Beach trip yo Galveston w a toddler ETA: Maybe Biloxi instead??

The sand is like mud…and the water is doodoo…Go east

If you live in La, I suggest heading to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach instead. Better beach and water.

If you live in Texas, go to Port Aransas or Padre Island.

We're trying not to drive 7 plus hours w a 2 year old. Any help is welcomed

Like most people have alluded to, the beaches in Galveston are not nice. But since you asked...

The beaches are sand. The water will look like chocolate milk. IMO, the best beach in the area is Stewart beach. You do have to pay (around $5) to have access, but that means a better crowd.

I would recommend the San Luis hotel if you want a beach view and balcony. It is located on the seawall and has balconys, pool, and a good steak restaurant/bar. Additionally, my favorite hotel is the Tremont in the strand area. No balcony, but a nice rooftop bar.

Go to Galveston.

You will have haters but with a 2yo you do what you have to do for a trip.

The beaches arent bad but they arent 30A/Destin by any means. Basically solid brown sand. If the water clarity doesnt matter then let it ride, baw.

Find a AirBnB and take your trip. Seawall Blvd offers some decent abodes with the things you are looking for. Annaya by the Sea is where we have stayed multiple times and it is not a bad property IMO

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IndianPower

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Thanks for the reply! I'll check those areas/property's out. I feel like I keep asking the same question, but is the sand soft? Not looking for it to be white but is the consistency at least comparable to say orange beach/gulf shores?

The sand is heavier but not bad IMO

I havent been to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach so I am unsure. Destin and Panama City was where we went before I got wise and the kids grew up and moved away. Now I go all over the place not just the beach during the summertime LOL

Two-year-olds are not picky about their beaches. Galveston Is what it is, close to flat and with a pretty high sediment content making it slow to drain, brown and compacted. Also, the waves are usually kid-friendly, and sand walking is easy. Many years ago, my 2-year had a great visit thanks to Tx grandparents.

I'm too out of date to give a rec on lodging. A problem is that most places have a large and busy seawall highway between them and the beach. Check to see what sort of actual beach access you get.

An interesting route there is to take Tx87 out of Orange all the way to the state ferry on the Boliver Pen. A toddler might find that fun, and it beats the interstate.

Yea, there is that driving on the beach thing that Texans consider a birthright. I think it's not allowed in parks.

Biloxi wins hands down as far as the beach/ocean is concerned. It was my 1st beach at about 2. Being older now, I skip Biloxi and go to Ocean Springs close by. It's a lovely tree-filled town on a high ridge. Beaches are close by.

But, is it worth an extra 100+ miles in a car with a toddler?

Seriously, if you just want decent white-ish sand-- not the powdery sugar sand of the Florida panhandle, but nice sand for your 2 year old to play in-- Biloxi/Gulfport would be fine.

Typical sand in Biloxi-Gulfport:

West Biloxi Beach and boardwalk:


Even better, if your child wanted to wade in the water, they could do so with little worry from you as you are not really on the Gulf but on the Mississippi Sound--there are no big waves, and the water remains shallow far out from shore. It's not great looking water, but good enough:



IF you do want to see some nice water and nicer beaches, the family can take a ferry day trip out to Ship Island ON the actual gulf. More than likely you will see dolphins on the way there or back, and you can see the old Fort, etc.




You also have a lot of opportunities to stay in a nice hotel or condo with a balcony overlooking the beach; there have been a lot more high-rise condos built on the MS. Gulf Coast recently right on HWY 90: