Although we spent three months on Galveston Island between December 2023 and February 2024 we unfortunately didn’t get to see a lot of the “touristy” attractions there. Instead, we spent a lot of time preparing for travel during 2024 including settling on (and ordering) new furniture, looking at interior decorating changes and updating things like one of our vent fans, bathroom faucets and replacing our water heater in the middle of a wind storm with wind gusts to 65 mph. We also spent a fair amount of time planning our route for 2024 and booking many of the stops along the way – more to come as we travel to the north west this summer including a month near Glacier National Park.

Galveston was officially founded in 1836 by Michel B. Menard and became an important port city, serving as the main port for the Republic of Texas. Galveston experienced rapid growth in the mid-19th century due to its strategic location and thriving trade, becoming one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. However, the city also faced significant challenges, including devastating hurricanes and the infamous 1900 storm, which remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, claiming thousands of lives. Despite these setbacks, Galveston rebuilt and continued to prosper, evolving into a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, historic architecture, and vibrant culture. Today, it remains an important port city and a testament to the resilience of Americans in the face of adversity.

Galveston is quite similar to New Orleans in many ways, particularly in their cultural heritage and maritime histories. They both boast vibrant music scenes, influenced by diverse cultural backgrounds, including African, French, Spanish, and Caribbean influences. Additionally, both cities have rich culinary traditions, featuring delicious seafood and a mix of Creole, Cajun, and Tex-Mex flavors. Architecturally, they showcase stunning examples of historic buildings, with New Orleans known for its French Quarter’s iconic architecture and Galveston for its well-preserved Victorian homes and structures. Galveston hosts a Mardi Gras celebration second only to the one held annually in New Orleans. We were downtown near the harbor one afternoon of the Mardi Gras and enjoyed a parade with a thousand other people!

The Strand District in Galveston is a historic area located in the heart of the city’s downtown. Originally a bustling commercial hub, the Strand was once home to numerous wholesalers, importers, and commission merchants, making it one of the wealthiest areas in Texas during the late 1800s. Today, it’s a vibrant cultural and entertainment district, lined with a mix of shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums. Visitors can stroll along the cobblestone streets, admire the ornate facades of historic buildings, and explore attractions like the Galveston Railroad Museum, the Texas Seaport Museum with the tall ship Elissa, and the Galveston Children’s Museum. The Strand also hosts various events throughout the year, including art festivals, Mardi Gras, and historic home tours, attracting locals and tourists alike to experience its unique charm and rich history.

Moody Mansion

Built in 1895 for W.L. Moody Jr., a prominent businessman who made his fortune in banking, insurance, and cotton. The mansion, designed by architect William H. Tyndall, is a prime example of Romanesque Revival architecture and features exquisite detailing and craftsmanship. The Moody family lived in the mansion for several decades, hosting lavish social events and gatherings.

After the death of W.L. Moody Jr., the mansion remained in the family until 1986 when it was opened to the public as a museum, showcasing the luxurious lifestyle of Galveston’s elite during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can tour the meticulously restored rooms, filled with original furnishings, artwork, and decorative items, providing a glimpse into the opulent past of the Moody family.

The Moody Mansion stands as a testament to the wealth and influence of the Moody family and offers insight into Galveston’s history as a prosperous port city. Today, it remains a popular tourist attraction and an important cultural landmark in Galveston.

Park Review – Galveston KOA Holiday

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: Galveston, TX
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 1:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Concrete pads / asphalt roads. Each site has a grill and picnic table but only KOA patio sites have a fire pit and they are not available for long term stays.There are also several cabins available for rent for those folks who want to visit but not camp. A playground is available for kids with a jump pad and there is a dog park for dogs. Some sites are available with a small dog pen too. Horseshoes, Pickle ball and Basketball is available on site. For swimming, there is a heated pool, a hot tub and a heated small floating river. There is a store for small items, gifts, mixed drinks and other items and a pavilion for outdoor events. For fishing, there is a catch and release pond adjacent to several of the sites. Ocean/beach access is within walking distance just across the street.
Access: The park is along San Luis Pass Rd (FM-3005) about 20 miles south of downtown Galveston. About 3 miles south of the park is the San Luis Pass Toll Bridge that charges $2 to cross. I believe larger rigs should be able to go south across the bridge just fine (in fact we will be leaving that way) but going north could be a bit tight at the toll plaza although it should be doable based on their maximum width signs showing 10′ maximum width.
Staff: Staff was friendly and helpful in general although we had one instance where there were power problems in the park and they initially refused to call the power company to get it fixed stating it was just the weather. Later in the day we found out they were fully aware of the problem and had called but when the power company came out to fix it they didn’t fix all of the problem. They finally called again about 5 PM and our power was restored about 9 PM after no power for 13 hours. Communication for the whole event was horrible and the staff was not doing an adequate job of tracking the problem across various areas of the park.
Cellular/WiFi: The park had WiFi but we didn’t use it. Verizon service was good. Access to the north sky for Starlink was good for most if not all sites.
Restaurants: Swamp Shack (Lake Jackson) – Great place for Cajun style seafood, one of our favorites. Lake Jackson Seafood – Good basic seafood restaurant. Jimmy Joe’s Texas Kitchen (Lake Jackson) – Good seafood and other grill type fare. The Original Mexican Cafe (Galveston) – OK Mexican food but not as good as we had hoped. Waterman’s Restaurant (Jamaica Beach Area) – Sort of an upscale marina restaurant for seafood and steaks. We ordered from the happy hour food menu and saved quite a bit over the dinner prices. The seafood was honestly a bit bland. Nate’s Seafood and Steaks (Jamaica Beach area) – Acceptable place for seafood, steaks and burgers. Asiel’s (Lake Jackson) – Nice lakeside pick with a large variety on the menu. Venados Cantina (Jamaica Beach area) – Another OK place but nothing we’ll rush back to. Shanghai Restaurant (Lake Jackson) – We were not a fan, I’ll leave it at that. Katie’s Seafood House – Near the Galveston seaport, this restaurant serves fresh seafood straight from their own boats. They were a bit pricey but worth it if you like good seafood. Nick’s Kitchen & Beach Bar – Another local favorite for seafood. Not quite as expensive as Katie’s but also not quite as good – but almost. The Sunflower Bakery – Great stop for breakfast and baked goods.
Nearby parks: Blue Water – Across the Pass is a good place to stay and was not busy during the winter. Jamaica Beach RV Resort is a large, nice park but we had noted previously that the sites were short and it was a difficult park to navigate with a big rig. Stella Mare is another good park but sites are a bit closer together and it is popular even in the winter so it can be difficult to get into. There is also a new park being developed just on the edge of town in Galveston which looks promising although the sites look short. We’ll have to keep an eye on that.
What we liked: This is a nice park for a winter stay with lots of activities and amenities like swimming options, and the beach across the street. Not quite as busy during the winter as other destinations further south or west.
What we didn’t like: As is typical for most coastal areas, weather can be a problem. Wind, especially in the winter can be constant. We had several times with wind gusts over 50 MPH and at least one storm with 65 MPH gusts, one while I was outside with a service tech who was replacing our water heater. Early in our 3 month stay we had frequent power issues, most short, but 2 where we were without power for 12 hours or more. Later in the stay things seemed to be better. It’s almost 20 miles to the nearest large grocery store although we prefer to go into Lake Jackson which is about 30 miles. It’s not as warm here as it might be further south or west during the winter.
Verdict: We had originally seen this park before it became a KOA and liked it but we weren’t sure how it would change under KOA. I think at the time we stayed, it was a relatively new change. We were pleasantly surprised that this wasn’t a typical KOA but rather one of the best we have stayed at. Prices are not out of line for what you get and the park is nice and well kept. Hopefully the staff issues mentioned above will be improved in the future. We plan to return here again for a winter stay.