Going to Galveston for 5 days around 4th of July.....

You will be disappointed. 5 days is about 4 days too long. The Sea Wall is a tourist trap as well as the Strand District. The only good places worth going to are rather expensive such as Number 13, and Rudy and Paco's. The beach is gross and filled with trashy people. And I will not discuss the local hidden dining gems in order to protect them for the Galvestonians.

Go somewhere else, Galveston has nothing to draw you as a destination. It is old tired and dirty.

If you do want to do the beach, East beach and the seawall will be an absolute clusterf*** during that time. Drive west on the seawall towards Surfside. After Galveston "ends" on your right, there are several public beach accesses on your left until you reach Surfside. That's your best bet for less crowding, good size, and minimal seaweed.

For other water stuff, Schlitterbahn if you have older kids, and Moody Gardens Palm Beach for younger ones. We were Moody members for the past 5 years, and regularly visited everything they offered, even as permanent residents. Palm beach is great for that 3-5 year old range, but after that the kids are kind of too big for most of the stuff. The aquarium is ok (a little bigger than the NO aquarium), the rainforest is very cool. Freaking tamed birds and monkeys run right up to you in there. There is not too much other stuff to do around town. A cool little aviation museum next to Moody Gardens, and a nice golf course attached.

Pleasure pier is fun for the kids, but is mainly an expensive tourist trap. Same for the Kemah Boardwalk (20 miles north) and anything else owned by Landry's. But again, the kids love that shite.

There is a Top Golf 28 miles North in Webster that is well worth it if you have never played there. Giant mall and retail area right next door for the wife. Baybrook is a nice mall. And NASA Johnson Space Center is right there as well.

For food on the island, in order: Rudy & Pacos, Clarys, Saltwater Grill, Olympia Grill, Mosquito Cafe, Farley Girls, Millers Cafe, Cafe Michael Burger, Pho 20 ( ), Shrimp N Stuff, Sonnys (hole in the wall local joint).

Bars are mostly on the Strand, so you can bar hop there, or pick a seawall place with a patio to drink at.

Anything specific you're looking for?

As far as golf courses, Moody is a very nice course since Frititta renovated it. After that, you really don't get a NICE public course until Friendswood (35 miles north). That one is called Timber Creek. Best value for a green fee in Houston, IMO. Magnolia Creek is a nice, private linx course if you have the ability to access it. It's in League City (25 miles north). Beacon Lakes is a lighted, public course also in League City. It's cool for the novelty of playing really late, but the course isn't in great shape.

I could eat Farley Girls for breakfast and lunch every day for 5 days. Chicken and Waffles and Meatloaf. Mosquito Cafe, Olympia Grill, and Shrimp N Stuff are also great.

I'd spend a day at Schlitterbahn and a day at Moody Gardens. Spend an evening or two at The Strand. If you want to go to the beach drive West away from the Seawall toward Jamaica Beach. The railroad museum is actually pretty cool.

Avoid Pleasure Pier.

Forgot to mention Moody Gardens for golf. If you don't mind a little drive to play (about an hour), go to Lake Jackson and play The Wilderness.

Thanks guys for the legit repsonses. Drive time says it's less than 5 hours from Bossier and didn't want to give up 9 hours/day on the road to hit the redneck riviera for such a short trip.

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Thanks guys for the legit repsonses. Drive time says it's less than 5 hours from Bossier and didn't want to give up 9 hours/day on the road to hit the redneck riviera for such a short trip.

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I'll also add, I-45 Gulf Freeway is the biggest clusterfrick in this entire city. If you take 59 through city center to 45 South, just prepare to sit in traffic several times before getting clear of it after Clear Lake.

Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) is a toll road, but worth every penny, IMO. Get off 59 and onto the beltway when you get into Houston, and take it around to 45 South. You'll save yourself 30 minutes. You'll still have terrible traffic/construction just south of the Beltway exit, but it's not really avoidable.

Alternatively, you could take the scenic route down 146. Lots of red lights, but you can pass through Kemah and the water will always be on your left. It's not that much longer than the normal route. It's a much more pleasant drive.

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You miserable fricks need to get off this board with this bullshite. People have already made plans, come here to ask for help, and you assholes chime in to tell him to just be a miserable frick like the rest of you.

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Agreed. We'll be there for the 4th at my folks beach house - with a private beach which is clean as frick. No glass, no ATV's (motorized golf carts are ok), no driving on the beach.

@ OP - tons to do there although 4-5 days is probably too long unless you really enjoy the beach. Head toward San Luis Pass - that is where the nicer beaches are and less riff raff. Once you actually get to San Luis Pass however, it goes downhill quick

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Alternatively, you could take the scenic route down 146. Lots of red lights, but you can pass through Kemah and the water will always be on your left. It's not that much longer than the normal route. It's a much more pleasant drive.

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When my brother lived in Clear Lake and I visited from BR, I used to take 146. Avoided BW8 and the drive really isn't bad.

My suggested route would be to take 146 to 96, then get on 45S.

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Unless you fish. Good surf fishing past the pass, and easy access to Christmas Bayou.

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True, but dude probably isn't going fishing with the wife They should stay at San Luis, get massages and get it on.