Best Things to Do on Your Galveston Day Trip

Table Of Content

• DOLPHIN TOURS
• More Galveston Fishing Charters & Boat Cruises
• Port Of Galveston Parking
• Book your OFFICIAL Port of Galveston Cruise Parking Now
• I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise
• Regal Princess, Mexico & Honduras cruise from Galveston, March 2, 2025
• Norwegian Escape, Mexico, Honduras & Belize from Galveston, March 7, 2025

If you have your heart set on a specific restaurant, make sure to call in advance to see if you need a reservation, especially if it's a weekend or holiday. Likewise, while Galveston's restaurants are as famous for their drinks as they are for their food, make sure either to designate a safe driver, or wait a few hours before getting behind the wheel again. Which is not to say seafood has to be the culinary focus of your Galveston day trip — Galveston's restaurant scene is almost as diverse as that of Houston itself. Not surprisingly, you can also find several Mexican restaurants throughout Galveston Island, as well as other popular cuisines such as Italian and Chinese. Vegan and vegetarian diners can also find plenty of options, as can anyone simply wanting to sit down for cake or coffee. Our Sunset Cruise is a perfect family activity for your Galveston vacation.

DOLPHIN TOURS

Examples of fish caught offshore include mahi-mahi, red snapper, black drum and tuna, to say nothing of shellfish, including the famous Gulf of Mexico shrimp. Galveston seafood restaurants typically give each table a separate menu devoted to the day's fresh catches, so let that be your guide as much as your own preferences. Alternatively, if you turn right, you'll need to drive along the Galveston Seawall for a few miles before arriving at the next stretch of beaches. Specifically, once you pass the famous Galveston Fishing Pier, you'll have reached Sunny Beach.

More Galveston Fishing Charters & Boat Cruises

For two hours, we could take advantage of Redemption Spa’s steam room, sauna, salt therapy room, mud bath room, hot and cold plunge pools, and heated Turkish marble lounges. Virgin Voyages is pretty gung-ho about its scarlet red hammock on the balconies, but having the hammock hanging down made it feel even smaller for both of us to enjoy the space at the same time. It is a petty complaint, considering we were hardly ever in our suite, but the only time we would be in the hammock was when the other was in the shower. Galveston, not surprisingly, is a top Houston destination for fresh seafood.

Port Of Galveston Parking

Guests are welcome to bring snacks, beer, or wine (no glass) aboard to make the trip more enjoyable. Perfect for couples that want to sip champagne and watch the sunset or a group of friends just looking for something different to do, the trip will not disappoint. The tour is aboard Cruise-N-Time, our twin engine open-air tour boat. We were told he always greets his ships when he’s on the island, sometimes with fireworks. When my best friend suggested we needed some one-on-one girl time, we knew we wanted to spend a week in the Caribbean sun and escape winter’s wrath.

Here, the historic city of Galveston beckons with sun-kissed beaches, architectural marvels, and a vibrant cultural scene, including numerous museums and galleries. As you step onto the island, you’re stepping into a world rich with Texas’ coastal heritage, poised for exploration and discovery. Alongside the thrills of your cruise, delve into the wider array of Texas wonders that can enrich your travel experience even further. When you decide to take a Galveston day trip, you can daydream about how you'll explore this magical island in Texas. Some travelers, particularly those who focus more on Houston's urban delights, simply need a beach day.

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

The ship’s food court-styled dining, found on Deck 15, was nothing like a traditional food court. Instead of pizza, burgers, French fries, and chicken fingers, the Galley featured Bento Boxes at Bento Baby, made-to-order salads at Daily Mix, and açai bowls at The Sweet Side. We could even find freshly made juices at Juice Sea on Deck 7 and poke bowls at Sun Club Café on Deck 16. Actually, it was super easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle aboard Valiant Lady.

Don’t miss a drive-through daiquiri stand for a frozen cocktail on-the-go. As far as where to find Galveston's best restaurants, you really have two main options. If you want to eat close to the beach, heading right when you reach the Gulf is probably your best bet. Harborside Drive, on the other hand, allows you to dine with views of West Bay. More concerned with what's on your plate than what's on the horizon?

I cruised Royal Caribbean from Galveston for the first time. Here's what a cruise from Texas is like. - Royal Caribbean Blog

I cruised Royal Caribbean from Galveston for the first time. Here's what a cruise from Texas is like..

Posted: Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

From the bustling Port of Galveston, embark on a journey with renowned cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Line. Each line offers 6-day itineraries with a unique perspective on the Caribbean and Mexican wonders, allowing you to tailor your experience to your personal taste for adventure, elegance, family fun, or relaxation. Explore the diverse and captivating destinations that await and set sail for an extraordinary week-long escape.

We spent every afternoon lounging on the rooftop between excursions and watched the sunset during happy hour with an intimate group of cruisers we befriended. On our sea day, when the pool was most packed, the lounge remained an empty reprieve, and we certainly felt like RockStars with our whims catered to at every turn. Not surprisingly, many Galveston day trippers cross the causeway in search of sun and surf.

The Strand Historical District is the town’s prime shopping spot, where 19th-century storefronts now house a quirky collection of locally owned gift shops and antique stores. Here you can pick up beachwear, whimsical gifts, model ships, used books, Southwestern turquoise jewelry, and Texas-inspired home décor. Here, adventure reaches new heights with a rock-climbing wall 40 feet above deck. And big thrills are always on the forecast with the Perfect Storm℠  — the boldest waterslides at sea. In Belize and Honduras, experience the thrill of exploring ancient Mayan ruins and the serenity of sandy beaches. Belize City and Harvest Caye, along with Roatan and Mahogany Bay, offer a blend of cultural richness and natural beauty.

We had decided to make our vacay a week of self-improvement, promising to partake in the ship’s more than 100 free exercise classes. We also swore we would utilize the open-air track on Deck 17 called The Runway, join the calming morning yoga sessions on The Perch, and visit the ship’s gym, B-Complex. Beneath one bed were two large drawers, and the closet/armoire featured another set of drawers so that everything had a place. We couldn’t fit our suitcases under the beds, but because of all the drawer space, we could fit them into the closet.

Whether you're specifically seeking fun things to do in Galveston for adults or plan to bring along travelers-in-training, the island's underrated natural side is a great way to bring everyone together. Galveston Island State Park allows you to hike amid the natural marsh landscape, and spot native birds and other marine animals. Even if you're just visiting Galveston island for the day with your children, you'll definitely find it interesting even if you missing out on the beach camping. Continuing even further down the coastal road, you'll find more beaches. Your boat for this Galveston Sunset Cruise is our beloved 36′ Contender. It features a spacious deck with plenty of room for up to 6 people while three 300hp Yamaha outboard engines will have us cruising at over 30 knots to our favorite sunset destinations around Galveston Bay.

Carnival Cruise Line‘s 7-day itineraries from Galveston are a blend of excitement and relaxation, featuring stops in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and the Cayman Islands. Each destination offers unique experiences, from Mayan ruins to crystal-clear waters. Still, we took advantage of the Experiences offered by Virgin. By far, our best Experience was a day sailing to the Pitons in Saint Lucia, where we stopped to snorkel and dropped anchor in a quiet yet colorful bay for local eats and Piton beer. Although we didn’t stay in a RockStar suite, which are at least double in size, feature a bottomless in-room bar, and have marble bathrooms with Peek-a-Boo showers (and sometimes a bathtub), we did get RockStar VIP access. Of the ship’s additional restaurants, we loved Pink Agave’s taste of Mexico through tlayuds, memelas, sopes, tortas, esquites, and tamales, but were less impressed by Test Kitchen.

We couldn’t get enough of Rees and his high-energy Spin classes set to Beyonce, Rhianna, and Madonna. If you Google Virgin Voyages, you may find earlier articles indicating that adults-only cruises are meant for raunchiness. My friend’s husband read too many comments about “swingers,” “in-cabin toy packages,” and other tales that made him wonder why we chose Virgin.