Galveston Island, located on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, is a little over an hour-and-a-half drive from Tomball and is a great destination for a quick day trip or a weekend stay. The beach town offers historical museums, a variety of shops and boutiques, fresh seafood restaurants and of course, plenty of beaches.

Activities

1. Galveston Beach–East Beach

Galveston's public beaches are open for surfing, swimming, fishing and lounging in the sand. Galveston's East Beach, at the far eastern tip of the island, is the largest beach in Texas. On occasion, special events such as concerts and sand castle competitions take place. Chairs and umbrellas are available for rent on weekends from May–August.

• May weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m., weekends 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
• June–September weekdays
• 9 a.m.–6 p.m., weekends
• 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Parking prices vary.

2. Moody Gardens, One Hope Blvd., 800-582-4673, www.moodygardens.com

The theme park offers something for every member of the family with more than nine different attractions including a Caribbean-inspired aquarium and an authentic rainforest recreation. The entire complex offers everything from a 4D movie theater to cruises on an 1800s-style paddlewheel boat replica. The "Palm Beach" area—featuring a lazy river and Galveston's only white sands beach—is open weekends starting May 12. 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

• $49.95 per person for one day of all attractions, individual attraction costs vary.

3. Texas Seaport Museum, Pier 21, No. 8, 409-763-1877, www.tsm-elissa.com

Part of the Galveston Historical Foundation, the museum is the home of Elissa, a historic ship built for commerce in 1877. Tours are available on the actual ship, and a museum and theater on site feature photos and films documenting the story of Elissa. The museum also has an exhibit about shrimping in Galveston and a database of more than 130,000 immigrants who entered the United States through the island.

• 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily
• $5 (Ages 6–18) $8 (adult), free for children under 5.

Dining

4. Gaido's Seafood Restaurant, 3828 Seawall Blvd., 409-762-9625, www.gaidos.com

Serving fresh and hand-prepared Gulf Coast seafood, Gaido's is a necessary stop for anyone looking to experience the best of Galveston cuisine. The restaurant has been a part of the island's seafood culture for 100 years and is run by Fourth-generation Gaido family members. Recommended menu items include the Crabmeat Cheesecake ($10), Snapper Michael ($39) and Blue Cheese Grits ($5). Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

5. The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe, 512 14th St., 409-763-5500, www.thesunflowerbakeryandcafe.com

The Sunflower Bakery and Cafe specializes in serving fresh, American food for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable, bright setting. Local restaurant owners Harry and Lisa Blair also boast the freshest bakery in Galveston. Noteworthy menu items include the tomato basil soup ($4 per cup), rotisserie chicken ($7.95 for of the chicken) and fresh Gulf fish, such as the Texas blue crab cakes ($14.95). The restaurant also has a selection of homemade desserts, such as cookies, pies, cobblers and cakes.

• Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–7 p.m.,
• Fri 7 a.m.–9 p.m.,
• Sat 8 a.m.–9 p.m.,
• Sun 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Shopping

6. Gracie's Gift Shop, 2228 The Strand, 409-762-2515, www.graciesgiftshop.com

Owner Gennette Bassett opened her gift store and boutique around 14 years ago on The Strand. The store offers hundreds of items including candles, jewelry, face and body care products, purses and handbags, children's toys and apparel, and a variety of home decorations. Bassett is adding new items to her stock regularly, which she picks up from an array of different venues.

• Sun–Thu 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Fri 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Sat 10 a.m.–9 p.m.