) who just like to see cute pictures of our kids!
Love you guys for that! ?
women
kids
You can join me on Instagram too, where I post everyday outfits and inspiration to wake up your wardrobe.
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Meet Megan
Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!
I love that little rash guard swimsuit! I think I might order it for my own little girl for the summer. Would you say it runs pretty true to size? Is it stretchy at all? I might size up to make sure it fits her for the whole summer. Such a fun little getaway for your family!
Hi! My daughter is 13 months and 20 pounds and she's wearing the size 6-12 months and it fits her perfectly. She's wearing size 24 in the polka dot one and that fits her too, so I think the sizing is different with the different brands. They both have a good bit of stretch to them.
Looks like you had a wonderful spring break! Cute outfits and swimwear for all of you. Your kids are adorable and seem to have such happy spirits. Love both of your swimsuits. I purchased the pink kaleidoscope suit and love it! Wish I had gotten the gingham one as well.
We don't go to Galveston enough! This trip makes me want to go more often. That pink suit is so pretty in person, right?!
This is everything!! Planning our first trip there in a few weeks as a surprise for my husband's birthday. THANK YOU!!
Oh good! There's so much to do and see now! Hope y'all have great weather too- I bet you will!
Looks like fun! Can you tell me if the gingham suit has decent support on top? What type of bra/cups does it have? It's so cute but I need support! Thanks
Hi Janice! The gingham suit has removable soft padded cups and I felt like it has decent support, and it's lined under the gingham, which also feels nice and snug. The bra part has side boning and an elastic underneath the front – basically like those "shelf bra" tank tops. I'm not sure if that's enough for you, but Nordstrom has free returns if you end up not liking it. The size 2 fit me best (5'1, 105 lbs, 34D). Hope this helps!! Swimsuit buying can be tricky!
Totally LOVED THIS POST! Beautiful in every way and so informative. Lots to pick from and BUY ?
Was a really fun Spring Break and I'm so glad the weather cooperated more the second day!
Love this post 🙂 🙂 I live in Houston, also, and have been to Galveston many times — fun little road trip!
I agree! I want to go more often this summer!
I follow your instagram and blog and had to go back and find this post! I’ll be saving all the things to do and restaurants for sure! My husband and I are considering coming to Galveston in early January for a little getaway. Have you ever been that time of year or know what the weather is like? We are looking to stay at the San Luis Hotel too!