No doubt, Galveston is mostly known for its outdoor activities. But when rainy weather halts your plans at the beach, pier, or water parks, what is left to do in Galveston? Believe it or not, there’s plenty around the island to do. Let’s take a look at some of the indoor activities in Galveston that you will enjoy.
Staying Dry with Indoor Activities in Galveston
#1: Art Galleries: If you like to geek out on art, there are a number of art galleries on the island, mainly on the Strand and Market Street. The Proletariat Gallery & Public House and From the Heart Gallery are both rated highly on TripAdvisor. There are also other artist-specific galleries you can tour, with pieces ranging from landscape to abstract art.
#2: Museums: Galveston also has its fair share of museums to explore. If you have kids with you, take them to the Galveston’s Children’s Museum on Broadway for hands-on exploration, investigation, creation, and discovery. For history buffs, visit the Galveston Railroad Museum or the Bryan Museum, which houses a huge and interactive collection of artifacts about Texas and the American West. It is located in a beautiful Renaissance Revival-style building that was once the Galveston Orphans Home. Also on the island are the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, the Texas Seaport Museum, and the Galveston County Museum. Yup, there are enough museums on the island to keep you both busy and enlightened on a rainy day.
#3 Moody Gardens: Talk about indoor fun! Moody Gardens has more than a few indoor activities to keep the entire family dry and happy. The Discovery Museum features different learning opportunities and exhibits for people of all ages at different times of the year. Then there’s always the Aquarium and Rainforest Pyramids where you can take a sneak peak at animals in the comfort of enclosed quarters. If you’d rather kick back for a couple of hours, Moody Gardens also offers a 3D theater and even a 4D Theater with wind, seat sensors, leg ticklers, scent, misters and even snow.
#4 Shopping at the Marketplace: Located in the Galveston Strand Shopping District is the revived Peanut Butter Warehouse which has been transformed into a large, vibrant indoor venue with a variety of vendors including women’s clothing boutiques, antique dealers, furnishings, and art. They also have exhibits by various artists pretty regularly.
#5: Galveston Historic Tours: Get chauffeured around the island with a live tour guide to give you the facts about some of Galveston’s historic landmark. A twelve-passenger electric shuttle will take you to all the popular Galveston destination including Broadway Beauties, Downtown, the Strand, the Harbor, the East End Historic District, the tree carvings, and more! To cruise around the island for only $1.00, Galveston’s trolley system has two loops, one servicing downtown and the other servicing the seawall, so you can ride to or from Downtown to Moody Gardens or Stewart Beach all on a streetcar!
#6 Moody Mansion: Tour 20 rooms of a 28,000 square-foot mansion that once belonged to a powerful Texas family, the Moodys, who were known for establishing one of the great American financial empires. The mansion, which has been restored to reflect the spirit of the 1800s, is a must see for anyone visiting Galveston.
If you’re looking for some tasty restaurants on top of all the indoor activities in Galveston, check out Hospitality Health ER’s Top Galveston Restaurant Picks or visit our Facebook page for more Galveston-related topics.
