Galveston - South Houston City Guide

Taste of the Gulf Coast

Galveston County is the southernmost part of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area and includes cities such as League City, Galveston and Texas City.

History

The city of Galveston was a stronghold of the pirate Jean Lafitte in the early 17th century, until the U.S. Navy kicked him out in 1821. Galveston was also an essential Texan port during the Texas Revolution. But the county was struck by a hurricane in 1900, killing around 6,000 people — making it the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. While the city of Galveston recovered, the port of Texas City was able to remain open, and businesses moved northward to Houston.

Entertainment

Fast forward a little over 100 years, and Galveston remains one of the biggest tourist attractions in the South. The list of things to do is almost endless, but perhaps the most obvious is the beach. The Gulf of Mexico beaches are some of the best in the world, and Galveston’s beach is no exception. The East Beach is one of the most beautiful on the Gulf Coast, with pearly white sand, cool breezes and, of course, lots of sunshine. It’s the perfect place to throw a beach party with your friends. Staying on the beach can get expensive, so it’s easier and can be more affordable to stay in a hotel and take a party bus down to Galveston Beach.

Forty percent of Galveston County is water. A prime watersport and fishing area near Houston. If you’re not a fan of sand, just take some friends on a boat out to the bay for a ride or for some relaxing fishing.

Dining

Being an island in the Gulf of Mexico has its perks — mainly, fresh seafood can be found just offshore. That’s what makes Galveston’s food selection so great. The West End Restaurant and Sand Bar overlooks Galveston Bay while serving only the freshest seafood and fantastic drinks. The sandbar portion of West End is an open-air drink and sandwich bar while the restaurant itself has specialties like crispy fried pickles, seafood gumbo, French Quarter-style poboys and crab balls. It’s a dining experience you won’t want to miss.

Galveston and its surrounding cities are so full of fun things to do, it’s impossible to narrow them down to a few. But they need to be experienced. So next time you’re in the Houston area, take a limo even further down south and check out this beautiful part of the Gulf Coast.