Galveston Beach Parks Open March 9, Attractions Open Daily for Spring Break
Spring break is right around the corner which means flocks of Texans and regional travelers will be saying goodbye to winter as they head to the beach. Galveston’s beach parks will open March 9, and that’s just the beginning of what visitors can experience on the island this season.
While Seawall beaches are open year-round, several of the island’s public beach parks – Stewart Beach, East Beach and Dellanera R.V. Park -- will open for beachgoers March 9 for the 2024 beach season, offering a variety of special amenities. Visitors to the beach parks can take advantage of restrooms, showers, beach chair rentals and other concessions. Be sure to check out the new mobile amenities at Stewart beach featuring ADA accessible decking, trailers, restrooms, showers and shade located closer to the beachfront. In addition, beach wheelchairs are available at Stewart and East Beach to check out for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Budding architects can learn how to build sandcastles from the pros during free sandcastle lessons taking place March 9 and 16 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at East Beach and every Saturday thereafter from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends. Some supplies are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring beach buckets and shovels.
Many of Galveston’s popular attractions will be open daily during spring break. The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park will be open every day March 8-17. The island’s many historic mansions and museums such as Bishop’s Palace and the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum will also be open daily throughout the season.
Visitors to Moody Gardens can take advantage of a special deal throughout the month of March with the purchase of the One-Day Value Pass that includes unlimited admission to the Aquarium and Rainforest Pyramids; Discovery Museum; MG3D, 4D, and Audience Recognition Theaters; and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat for $80 per adult and $70 for children and seniors.
For an added value, guests can apply their admission purchase toward an Annual Membership, that pays for itself in only two visits and includes admission to all of these attractions and a variety of membership benefits for a full year of fun.
Spring Break brings an opportunity to view five Washed Ashore sculptures made entirely from marine debris. Most are more than six feet tall and include depictions of coral reefs, jellyfish, penguins, sharks and more. They will remain in Galveston until March 30.
The sculptures are located throughout the island: Rosa the Bald Eagle at Pier 21, Gretta the Great White Shark at Saengerfest Park, Stanley the Sturgeon at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, Brody the penguin at the Children’s Museum and Lidia the seal at Moody Gardens. The Washed Ashore sculptures serve as monumental reminders about the hazards of single-use plastics and their harmful impact on marine life.
At Moody Gardens, visitors can explore the Aquarium, Rainforest and Discovery Pyramids and much more. Pyramid Kids Camps for children grades K-8 will take place from March 11-15. They feature a mix of activities, animal presentations, games, crafts and more. Junior golfers can hit the links during a camp set for March 12-14. Adults can share in the fun, too. The Spring Adventures program includes early entry into themed attractions in the rainforest and aquarium pyramids starting with a guided tour and followed by an animal presentation. Go to www.moodygardens.org for more information.
The Galveston Downtown Cultural Arts District, an official cultural district designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts, offers an intriguing selection of theaters, shops, restaurants, and museums that are well worth visiting. The Victorian architecture of Strand Street, widely known as The Strand, makes for a charming stroll as you shop for unique finds or grab sweets at La King’s Confectionery. Saengerfest Park at 23rd and Strand is a free family park home to a life-size chessboard and regular live entertainment. Be sure to also check out the district’s 20-plus art galleries, displaying fine art, sculpture and photography in beautifully restored historic buildings -- many can be found on Postoffice Street.
Want to learn more about things to do and see on Galveston Island? Be on the lookout for the mobile visitor information center. VICi is a 1975 Dodge Travco motorhome, remodeled and retrofitted for the 21st century. The friendly visitor staff will be handing out free Visit Galveston goodies and have all the information to guide guests to all the best spots on the island. For more information on where you can find her this spring break, visit www.visitgalveston.com/blog/wheres-vici.
Visit Galveston provides visitors with a special passport to adventure and savings with the Galveston Island Pass. The pass allows visitors to experience multiple Galveston attractions on one ticket and save 40 percent off regular admission prices. For more information and to purchase a pass, visit www.GalvestonIslandPass.com
Where the Texas Coast begins.
Author
Visit Galveston
Visit Galveston is the official destination marketing organization for Galveston Island, Texas.
