Travel advice question,Galveston for a vacation?

My wife and I are trying to do a couples weekend with some friends and looking for heat and beaches.

One of the places I suggested was Galveston because I think it is a touristy area and it is relatively close to Houston. The respective airlines we work for fly to Houston so thinking of meeting there.

Any other suggestions for awesome spots on the Texas Gulf Coast relatively close to Houston?

Our other option is San Francisco but the water is too cold and I am not sure of the beach scene.

 

If you're accustomed to the beaches of the Carolinas (as we were) Galveston is going to be a disappointment (really any Texas beach is going to be). But Galvy has its charm.

In the main the condos/hotels in Galveston are not actually on the water. They're across the street (it's totally bizarre to me that there are grocery stores etc. that technically are waterfront). If you go far enough west, however, the condos are actually on the water. We usually stay at the Seascape ...

There's an area downtown call "The Strand" that's a little like the French Quarter in New Orleans. Good food, good times.

I have some local connections if you're interested.

 

No. Go somewhere else.

 

LOL ... now, now ...

 

I'm not a Galveston fan, but there are certainly worse places. As for beach destinations, I really can't think of any worse. Biloxi, maybe?

 

Galveston is kind of like Atlantic City without casinos. If the choice is Galveston and SF, go to SF and swim in the hotel pool.

 

Wife is working for a while in San Antonio; visited her last week and on Sunday we drove down to Corpus Christi. Made it in under and hour and a half, had a few pops and some really good deep fried shrimp at a little place on the bay, drove around a bit and headed back to SA.

CC was, I have to admit, a bit creepy. Perfectly nice place, very clean, but the downtown (such as it is) sits right on the water, and looks just like it did circa 1975. Really strange, very empty, too, which added to the creepy vibe.

I say this cause we decided next time I visit, we're going to Galveston instead for a night or two...Mrs. TV taught herself the Glen Campbell song on the guitar while in high school and has wanted to visit it ever since.

 

Lived in Houston for a while and been to Galveston many times. I like the area, but I rarely go to the beach. Mostly we wemt to Galveston to fish, visit the Strand or the Schlitterbaun waterpark.

Galveston is fairly close to the Space Center for a day trip, too.

I think it's worth a visit. A cool place with an old-school feel. But not if the beach is your primary destination.

 

One of the few qualifications I have for beaches is that they not be so crowded I can't move. "Natural beauty" and such are low priorities.

If Galveston's beaches are bad enough to keep the crowds away, they might just be perfect for actual relaxation.

 

They are brown -- I believe from the oil that washes in from the oil tankers. But still better than Biloxi!

 

Do not go to Galveston. Seriously. It has no redeeming qualities.

 

But is it a good place to get your ass kicked?