There’s something special about driving down I-45 for an hour to be greeted by the sounds of seagulls and waves crashing on the shores of Galveston’s beaches. Unfortunately, not everybody feels that way about our beach neighbors to the south. City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali recently shared his reasons to love Galveston. Here are the highlights.
📜 The Queen City of the Gulf
The Queen City of the Gulf was a major immigration port for over a quarter million Europeans in the middle of the 19th Century. The Strand area was even known as the “Wall Street of the Southwest,” with booms in industries like railroads, cotton, and publishing and printing. It is also where the holiday Juneteenth originated before it was declared a national holiday.
🏖️ Everything’s Beachy
Some folks might be hesitant to swim in Galveston, but you can still enjoy the beach! “You don't have to get in the water. You can hear the waves crashing, you can hear the seagulls, you can have that breeze. We have that less than an hour away.”
The joys of Galveston are just an hour away. (Google Maps)
⛴️ Take a Ferry!
Why stop at the beach? Take a ferry to Bolivar or just walk on for a free round trip and enjoy the scenery. Raheel has a tip if you want to avoid the summer traffic: “I highly recommend going on the ferry in non-summer months because in the summer the line [to get on the ferry] can take two hours.”
🍔 Something to Eat and Drink
Seawall Boulevard is a go-to spot for provisions. Stop by The Spot for a burger with a side of ocean view and meander to one of the adjacent bars for a night cap. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, check out Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream and La King’s Confectionery.
Still not convinced? Listen to the full episode for more tips on what to do in Galveston.
