GALVESTON BEACHES  

Galveston, TX

Gulf Coast beaches occupy 32 miles of Galveston Island and all are accessible to the public. But you can only find facilities and concessions at the main beaches. The sand is fine, light-colored, and powdery when dry, but the tides coming into the beach produce a compacted wet surface, tan to light brown in color. This is ideal for strolling with bare feet and for building sandcastles. The wet sand supports automobile traffic at some sites--check the entry signs. Water can reach as low as the 60s during winter months. From May through September it warms to around 80 degrees. Please observe that the sand dunes and other wildlife ecosystems are closed to all vehicles. Though there are a variety of sharks in the Gulf, there are no historical records of the area for shark bites involving beach swimming.

East Beach
A town beach enjoyed by most residents and tourists alike. Galveston and the state of Texas recently spent millions of dollars restoring the East Beaches, so they're in great shape. The sandbars slope at a small incline so that there is wading until quite far from shore, making this a excellent place to bring young children.

West Beach
Begins at the southwestern end of the seawall, where Seawall Blvd name-changes to FM 3005. West Beach is particularly attractive for jogging and nature sightseeing that is undisturbed by development.

In total, Galveston Island has a diverse range of beaches and nature parks to experience:

Big Reef Nature Park
Fort Crockett - Seawall Park
Galveston County Beach Pocket Park
East Beach
Galveston Island State Park
Palm Beach at Moody Gardens
Poretto Beach
San Luis Pass Beach
Seawolf Park - Pelican Island
Stewart Beach

Gulf Stream Stables
Enjoy horseback riding on the beach with year-round riding for your enjoyment, special group rates on weekdays; 8 Mile Road & West Beach; 409-744-1004