Stewart Beach, 6th Street and Seawall Boulevard, is family-oriented and an island favorite. Lifeguards are on duty during the busy summer months and the beach is regularly patrolled by police. Amenities include chair and umbrella rentals (you also can bring your own), restrooms and a snack bar. There are parking fees and this beach is closed November through February.
Do pay attention to posted no-swimming areas and do not get in the water when red flags, which indicate hazardous water conditions, are flying on the beach.
For the military enthusiast, visit Seawolf Park, which in addition to a World War II submarine and destroyer, has a playground and picnic area. Taking a Duck Tour is another salute to World War II that older kids will remember. These six-wheel drive amphibious vehicles travel by land and water while giving you a comical and informative view of Galveston.
The Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark is an 26-acre indoor/outdoor facility that operates yearround. The adventurous can shoot down slides at 40 mph while others can play at the imaginative Treasure Island Kids' Pool. Check the Schlitterbahn website for discounts.
Galveston Island State Park is a 2,000-acre park that offers fishing, camping, a boat ramp, picnic sites, 4 miles of trails and a quarter-mile nature trail that's a good choice for little legs. Bring your binoculars so the kids can see the many shore birds up close.
Charter fishing boats leave from the island as well as hourlong Galveston Harbor Tours --- the hourlong Dolphin Watch tour is just the right amount of time and is particularly popular with kids.
Galveston museums are plentiful, but the Texas Seaport Museum and the tall ship Elissa at Pier 21 are hands-down favorites for kids. The 1877 Elissa, which you can board and explore, was restored in 1982. The Elissa has the distinction of still sailing occasionally. Other museums include the Galveston Railroad Museum, the Lone Star Flight Museum and the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, which is an educational nod to the Texas petrochemical industry.
Galveston's Moody Gardens pyramids are top attractions on the island. Look for ticket discounts on the Moody Gardens website.The Rainforest Pyramid is currently being renovated with a scheduled re-opening in early 2011. The Discovery Pyramid will capture the attention of budding scientists, and animal lovers won't be able to resist the penguins, seals and sharks in the 12-story Aquarium Pyramid. Add three special theaters and your day with the kids will fly by.
