Giddy-Up to Galveston, TX

While Texas beaches may not often be mentioned in the top 5 beachfront areas across the nation, or boast the pounding Atlantic or even gentle lap of Pacific waves against our Gulf coast, Texans have long found a visit to Texas beaches well worth the trip.

Galveston, is a mere thirty-six miles south of Houston (well, Pasadena, which is South Houston). Houston Hobby is the closer airport if you’re planning on flying to the area. A taxi ride (Uber & Lyft would probably be comparable) is $75.00 to $100 one-way. For those on a budget: Galveston Island Transit operates a connecting bus service around the island and between Houston & Galveston.

Side-note: if you’re planning a cruise from Galveston (now, the second busiest cruise post in the nation), there are loads of ways from getting between Bush Intercontinental (IAH) or Houston Hobby (HOU) and the port. For more information, go to: 6 Easy Houston to Galveston Cruise Transport Options.

Also, if you need to stay overnight prior to your cruise, or after returning to port, check out this article on where to stay on Best Galveston Cruise Port Hotels.

However, if Galveston is your destination, what is there to do?

Let’s take a look.


If you have a group – family of varying ages – consider your budget:

Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center


From restaurants that serve Texas shaped waffles to the Palm Beach Waterpark (now, open daily until August 18, 2018)

TO Colonel Paddlewheel Boat

TO the Zip-line course

OR an evening spent on the beach with Bands on the Sand . . . Moody Gardens has a great deal for families of all ages.

If your hotel destination requires easy walking distance to most area attractions & right on the beach, consider Hotel Galvez (A bit more economically priced than Moody Gardens, but still loads of luxury and onsite things to entertain.

Consider:

The Commodore on the Beach (2-Star) Featuring an outdoor pool with waterfall; all rooms have a Gulf view; some rooms with poolside patios; other rooms with private balconies; WiFi throughout property; USB charging stations.





Best Western Galveston West Beach Hotel (2-Star) On the seawall . . . beaches are within a few steps. High-speed Internet connections available; complimentary continental breakfast; outdoor pool; exercise facility; and inside corridors if that's a requirement.


Beachfront Palms Hotel located on the Seawall, a stone's throw from the beach. Rooms feature WiFI. Price includes BREAKFAST, but only the morning meal. When it's time to fuel again, take a step outside and stroll down The Strand for loads of variety. Pool with seaside deck and free parking.

or The Tremont House (4-star Historical) One of the most historic hotels in Galveston, Texas, featuring three separate dining experiences; rooms equipped with Wi-Fi, HDTV, Wolfgang Puck coffee, bathrobes; rooftop (beachfront) bar experiences, and more. Oh, and there's valet parking for your convenience as well.

Now that you know how to hit Galveston city limits, and you’ve options on where to stay in Galveston . . . what are you going to do?????



Want to see a dolphin swim beside the boat? Check out BayWatch Dolphin Tours




Are sweets your idea of afternoon joy? Then plan a visit to: La King’s Confectionery (Demonstration schedules change. Make certain to consult website.)

For a true ole-fashioned dining experience, visit: The Star Drug Store

And what trip to a coast could be complete without a lighthouse or sailing ship thrown into the visit?
Point Bolivar Lighthouse (you’ll take a ferry for this one.)


1877 Tall Ship Elissa

And if you’re interested in more lighthouses and additional Galveston history, check out: Galveston History

No matter how you fill your days and nights . . . make certain to leave time to stroll the beaches.

From my Pinterest saves, I linked several great blogs to help you navigate Texas beaches.

Here’s one family's account of a Great Seashell Beach in Galveston
And another for a Day at the Beach
And finally, The Best Galveston Beaches

Special thanks to these travel bloggers who offered thoughtful information and details to aid in Galveston travels. Be sure to visit each of these bloggers for more great travel sites.

Summer Time Fun in Fort Worth -- 5 TEXAS bars Worth The Stop!

Travelling to Texas this summer?

Then stroll in for a cool (TALL) drink at any of these bars.

The heat may bake Texas asphalt, but the sippin' is easy when you know where to belly up to the bar.

Much is touted about the large tourists’ bars and Historic stockyard bars in Fort Worth, Texas. Certainly, if you’ve never strolled down old brick streets, smelled lingering scents of longhorn cattle, meandered among tall cowboy hats and towering Texas hair, you need to visit the Historic edge of Fort Worth.

However, there is a great deal more to Fort Worth – not the cosmopolitan feel of Dallas, not the Jazz beat of Denton, or even the rolling hills, eclectic sense of Austin – no, Fort Worth is sleek, high-rise towers, tucked among historic revitalized brick buildings (even a few brick streets as well), stunning city parks, a square with dancing water, and a thriving downtown area -- simply put: Fort Worth is more than your average Honky-Tonk.

If you find yourself visiting Cowtown, but not looking for the standard tourist stops, then consider cooling your parched throat at one of these watering holes.

The Library – 611 Houston Street, Fort Worth, Texas. On the perimeter of Sundance Square and along the Molly the Trolley route, this wooden floor, leather-couched bar is open and welcoming. Meshed against towering 20 foot walls, and well above patrons’ heads, are book-lined shelves. There are a few shelves within reaching distance for those who’d like to have a quiet drink and a contemplative read. A small patio area is available and with the surrounding buildings shade can be found in spite of late afternoon sun. The four-sided bar makes easy access for those who want to place their own order or the multiple couches are ready for the weary of strolling. There is a ‘bar’ menu, but we didn’t check out the offerings. Happy hour is an afternoon treat here.

Thompson’s Bookstore – 900 Houston St, Fort Worth, Texas. From the front entrance across hardwood floors, lush sitting areas are staged for the enjoyment of the aficionado of fine cocktails. The ‘house’ rules alone make this a bar stop worth the visit. The bartenders should be termed ‘mixologist’ as the subtle flavors and nuance of cocktails are their specialty. No matter your favorite liquor or brand (bottom shelf to top) this subtlety elegant bar is a lovely respite from Texas heat. Not to worry if you’re strolling in your shorts and t-shirt, casual attire is welcome, but an inside voice is encouraged. If wild and raucous is on your menu, then there are plenty of other Fort Worth bars more to your style. Now, as an update -- your quiet voice works well during the week, but I've been inside these walls on the weekend and it's a hopping & joyful place. A great enticement to visit Thursday through Saturday is the downstairs 'speak-easy'. No fooling, pardner. Buy a drink at the upstairs bar and on the bottom of your receipt will be the 'secret code' to gain access to the tucked-away, downstairs hide-out. It's a cool throw back to the 20s and well worth the price of admission.

Scatz Jazz Lounge – 111 W 4th, Ste 11, Fort Worth, Texas. A little crazy, a little spicy, and a lot of speakeasy edge best describes the Scatz Jazz Lounge. Heed the Google directions as this getaway is tucked down an alley. Descend in the elevator and enter a jazz environment to make your toes tap and hips sway. Cover required on some nights, not on others; so check their schedule. Excellent talent fills their stage – and sometimes marches around the room with a little New Orleans flavor – bartenders know their drinks and the clientele are there to enjoy excellent music.

Whiskey & Rye, 1300 Houston St, Omni Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas. For those who want a bit more cultured environment, stop by the Omni – doesn’t that say it all – and enjoy a cocktail while snuggled in deep leather seats. Prompt wait staff, still with that Texas ‘howdy’ welcome; the occasional entertainer on their small stage; the quiet click of pool balls on the expensive carved tables and valet service right out the front door.

Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar – 621 Houston St. Fort Worth, Texas. For those who want to group-date, celebrate a graduation or upcoming wedded bliss, or just spend several hours rubbing elbows with their fellow humans in a lively musical stop – this is the place. Expect great music – loud at times; happy, hollering folks – also loud at times; and a good evening. Not for the boot-scooting, Stetson-sporting, bronco-belt buckle type, but if you love a rowdy crowd with a backdrop of ivory-tickling, hammer-pounding musicians then visit Pete’s.

Howdy, and Welcome to Fort Worth.

Other great Texas spots to visit!

Travelling Texas BackRoads

To War - fighting back from Hurricane Harvey

Weather is a constant, and 'whether' it's you, a family member, the dearest friend, or the most distant neighbor --
ALL of us have experienced terrible storms and their aftermaths.

Texan proud - I have lived in Texas all my life and like so many fellow Texans, I feel overwhelmed by the devastation that I see left behind from Hurricane Harvey, and I am completely humbled by the outpouring of day-to-day heroes.

In a world where anger is so often the proclaimed answer; where violence seems to be the norm; and words slash with deadly accuracy ---- I say, enough.

Stop for a moment, look around you right now. There is something of beauty in front of you; something that will provide you joy; and something that YOU can do for another.

The smallest acts are often the most valuable.

My challenge:

not one whiny word for the day, not one accusation, not one UNNECESSARY frown.

Stay in the moment, look inside, and find joy.

I'll let the pictures speak. The words are LOUD & CLEAR, if you'll simply listen.

Harvey blows ashore.

UNDERWATER.

Rides come in all shapes & sizes, but the rescuers are all Heaven-sent.

Carried to safety!

Heroes save EVERYONE!

Even our Texas dogs are 'doers'. Sometimes, you have to save yourself.

West Texas travels

My husband and I traveled into the west Texas area -- not far, by Texas standards, but a lovely distance from the commuters jamming every major thoroughfare in the Metroplex. Did you know cows are darn choosy about who stops at their fence? They don't come when called? And they're fairly skittish creatures. Meaning they don't like the sound of auto-wind on a camera. Who knew? Well, I guess the cows did. Travel out towards Weatherford -- stop at this great cafe, if you have a chance.

New York, New York

I'm sure there will be just short of a gazillion pics floating on blogs as the RWAers get back from conference and upload or download their cameras.

I didn't visit the Big Apple this year with the writing world, but instead toured it in March -- a bit damp -- with a group of HS students. Choir HS students. Let me start by saying, 'It's never quiet when you're with 16, 17 and 18 year-old singers. That old 'burst into spontaneous song' really does happen. Anywhere. Anytime. That aside, they were quite amazing. Unbelievably careful with each other considering how little sleep was really to be gained during the whirl-wind trip. Four days, three nights and no, we didn't stop. The first day started at 4am (time to meet the bus for departure to the airport) and ended around 11pm. Many of the little darlings hadn't slept in front of the 4am bus departure. We, supervising parents, had, however been to bed to fortify ourselves for the upcoming marathon. The choir directors were nothing short of miraculous. They not only kept going, like Energizer Bunnies, but managed to herd 39 teenagers all in the same direction. I marveled at the Herculean effort and again was reminded why my stint at substitute teaching lasted only a scant two years. It's simply exhausting.

This was my first trip alone with my youngest child, who was just short of her 17th BD at the time of our excursion. It was a wonderful adventure.

Best day . . .

Definitely the day we had 5 hours to ourselves. For those familiar with the streets of NY, we started our walk-about at the Donald Trump Tower, around 54th or 55th and came down 5th Avenue, window shopped at ridiculously expensive jewelry stores, stopped in a chic clothing store or two, enjoyed the dog-walkers and their broods and nannies a-plenty with more broods, past the NY Library, onto Macy's and it's wonderful wooden escalator, past the most decadent cheesecake known to a woman's hips and finally hit 32nd. A good stretch of the legs and we found Madison Square Garden. BTY: we were in town during March Madness, and with our lovely luck there was a game that night. Spawning Salmon have nothing on my attempt to head back uptown and to Time's Square against the surge of New Yorkers and out of towners that evening. With the subway rumbling beneath the streets and the stamp of New Yorkers by the tens of thousands, my daughter and I swam in the ambience that is New York.

Go again? You bet.

For those who enjoyed the fun of New York during the writer's conference, here's hoping your time amongst the skyscrapers was every bit as poignant as mine.