Here’s the scenario: the sun has just begun to pry open the ever-present crack in the hotel curtains and the kids are already bouncing from bed to bed with unbridled giddiness. You can’t blame them really. When you tucked them in bed the night before, you promised “only one more sleep” before it was Cruise Ship Time! The excitement is enough to even give an adult a tingle, but all that anticipation bottled up the in a tiny body is bound to come out in bounces and screams.
If you are up early, you might as well find something productive for all that energy, but your boarding time is much later in the day. Heading to the cruise terminal early would be a huge fail. The only thing worse than vibrating kids in the confines of a hotel room is vibrating kids in the confines of a drab, boring cruise terminal. Instead, head to the cruise terminal for a quick bag drop off, and take off on foot for the many family fun attractions located within walking distance of the Galveston Cruise Pier.
1.Texas Seaport Museum and the Tall Ship Elissa: Located in Historic Pier 21, the Texas Seaport Museum tells of the legacy of the sea in both commerce and immigration. A unique computer data base contains the names of over 133,000 immigrants who entered the United States through Galveston. The museum is also home to the famed Tall Ship Elissa, a three masted, iron-hulled sailing ship that was built in 1877. The seaworthy vessel serves as the official Tall Ship of Texas, and sails annually in the trials of the Gulf of Mexico to keep the heritage of masted ships alive.
2. Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch: Along the same pier with the Elissa, visitors can board a much more modern sailing vessel for a one hour dolphin watch and history tour. Pods of dolphins are regularly seen playing in the wake of the tour boat and other boats around the harbor. In between thrilling dolphin sightings, you will get up close to the shipwreck of the Selma, and learn about the history of Seawolf Park and the Lighthouse at Bolivar Point.
3. The Great Storm Theatre: More than 100 years later, the Great Storm that hit Galveston in 1900 is still a vital part of the history of the island. A film chronicling the firsthand accounts and pictures from the terrible disaster can be seen at this theatre, along with other historical films featuring Pirate Jean Lafitte, who called Galveston home and the port of Galveston’s part in the history of immigration.
4. Ocean Star Oil Rig Museum: A retired jackup drilling rig has been transformed into a museum that explores the life, commerce, and science of an offshore oil rig. The museum features three floors of models and interactive displays illustrating the story of offshore oil and gas from seismic technology to exploration and production. Scale models of production platforms, actual drill bits and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) are also on display. The highlight of the museum is the chance to walk the skywalk to the drilling floor of the rig to get a close-up look at the massive mechanism.
~The Galveston CVB provided us with complimentary passes to these attractions. They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own.~
During our road trip across the country, we listened to the audio book “Isaac’s Storm”, a fantastic non fiction book written like a novel about the great hurricane that hot Galveston. Ever since I’ve been fascinated to see the place and learn more. Its taken on greater meaning after my home town was greatly affected by Hurricane Sandy, I want to see other communities who have been through the same and survived. Now you haven given me more reasons to go, thank you!
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