Tourists can enjoy nature at the Galveston Island State Park. The 2,013.1-acre site features fishing, hiking, mountain bike riding and swimming. Birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts can spot and photograph armadillos, mallard and mottled ducks, marsh rabbits, raccoons and wading and shore birds. Park rangers give tours of the beach's fauna and flora by appointment. Campers can stay overnight at campsites with electricity and water.
Galveston Island State Park
14901 Termini-San Luis Pass Road
Galveston, TX 77554-7745
409-737-1222
tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/galveston
The Lone Star Flight Museum preserves Texas aviation history. It has more than 1,500 artifacts and showcases more than 40 historic aircraft like military bomber and fighter plans. As a bonus, visitors can take rides in four World War II airfcraft--the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, T-6 Texan and the PT-17 Stearman.
The venue also includes the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Members include President George H.W. Bush, Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, Howard Hughes and Tom Landry. The hall's education center has displays about each member and exhibits such as a replica of the USS Hornet Navy aircraft carrier.
Lone Star Flight Museum
2002 Terminal Drive
Galveston, TX 77554
409-740-7722
lsfm.org
You don't need to go to a beach off the Gulf of Mexico for water fun. The Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark has more than 32 water activities divided into three sections. The Blastenhoff Area includes a hot tub and a bar, a kids' pool with age-appropriate rides and fast water slides. The Surfenburg Area has a wave pool for body surfing, water flumes in which you body slide into a splash pool and a slide you travel down on a raft. The Wasserfest Area features tube slides, a tidal wave river and more high-speed water slides.
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark
2026 Lockheed Road
Galveston, TX 77554-6237
409-740-3003
schlitterbahn.com