GALVESTON COUNTY 2024 DESTINATION INSIDE » Quick facts about our cities » Fun things to do with the family » dining and restaurant guide Plus SEASONAL EVENTS LISTINGCOASTAL CL a SSIC THE Serving the freshest Gulf seafood since 1911. Our tables are always set, our service is always personal, and our ingredients are always the freshest. Our famous island kitchen truly is The Coastal Classic. Serving the freshest Gulf seafood since 1911. 3828 SEAWALL BLVD. | GALVESTON, TEXAS 77550 | 409.761.5500 | GAIDOS.COMHOUSTON METHODIST LEADING CARE where you need us To fi nd care near you, visit houstonmethodist.org/care-clearlake or call 281.333.8899 . Convenient, easy-to-access locations for primary, specialty and emergency care in Clear Lake and surrounding communities We offer a full spectrum of care, including: •Primary care physicians for you and your family, providing personal care and service •Specialists with innovative treatments and customized programs for all conditions •Collaborative teams of experts using the newest technologies and latest research 45 45 225 146 DICKINSON 96 FRIENDSWOOD TEXAS CITY PASADENA DEER PARK NASSAU BAY 528 518 LEAGUE CITY 270 2351 HOUSTON METHODIST CLEAR LAKE HOSPITAL Clear Lake Hospital Breast Care Emergency Care Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Primary Care Specialty Care4 | The Daily News | Destination Galveston County | 2024 Welcome OUR CITIES Bayou Vista ..............................................................6 Clear Lake Shores .................................................6 Dickinson .................................................................8 Friendswood .......................................................10 Galveston .............................................................11 Hitchcock ..............................................................12 Jamaica Beach ....................................................13 Kemah ...................................................................13 La Marque ............................................................14 League City ..........................................................15 San Leon, Bacliff, Bayview ..............................16 Santa Fe .................................................................17 Texas City ..............................................................18 Village of Tiki Island ..........................................19 Bolivar Peninsula ...............................................19 20 FUN THINGS TO DO ................................20 THE GREAT OUTDOORS .............................24 SAVOR THE FLAVORS ..................................26 EVENTS AND FESTIVALS ...........................28 Destination Galveston County is the perfect resource for people looking for activities and destinations in Galveston County. This guide also includes quick facts about the cities in the area, seasonal events, attractions and more. Contents 24 The great outdoors ON THE COVER Children laugh and race to the ocean holding their various floats. Galveston County Population: 357,117* Area: 378.36 square miles * 2022 population estimates, U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts All photos by Jennifer Reynolds and Stuart Villanueva/ The Daily News photographers.The city of Bayou Vista is a single-family, residential waterfront community developed along a series of 12 dredged canals, which provide access to Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Residents can fish or crab from their docks or fish from their boats in Galveston Bay. Pelicans, herons and mallards are but a few species of birds living on the saltwater canals. The city of Bayou Vista is near Jones Bay and Highland Bayou about 8 miles west-northwest of Galveston and about 35 miles from the hustle-and-bustle of Houston. Clear Lake Shores is known as the Yachting Capital of Texas. It is located in northern Galveston County, situated between Kemah and League City, and is within the Houston metropolitan area. There are more boat slips than people. The city was established in 1962. The residents’ preferred mode of transportation is the golf cart. A variety of events are held for residents and visitors throughout the year. 6 45 Population: 1,756* Area: 10 square miles Website: bayouvista.com Quick Facts Our Cities: Bayou Vista Population: 1,266* Area: 25 square miles Website: www.clearlake shores-tx.gov Quick Facts Our Cities: Clear Lake Shores 146 Marina Bay Drive Clear Lake COURTESY /City of Clear Lake Shores — Adri Richey *2022 population estimate, U.S. Census Bureau *2022 population estimate, U.S. Census Bureau 6 | The Daily News | Destination Galveston County | 2024For more information contact info@artistboat.org or call us at (409) 632-0388 13330 Settegast Road, Galveston, Texas 77554 Eco-Art Camps Explore, Observe, Create Campers will experience true science and art enrichment with the creation of Eco-Art at the Coastal Heritage Preserve. Ages 5-15 years old. Camps are held for Spring Break, Summer Vacation, and Winter Break annually Bucket Brigade Interpretive Beach Tours Explore the creatures and features that make Galveston beaches unique! There is more to the Sargassum and turbid water than many people think, and there is much more to be found on the beach than just sand. Tours are FREE for all ages! Tours are held Saturday & Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day annually Edward & Helen Oppenheimer Bird Observatory Open 7 days a week year-round Visit a truly peaceful awe-inspiring place, and experience the last of the great wilds on Galveston Island Wildlife viewing platform and 1/2 mile trail 13102 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX 77554 Youth & Adult Adventures Bring your classes, clubs, groups, and businesses to learn outdoors with us in an educational program or stewardship at the Coastal Heritage Preserve Voluntourism • Join us as a group to help with restoration of the Coastal Heritage Preserve • Volunteer as a Co-Leader for educational programs • Volunteer for annual species counts Eco-Art Kayak Adventures - Awarded Best Guided Water Tour Paddle your cares away as you transform your mindset from everyday humdrum to Coastal Adventure with a tour led by artist and scientists. Ages 7 and older. Tours are held Saturdays & Sunday from March until December annually. artistboat.org/public-kayak-registration/ World Ocean Day June 6th - 8th Art Competitions, Hands-On activities, Live Entertainment, Exhibitors, and More Get together with your family, friends, community, and the planet to start creating a better future. Working together, we can and will protect our shared ocean. All ages welcome for all activities!*2022 population estimates, U.S. Census Bureau Located on Dickinson Bayou, a pathway to Galveston Bay, Dickinson is a prime geographic location, situated halfway between Houston and Galveston on Interstate 45 with easy access to numerous other major thoroughfares and methods of transportation. Dickinson’s rapidly growing business community includes aerospace, petrochemical, health care and retail operations with room to grow. With its proximity to great shopping, activities and attractions, such as NASA’s Johnson Space Center Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk and Moody Gardens, Dickinson residents have the best of both worlds — a relaxed approach to life in a small community setting with all of the attractions of a large city at their fingertips. With several new facilities under construction and planned for construction in the next couple of years, Dickinson Independent School District is continually building and expanding to provide the best opportunities for its students, ensuring that its educational facilities offer state-of-the-art technology and superior learning environments. All of this, and much more, make Dickinson a great place to live, work and play. 45 517 646 3 646 96 Population: 21,738* Area: 10.27 square miles Website: www.ci.dickin son.tx.us Quick Facts Our Cities: Dickinson Not to miss event Dickinson Festival of Lights November and December 2024 Paul Hopkins Park, 1000 FM 517 www.dfoltx.com Holiday cheer spreads to Dickinson as lights illuminate Paul Hopkins Park for the annual Festival of Lights. The free walk- through event features massive light displays and an appearance from Santa. 8 | The Daily News | Destination Galveston County | 20242024 | Destination Galveston County | The Daily News | 9 Saturday, July 6 8 PM Adult Content. Not suitable for children under 16. Kick-off Shark Week with us! Saturday, July 20 8 PM Saturday, August 3 8 PM Saturday, August 10 8 PM TheGrand.com | 409.765.1894 THEREISSOMUCHFUNONTHE Mainland! DIDYOUKNOW? 409-935-1408 www.TCLMchamber.com OUTDOORS:TexasCityDike,fishing, boating,windsurfing,NesslerParkFamily AquaticCenter,skatepark,BayouGolf CourseTexasCityShootingRange,Highland BayouPark...andmore INDOORS:MainlandCityCity,TexasCity Museumandmanymoreoptions SHOPPING:HistoricDowntown6thStreet, TangerOutlets,GulfwayPlaza...andmore NIGHTLIFE&ENTERTAINMENT:Enjoy optionsatMainlandCityCenterand Downtown6thStreet ScanQRCodeto seefulllistof businessinthe TexasCity-La MarqueArea!Next >