The Joy of a January Getaway in Galveston

Galveston: it's known as a place for fun in the sun. Even in January, you'll find that the sun still shines on this Texas isle. While it might be too chilly for a swim, there are a number of reasons to schedule a winter getaway in the coastal community located 50 miles south of Houston.

"You can get hotel rooms at a much cheaper rate," says Kathy Modzelewski, gallery director at Eiband's Gallery, a Galveston antiques mall. "You can also get into restaurants, unlike the summer months when they're packed!"

Eiband's Gallery is one of numerous antiques shops along Post Office Street, a shopping district that runs from 20th Street to 25th Street. Along with restaurants and specialty shops, Post Office Street is also home to The Grand 1894 Opera House, which has been restored to its turn of the century look when it hosted performers including Sarah Bernhardt, John Philip Sousa, and Anna Pavlova.

After a morning at Post Office Street, stroll over to The Strand, just three blocks away. In the late 19th century, The Strand was the city's business district. Located a block away from the busy seaport, shippers unloaded merchandise from around the world and took a cargo of Texas cotton. Bankers and traders filled the buildings of the Strand, so many that it was known as the "Wall Street of the Southwest."

Today trolleys clang along the historic streets, transporting visitors along the district filled with specialty shops and restaurants housed in one of the nation's largest collections of Victorian commercial architecture. The district is also home to the Elissa, a restored 1877 tall ship open for self-guided tours. The ship is housed at the Texas Seaport Museum which contains displays on Galveston's shipping history as well as a database containing over 133,000 immigrants who entered the US through Galveston. Thousands of immigrants made their way through the port, earning it the name "little Ellis Island" and second only to Ellis Island as an immigration station.

Eventually Galveston went on to become the richest city in the state and home of many Texas firsts: post office, naval base, grocery store, insurance company, jewelry store, private bank, gas lights, hospital, cotton exchange, electric lights, telephone, golf course, real estate firm, and more.

Galveston's thriving economy took a down swing on September 8, 1900 with the arrival of one of the worst storms in US history. Known as the Great Storm, the hurricane killed over 6,000 residents and destroyed one-third of the city. To prevent future damage by storm surges, the city constructed a seven-mile seawall and raised the level of the island. Near the Texas Seaport Museum, you can watch a documentary film on the Great Storm and its aftermath.

While the storm took many of the island's oldest buildings, others were spared and still welcome guests. One of the most famous is The Bishop's Palace, located at 1402 Broadway. Built as a private home by a local railroad founder, the home is built of Texas granite and is open for guided tours for a look at its unique features including fireplaces and mantels from around the world.

Galveston is also home to plenty of modern day attractions and one of the best is Moody Gardens. Save an entire day for this Texas-sized attraction, made even larger with the opening of the Aquarium Pyramid. "With the investment of $50 million and encompassing 130,000 square feet, 1.5 million gallons of water and more than 10,000 marine animals, The Aquarium at Moody Gardens allows visitors to explore four oceans of the world without getting wet," said Doug Kemper, director of the facility. The aquarium features North Pacific, Caribbean, Tropical Pacific and Edge of the Antarctic displays with true-to-life habitats.

Moody Gardens' first major attraction was the Rainforest Pyramid and IMAX 3D Theater Complex. Here over 1,700 exotic plants, fish, birds, and insects from the world's rainforests live within a glass pyramid. The complex is also home to the nation's first 3D IMAX theater. The Discovery Pyramid showcases the work of NASA through space habitats, exhibits, and interactive displays. The Discovery Pyramid also is home to the IMAX Ridefilm Theater with a 180-degree wraparound screen. Other attractions at Moody Gardens include Palm Beach, constructed using sand shipped in from Florida, and The Colonel, a recreation of a paddlewheeler.

Moody Gardens is just steps from the Moody Gardens Hotel, one of many reasons to turn a day trip into a weekend excursion. Throughout the island, January brings lower room rates and the chance to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. Along Seawall Boulevard, one of the top properties is the San Luis Resort and Conference Center, a 22-acre complex consisting of the San Luis Hotel, the Hilton Resort Beachfront Galveston Island, the San Luis Condominiums, the Sealy Mansion, and five restaurants. The resort will soon offer a spa and fitness center, the perfect way to warm up and relax on a winter day.

Or, if you're in the mood for a more historic hotel, look to one of Galveston's grande dames. The Hotel Galvez, known as the "Queen of the Gulf," underwent an extensive renovation to return the property to its original elegance and glamour. On The Strand, the Tremont House is a favorite for guests looking for European-style luxury just steps from the shopping and entertainment district.

Many of Galveston's hotels and resorts are located in walking distance of its excellent restaurants. Fresh Gulf seafood is the specialty at many restaurants -- shrimp, oysters, and fresh fish prepared in a variety of ways fill the menus.

If you don't make it Galveston in January, have no fear: the fun continues for months to come. The highlight of the seaon is Mardi Gras! Galveston, a 12-day event filled with parades and plenty of partying.

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