San Antonio Travel Guide
Justin had a break from work the week of Independence Day, so we decided to properly introduce our son to San Antonio. He'd only been once, and it was a quick trip for a funeral.
Because Justin and I are both native Texans, we feel a special sort of obligation to indoctrinate our kid in all things Texas — as is tradition. That is why this travel guide will have a lot of the more touristy, kid-friendly things on it, but I will also include a few things from past trips in case you've been there and done that.
The Alamo
Where to stay:
Emily Morgan - It's hard to beat the location; this building casts a shadow on the Alamo. But it's also a beautiful historic hotel with lovely, spacious rooms. Plus, since it’s a DoubleTree property, you get a free warm chocolate chip cookie at check-in.
Hotel Emma - I have not stayed here yet, but I'm dying to. It's truly stunning. Just walking through the lobby took my breath away. It's located in the Pearl district right on the river and surrounded by amazing restaurants.
Menger - Although I haven't stayed here, I feel like no San Antonio list is complete without mentioning this legendary hotel. It's been hanging out next to the Alamo for over 160 years. Not only is it opulent and majestic, it is steeped in history. Countless historic figures such as presidents, celebrities, and famous athletes have stayed there. If you go to the bar on the ground floor, you will be standing where Teddy Roosevelt gathered his Rough Riders. If you want your San Antonio trip to be about the history, you should at least walk through the hotel.
Omni La Mansion Del Rio - I've stayed here many times over the years, and it's always been a beautiful place. I have many fond childhood memories here. The lovely courtyard was where I first saw snow. It's located right on the River Walk (hence the name), and it's also extremely close to the Majestic Theater and just down the street from the Alamo. As with many things in downtown San Antonio, it has a colorful history dating back to the 1850s. It was recently updated in 2020.
Market Square
What to do:
San Antonio Zoo - There is a lot to see here. The zoo itself is lovely and the grounds are beautiful. It's a bit pricey, but you could easily spend a whole day trying to see everything. There's also an old school amusement park that you walk through to get to the entrance. It's called Kiddie Park and it's the oldest children's amusement park in the country established in 1925. Adults can ride free with their child on the Carousel and Flying Saucers.
Zoo Train - Honestly, this was one of our son's favorite things. He's a big fan of trains in general, and this little train will take you from the zoo to several stops of other parks and museums along the way. One $6 ticket allows you to ride all day. We definitely took advantage of that and caught the train to the children's museum and back.
DoSeum - If you've got an active kid, chances are this will be their jam. Everything is interactive. They can touch everything. They can do everything. There are things to do inside and there are things to do outside. We were there for almost three hours and he still didn't want to leave. Some kids may find it overstimulating, but they do have Calm Room and certain programs that allow for a more sensory-friendly experience.
Witte Museum - We didn't visit this time because we knew our son wasn't quite ready for this one. However, it is a stop on the zoo train route, and it's a great fit for older kids and adults. Now until September, they have two special dinosaur exhibits.
Alamo - We knew our son would probably be "meh" on this one, but we took him any way. It's a Texas childhood rite of passage, after all. He did, however, enjoy the 17-minute Crossroads of History film about the history of the Alamo —much to our surprise. You have many options for the kind of experience you want. You can have a private tour, an after-hours private tour, a bus tour, a self-guided tour, a guided tour, or an audio tour. Sometimes they have historic demonstrations and re-enactments as well. If you're interested in artifacts, the Alamo Exhibit in the 24,000-square-foot Ralston Family Collections Center recently opened behind the Alamo Church.
River Walk - I mean, what's a trip to San Antonio without the River Walk? And if you've never seen it before, it really is kind of magical — especially at night with all the lights reflecting on the water. Our son begged us for a river boat tour, which is something everyone should do at least once, but keep in mind the wait can get long. You can also take a river shuttle as a scenic way to get through downtown. But don't try it if you're in a hurry. It's especially beautiful at Christmastime.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center - From the moment my son learned this place existed, it was at the top of his list. And as far as he was concerned, it did not disappoint. He loved building his own creations and racing them on the racetrack against other kids. They also have a Master Builder Creative Workshop, indoor playgrounds, a LEGO replica of downtown San Antonio, a several rides, and a LEGO 4D Cinema. If your kid likes LEGOs, this is likely a winner.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games - We'd considered whether to take our son to SeaWorld or Fiesta Texas on this trip and opted to wait another year. But when Justin found this instead, we knew it would be perfect for our little racing fanatic. He hasn't stopped talking about it since. They have an indoor racetrack with electric go-karts. Kids ages 4-7 can race on their own track in their own Mini Mario kart so they don’t get run over by the older kids — or the adults. They also have laser tag, Hologate VR, and an arcade with lots of multiplayer games that allowed our whole family to play together. I'd love to go back and check out the bowling alley; each lane has its own racing theme.
Historic Pearl District - Justin and I first visited this area on our first wedding anniversary a few years ago. Back then, it was still sort of in the early phases of development. Not anymore. It's full of high-end shops, restaurants, and bars. The even have a farmers’ market on the weekends. There’s also a green space and a splash pad that was popular with the kids and a Food Hall and plenty of seating around the area that was popular with the parents.
Historic Market Square - I've always enjoyed Market Square. It's the largest Mexican marketplace in the United States. Walking through some parts feel like you've crossed into a border town. There’s live entertainment nearly every weekend and a wide variety of locally-owned shops and booths to explore. The best Mexican hot chocolate I've ever had came from here.
River Walk near Pearl
Where to eat:
Mi Tierra - This San Antonio institution is located on Market Square and has been around for over 80 years. It's a massive restaurant and bakery that's open 24 hours, but there's almost always a wait no matter what time you go — at least that's been my experience. It's known for its festive ambience, live mariachi entertainment, and extensive menu. It always feels like a never-ending party.
The Esquire Tavern - Justin and I discovered this gem on an anniversary trip here. The craft cocktails are inventive and delicious, and the heartiness of the food offsets the booziness of the cocktails very well.
Domingo - We met up with some friends at this spot on the River Walk. It's located beneath the Canopy boutique hotel, and I did have reservations about attempting such a trendy, upscale place with three children in tow. But the service was excellent and so was the food. We all rolled out of there fat and happy. And, of course, my kid loved watching the boats drift by.
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana - After a long, hot day of sightseeing, we decided to order in one night. We wanted pizza, but we try to stay away from gluten when possible, so we decided to order from Dough based on a recommendation from our favorite gluten-free Italian. It was delicious. Most gluten-free crust tastes like a cracker; this was pillowy and soft and delicious. We devoured it in no time. They have normal pizza too, and judging by the line waiting to get in, it must be pretty great.
La Fogata - This San Antonio staple has been around for 40 years and is full of ambience and charm. I introduced my guys to this place for lunch at the original sprawling location on Vance Jackson. As always, the food was delicious and the margaritas were as beautiful as they were yummy. And the fountains provided plenty of entertainment for my kid who doesn't care about food.
Cured - This beautiful little spot in the middle of the Pearl district had recently opened when Justin and I visited several years ago. He loves meat and I love cheese, and they take both very seriously so it was perfect for us. Now they've been nominated for a bunch of awards and we'd love to go back sans kid.
Biga on the Banks - If you're celebrating a special occasion or just enjoy New American fine dining, this place knows what it's doing. The service is impeccable and the food is exquisite. Great spot for a date night, but not a great spot for kids.
TN Things I Love About You
People who know me well know that I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. Outlaw country? Sign me up. 90s hip hop? It’s all good baby baby. 70s funk rock? Play that funky music, white boy. Lucky for me, I married someone who shares my affinity for all types of music. And together, we became fans of Old Crow Medicine Show early in our relationship. So imagine how excited we were back in 2014 when we learned they were going to be playing House of Blues Dallas, which was just down the street from our loft. I bought tickets immediately and we eagerly anticipated the day we were going to get to walk two blocks to see this show.
Unfortunately, just two days before the concert, Justin got roped into a deposition scheduled at the same time and I was suddenly dateless. He encouraged me to go any way, so I called up my friend, Thais, to see if she would be willing to go even though I knew she knew nothing about this band. It’s a good thing she likes me.
I knew I liked Old Crow’s music, but seeing them in concert was insane. They were high energy the entire show. Most concerts throw in a slow song now and then so the performers can catch their breath. Not these dudes. Each member played multiple instruments, and they had a runner switching out the instruments on the stage constantly. They were all just incredibly talented musicians with a suspicious amount of stamina. It was the best concert I’d seen and it made me feel even worse that Justin missed it. So ever since that night, we’ve talked about seeing them together — specifically at the Ryman Auditorium for their New Year’s Eve show.
Well, as it turned out, 2022 was the year. We had enough miles to fly to Nashville for free and we had parents willing to keep our son for a couple of days, so I scooped up two tickets the day they went on sale in July (and they were already nearly sold out). For months, I looked forward to this trip. I planned where we would eat, what we would do, what I would wear. A month leading up to the trip, I made sure I sanitized everything and loaded my family with vitamins to keep everyone in the house from getting sick. I wanted nothing to spoil this trip.
Then, just one week before, Southwest Airlines imploded. Guess where all our miles were. We watched FlightAware intently for days seeing how many flights out of Austin Bergstrom were cancelled and how many arrived in Nashville. We kept hoping things were going to be back to normal by the 30th, but the news stories kept coming. So the day before we planned to leave, Justin said, “What if we just drove?” I wasn’t in love with the idea of spending 12 hours in the car. But I was also not in love with the idea of driving all the way to Austin Bergstrom only to have our flight cancelled and THEN spending 12 hours in the car. So that was how we ended up cancelling our flights and leaving a day early.
As we loaded the car, I had to admit I was a little excited. We used to be a lot more spontaneous before we were parents and this brought on a sense of adventure we hadn’t had in a while. But within a few hours, Waze had us taking a lot of twisty two-lane roads behind the Pine Curtain up the middle of a line of thunderstorms. We kept saying, “Are you sure this shaves off an hour and a half?” And Waze kept saying, “How dare you question me?” My anxiety was through the roof and I was wishing we could teleport. Thanks to his years as a wandering cameraman, Justin is an established road warrior, but even he was ready for a break when we decided to stop for dinner in Texarkana. It was pouring down rain, and it seemed half the town was packed under the porch of this Texas Roadhouse on a Friday night. As we scarfed down too many rolls with cinnamon butter, we took out our phones and checked the radar up against our route, trying to decide the best place to stop for the night. Justin was confident we could make it to Little Rock, so I reluctantly agreed to soldier on — even though that Holiday Inn Express next door looked a lot more inviting than another two hours in the rain.
We rolled into Little Rock around 11:00 that night. Justin had insisted we stay at a hotel on the river. I wasn’t sure why it mattered; we were planning to leave right after breakfast the next morning. After we got everything loaded into the room, he asked if I wanted to go out and have a drink. Man, I wanted to rally for his sake, but I was beat. My soul had left my body about 14 times in the last few hours of that trip. It wasn’t until the next morning when it wasn’t dark and rainy that I saw why he’d been particular about where we stayed. We were in a very cool part of town. I hadn’t been to Arkansas since the first Clinton Administration and didn’t remember much, but Justin had been there recently for work and had found this area and had wished I’d been there to explore it with him. Suddenly, I felt bad for not taking him up on his offer to have a drink. But one thing I love about him is his flexibility, and he’d already found a diner he was excited about for breakfast just down the street called @ The Corner. It was legit.
Although we wanted to wander a little more, we had a lot of ground to cover before our dinner reservations, so we promptly hit the road. Now, I don’t know everything that was going on in Nashville that weekend, but I do know that hotel prices were insane and everything was packed. When we pulled up to valet around 4:00, we could barely find a place to park. I’m convinced that the only reason that we got attention as quickly as we did was because they spotted Justin’s grandfather’s boots perched on the luggage rack. They had a full 10 minute conversation with him about those.
One of the things we like to do when we visit somewhere touristy is to find out which restaurants the locals like. This trip was no different. We had dinner at Black Rabbit that night. It was hard to know what to order because we hadn’t eaten since breakfast that morning and everything looked amazing. I ordered the rabbit rolls thinking it would be a small appetizer, but it ended up being three manly sliders. Don’t worry; I ate them all and treasured every buttery gluten-filled bite. I had hoped to have room for the bolognese because — in my opinion — if you care enough about bolognese to put it on such a small, curated menu, you’re not messing around. We ended up splitting it, and my theory was correct: it was heavenly and we devoured it. We’d been excited about the cocktail menu because it was clear they took great pride in their craft cocktails. But we ended up only having one a piece because that’s all it took to achieve cruising altitude. I had the Two-Trick Pony: a delicious mix of Tennessee whiskey and apple brandy that went down smoother than should be legal. Justin, being the licorice fan that he is, ordered The Hoffa Connection, which combined Old Forester 100 and absinthe. We vowed to come back with more money and a hollow leg.
Since the night was still young, we thought we’d head over to Robert’s Western World. I’ve been many times over the years, and I’ve always enjoyed the dive bar aesthetic and the excellent live music. However, when we stepped out of Black Rabbit, it was raining. We booked it to Broadway as fast as we could only to find a line outside not only Robert’s, but every place on Broadway. So we peaced out of there and headed back to the hotel. We settled on a hotel bar drink by the roaring fire in the lobby of the Omni. I regret nothing.
The next morning, we’d booked tickets to the National Museum of African American Music. We hadn’t been to Nashville since 2015, and this museum just opened in 2021, so we were anxious to check it out. It was fantastic. I’ve been to a lot of museums in my life, but this was the very first one that allowed me to create my own playlist. For just $1, you could purchase a RFID wristband that you could brush up against the interactive exhibits and add to your own custom playlist that you can download when you get home. I was like a kid in a candy store. My only complaint was that the only Houston rappers they mention are the Geto Boys. I mean, where’s Bun B? Fat Pat? Tobe Nwigwe? I hope they’ll be added by the time I come back.
We finished up at the museum around lunch time, so once again, I proposed we go to Robert’s Western World. They have good, cheap, greasy food and there’s always good music. But even at lunch time you couldn’t fit anyone else in there without a lubricant. So we gave up and headed down to Acme Feed and Seed. As we approached the end of Broadway, we noticed that the Iowa vs. Kentucky game was already letting out of Nissan Stadium and swarms of people were coming over the pedestrian bridge. Fortunately, we got to the restaurant before they did. I wasn’t too hungry, so I just got the mac and cheese and green beans. Justin had the Redneck Lo Mein, which looked and smelled so good I had to have a bite. Then, Justin struck up a conversation with some Kentucky fans that strolled in and they hit it off — as he so often does with strangers. After lunch, we headed up to the roof and sat with a couple of lovely Iowa fans as we sipped the drinks that the Kentucky fans had bought us downstairs.
We could’ve easily spent the rest of that lovely afternoon on the rooftop, but I often get restless wanting to cram in as much as possible on short trips, and I was dying to walk over to Pinewood Social. We’d been there on our trip in 2015 and played bocce ball on the lawn with my parents. I’d wanted to come back and bowl there, but once again the football fans beat me to it and all the lanes were taken. Instead we settled for sitting at the bar and eating some delicious tater tots with smoked paprika aioli. I knew I needed some afternoon caffeine if I had a prayer of staying up past midnight, so I had an Americano. Justin broke out of his bourbon cocktail rut and tried a Common Goals at the bartender’s recommendation: a mixture of gin, creme de cacao, and peach bitters. He was surprised how much he enjoyed it, but I’m not sure he wants me to tell y’all that.
As the sun started sinking low over the Nashville skyline, I panicked a little thinking we’d stayed too long and were going to be late for our dinner reservations. But I forgot that the sun sets before 5:00 that far east. Nevertheless, we decided to walk back to the hotel to get ready to head to one of my favorite spots in Nashville: Skull’s Rainbow Room. Now I’d been plotting to have New Year’s Eve dinner there since August. Unfortunately, they only take reservations two weeks out. I knew this was going to be a highly coveted location that night, so I stayed on top of that reservation schedule like a duck on a June bug and managed to score a 6:30 spot. As I suspected, Printer’s Alley was already vibrating.
On a mission
Stepping into Skull’s always feels exclusive. It has an intimate, cave-like, speakeasy vibe. It’s long and narrow with very few tables, so when the hostess seated us at a bistro table right next to the stage, we felt like celebrities. All of the planning to get there was worth it. The service was excellent. The lobster bisque was pure velvet. The filet was perfectly tender and flavorful. And the espresso martini I had for dessert managed to keep me awake for the concert. Everything was so perfect it almost kept me from lamenting the fact that the meal cost more than my outfit.
But the real reason we’d made this trip and driven this many miles and waited all these years was now upon us. It was 8:00 and the doors of the Ryman had just opened. There’s nothing quite like stepping into the Ryman at night. It’s just one of the most unique venues out there; you can feel the history when you walk in. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to see Old Crow Medicine Show here instead of waiting for them to make their way back to Texas. The Ryman does have its own quirks. The seats are rigid old church pews and the seat numbers are rather close together, so you have to get friendly with your neighbors. And during the course of a three-hour concert, my butt fell asleep more than once in such cramped quarters. But those are the trade-offs you make when you go to the Mother Church.
I can’t explain how excited I was when Ketch Secor stepped onto the stage. I sang, danced, and grinned from ear to ear the whole time. As I said before, OCMS puts on a very energetic show. That is still true. And they still played multiple instruments. I tried to count how many instruments Ketch played but lost count after seven. Nevertheless, they still managed to surprise me. Who expects a bluegrass band to play “Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss? And then this dude comes out and starts doing a twirling routine. Yes, the kind with a baton like a drum majorette.
Do you see this man bowing with a baton in his hand? I ain’t playin’.
And when he finished launching his baton halfway to the ceiling and catching it flawlessly behind his back, he took a bow, picked up an accordion, and joined the rest of the band without missing a beat. It’s that kind of off-the-wall showmanship that makes them such a blast to watch.
Before we knew it, the countdown to midnight started and the balloons dropped. That was the most fun I’ve had ringing in the new year in quite some time. We thought we might have it in us to hit at least one venue on Broadway, before heading back to the hotel but…
Hard pass
Back to the Omni it is. That was the best choice, really, since we had such a long drive the next day.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to contend with inclement weather on the drive home. Mostly just grumpy, hungover drivers. But we were having good conversation, we had our new playlists to listen to — thanks to the NMAAM — and one of the songs we discovered had become Justin’s top pick for his funeral (“If You Believe Your God Is Dead, Try Mine” by The Swan Silvertones). So that’s always useful info.
The way things were going, we were hoping to make this drive in one day, since we were both ready to get home and see our son. But, Justin did have a crucial stop he wanted to make. We had to go to the world’s largest Bass Pro Shops in Memphis. Not because of some redneck bucket list item, but because a friend of his designed the treehouse there and he wanted to see it in person. And really, how often do you see a giant outdoor superstore in a glass pyramid?
Like the Luxor and Opry Mills Mall had a baby
This was an impressive and disorienting structure. There’s an entire resort on the inside in addition to the superstore, a bowling alley, a glass observation deck, and a Wahlburgers Wild. It was dinner time, and we were trying not to stop again, so we decided to have our first-ever Wahlburger. I had the signature burger, and I have to admit that it was pretty tasty. We thought about braving the line to check out the observation deck before we left, but my mom texted and said our son was running a fever. That motivated us to get back on the road.
I’ll admit the drive started to feel really long after that. I lobbied to stop for the night multiple times in Texarkana, Marshall, Nacogdoches … but Justin was confident he could get us home. In fact, he would like the record to show that he didn’t even stop in Arkansas. And with the help of loud music, sunflower seeds, and a box of Hot Tamales, we rolled into the driveway at 2:00 a.m.
The next morning, I made the mistake of checking to see if our original flights were ever cancelled or delayed. And I tried not to feel some type of way when I learned they were all right on time.
Galveston Travel Guide
Galveston has held a special place in my heart for a long time. I think most Texans will acknowledge that it’s not the best beach in the world, but for millions of us, it is the closest. Not to mention, it also has some fascinating history.
My family has been coming here for generations. My grandfather took in the International Pageant of Pulchritude from the Seawall, I observed Halley’s comet through a canopy of palm trees on Broadway, my parents honeymooned on Crystal Beach and discovered Brandy Alexanders at the Balinese Room, and Justin proposed to me on San Luis Beach. Now he’s working on a television show there, and that has provided us with some new opportunities to explore the city.
You can have many different Galveston experiences, depending on what kind of trip you’re looking for. We’ve had some trips where we didn’t even go to the beach because we were too busy exploring the Strand Historic District. We’ve also had trips where we rented a beach house outside of town and only ventured out long enough to buy fresh shrimp straight off the boat.
This is by no means an exhaustive list; I’ve mostly included things I have actually done. I will add to this as our list of experiences grows.
Where to stay:
The Tremont House - This is the hotel I’ve stayed at the most simply because the show puts us up here, but it is one of the coolest hotels on the island. It’s been around since 1839, and although it’s recently undergone a massive renovation, I think they maintained the character of the hotel well. It doesn’t have a pool, so that can be problematic if you’re traveling there with kids in the summer. However, the beach is a 5-minute drive down 25th street. The location is fantastic if you’re wanting to explore the Strand or if you’re in town for Mardi Gras.
Grand Galvez - Another one of Galveston’s most stunning hotels right on the beach. It’s been on the island for over 100 years, and also recently experienced a massive renovation. The lobby looks like the Titanic and the Wynn had a baby — just opulent. Keep in mind that the swimming pool is being renovated until the spring of 2023.
The San Luis Resort - If you’re after a true resort experience, this is a good option. You can get a luxury private cabana with a plunge pool, hang out at the swim-up bar, walk across the street to the beach, lounge at the spa all day, be as fancy as you want.
Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center - This is a great option for families. Located closer to the Galveston Causeway, it’s attached to several family-friendly attractions, so you could basically park once and never have to leave.
Pleasure Pier
What to do:
Schlitterbahn Waterpark - For decades, Schlitterbahn has been a go-to for Texans trying to cool off during our oppressive summers. Their Galveston park shares a parking lot with Moody Gardens Hotel. It’s smaller than the original in New Braunfels, but still plenty to keep kids busy.
Moody Gardens - In addition to the hotel, Moody Gardens has an Aquarium Pyramid, a Rainforest Pyramid, a Discovery Pyramid, 3D and 4D theaters, a paddlewheel boat, and a waterpark with a private beach called Palm Beach. You can buy tickets individually or in a bundle, and it’s a great way to wear the kids out.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier - Is it a tourist trap? Sure. But is it also fairly magical to be in a glittering ferris wheel over the ocean at night? Also yes. My son especially enjoyed the novelty of walking straight out of the Gulf of Mexico and onto the pier and riding rides in his swim trunks. Be sure to check their social media for updated hours. They tend to change a lot.
Texas Seaport Museum and ELISSA - The tours are self-guided, but this is an attraction for all ages. I was astonished at how much my five-year-old was into this. He loved exploring the ship, and though it’s hot below deck, it is fascinating to read all about the story of this floating piece of history.
Galveston Railroad Museum - This is another self-guided tour that I think would’ve been as popular with my grandfather as it was my kindergartener. The exhibit inside the train depot was sparse, but we explored the cars in the rail yard for at least an hour.
Moody Gardens
Where to eat:
Date Night
Hearsay on the Strand - Justin and I had special memories of the original location in downtown Houston, so we were so excited when this one opened up. It’s not quite as on point as the original (it seems to be a little more on island time), but the food and drinks are still delicious.
Rudy and Paco - This is a unique concept with Central and South American influences. Be aware that there is a dress code. Justin once had to change in the parking lot so we could get in.
Riondo’s Ristorante - We love this cozy intimate Italian spot. If you go on a less busy night, you really get the royal treatment. The service is wonderful.
Gaido’s - The ultimate Galveston institution. It’s been serving high-end fresh seafood for over 100 years and is still at the top of everyone’s travel list. Make sure you make reservations.
Family Friendly
Shark Shack - A fun little spot on the Strand with some seriously delicious fish tacos and coloring pages for the kids.
Yaga’s Cafe - This menu is so eclectic it has something for everyone. Even my picky kid found something to eat. I tried the Keto Salmon Avocado Pizza much to the disgust of my tablemates, and it was so good.
Cordray Drug Store - Looking for a fun place for dessert? The Cordray Drug Store sells delicious rolled ice cream with fresh mix-ins and toppings.
Star Drug Store - This place is touted as the oldest drug store in Texas. It’s got a beautiful, old school lunch counter and soda fountain. If you need a big breakfast to fuel your day at the beach, this is a good choice.
Fish Tales - Depending on the day, you could be in for a long wait. This place is right across the street from Pleasure Pier. But it’s a big restaurant with lots of seating. We like sitting on the wrap-around deck and watching the Seawall. But be prepared to fight off hungry seagulls.
Good for Groups
Katie’s Seafood House - Everything I’ve had here has been so fresh and delicious. And if you come for dinner, you get a lovely view of the sunset off the back porch. My son liked watching all the fishing boats dock right in front of us. Reservations are a good idea here because it fills up fast.
Fisherman’s Wharf - This is a huge restaurant with lots of seating, but it still manages to have a wait sometimes. They have coloring pages for kids, and if you sit on the back patio, you get a great view of the ELISSA and can watch the boats dock all around you. We dined next to a certain Houston billionaire’s yacht last time we were there.
The Original Mexican Cafe - This spot has been here in its original location since 1916. The prices are very reasonable, which is a welcome relief from the prices you typically pay on the island. It’s just good ol’ Tex-Mex — plain and simple. And those margaritas hit the spot after a long day on the beach.
Hearsay
Where to shop:
La King’s Confectionary - Of course the kids will love this giant candy and ice cream store. But even if you’re kidless, don’t sleep on this place. They don’t have them all the time, but if they happen to have the dark chocolate bourbon caramels when you’re there, BUY THEM.
Gracie’s - This is a great gift shop with a wide variety of items. Not only do they have children’s clothing, cookbooks, and fun entertaining essentials, I was surprised at some of the high quality clothing they carry.
Galveston Bookshop - If you love a good cozy bookshop, check this place out. It’s two stories of used books, vinyl, and comics. I’ve found a lot of unique stuff here for Christmas and birthday presents.
Mercantile on the Strand - I discovered this little spot last time I was there. It may be small, but it packs a punch. I managed to get three stocking stuffers and two Christmas presents in this tiny little boutique. They’ve got something for everyone.
Play on the Strand - What a fun and unique toy store. They’ve got a great selection of books, educational toys, games, outside toys, and even some old school arcade games in the back.
Patch Co - If you like delicate jewelry, this is your spot. They carry Kendra Scott, Spartina, Able, etc. They also carry some very cute clothing and accessories. There’s a lot of interesting finds every time I go in.
Amy Lane - This is a lovely Christian gift shop. But the real showpiece of this place is the prayer wall. You can go in and write a prayer request and hang it on the prayer wall, and the owner and her husband pray through those requests every day. She is an angel. She let me talk her ear off for 45 minutes when I was having a hard day and then she prayed for me right there in the store.
Tangerine Boutique - If you like West Coast style that can be dressed up or down, check this place out. They tend to be on the pricier side and carry brands like Farm Rio and MISA.
Kimmy’s Boutique - I tore this place up last summer. The prices were reasonable, and the colors looked like rainbow sherbet. I tried on no less than 17 dresses one day.