Located approximately 50 miles from downtown Houston, Galveston Island is one of Texas' most well known and often-visited barrier islands. Galveston offers several public beaches where visitors and locals can relax, unwind and soak up the Texas sun.
Stewart Beach is a family-oriented beach park with convenient amenities, including rental chairs and umbrellas, snack bars and beach shops. The park also sponsors family-friendly activities such as beach volleyball tournaments, sand castle tournaments and has a children's playground. Lifeguards and security guards are on duty to ensure the safety of park visitors.
The beach at Galveston's Seawall is a funky, eclectic place to enjoy the island's atmosphere. Tourists on rental bikes and on foot cruise up and down the seawall to check out the Galveston's local scene. Shopping, restaurants and hotels line the seawall and generate most of the visitors to the beach.
Visitors looking for a quiet place to escape the crowds and tourists head farther west to Jamaica Beach. This small seaside community is a perfect place to enjoy a laid-back beach vacation. The community offers vacation rentals, an RV park and public beach access.
Bolivar Peninsula, including the beach community of Crystal Beach, is approximately 60 miles from downtown Houston. The area is known for its laid-back beach vibe and family atmosphere. The beaches of the Bolivar Peninsula have been a favorite Texas beach destination for generations and children and families enjoy the opportunity to access the area via the Bolivar Ferry. The communities along the peninsula offer over seven hundred rental properties in a variety of styles and price points to accommodate almost any visitor's needs. Activities in the local beach communities include swimming, fishing and bird watching. Locally owned shops and restaurants are eager to welcome guests and provide visitors with Texas hospitality and local flavor.
Matagorda Bay Nature Park is located approximately 100 miles from Houston on Matagorda Peninsula. The nature park is a 1,600-acre preserve operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and created to protect the area's natural wetlands as well as to provide recreation, education and enjoyment of the area. The park boasts over 22 miles of beaches along the Texas Gulf Coast and two miles of river frontage with amenities including restrooms, showers and picnic pavilions with grills. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities at the park, including tent and RV camping, hiking, bird watching, fishing, kayaking and a visitor education center.
The Malaquite Visitor Center at Padre Island National Seashore is approximately 250 miles southwest of Houston. Although the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore require a four-hour car trip from Houston, the beaches are well worth the extra miles. The park protects the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world as well as providing protection for endangered sea turtles and their nests. Activities at the park's beaches include swimming, fishing, beachcombing and camping. The visitor's center offers Junior Ranger programs for children, interpretive programs and ranger-supervised sea turtle hatchling releases. A small park store provides concessions, snacks, basic camping supplies and souvenirs.
