Yes. Jamaica Beach has many very nice Air BnB options. Its not too far from Galveston proper but has a much cooler vibe.

Regardless of where you stay make sure to eat here https://nopalera-grill-galveston.business.site/

One of the best Mexican places I have been to. Complete with mis-matched silver ware, plastic chairs, table clothes that were once some sort of roofing tarp... its excellent.

I just recently had a drink at The Steakhouse at San Luis w/ Tillman Fertitta there in Galveston.

I can tell you every single thing you wanna know about Galveston.

Lots to do in Galveston take the ferry across the bay and back nothing great but a nice trip. Downtown has a lot of places to shop and a couple of very good places to eat. Go to the Space Center just north of there about an hour's drive. I don't remember the name but there is a nice Seafood place on the bay with windows to the bay you can watch the fishing boats go in and out. There is plenty to do in Galveston around downtown, an offshore drilling rig, and the tall sailing ship if it is in port. Lots of things to do in Galveston just asked around.

Stay in Galveston it is better than Surfside could ever hope to be.

NASA is incredible

If you have more than three teeth, steer clear of Surfside!

Used to not be a fan of the place. It has honestly come a long ways in the last few years. I believe between Tilman buying up half the island and covid making vacations closer to home for a few years, they have really revamped a ton of the island. If you time it right the water can be surprisingly clear too.

It's a loaded question because it all depends on where you are staying. We prefer the less crowded stuff towards the south end as well. We were down in June and never had a long wait for a table unlike the other end. San Luis pass is an awesome and a must see IMO, but better take the right vehicle down under the bridge. If you want clear water even for just a day the color changes drastically the closer you ger to Freeport. It was a shocking difference within just a 30 min drive.

Cajun Greek is great.

Gaido's for nice dinner and an old fav of the island. (they redid the hotel next to it as well and it is pretty neat now)

Waterman's by Galveston Country Club for a retreat from the madness and beautiful bayside upscale dinning. (we usually stay in this area) you wouldn't know you weren't in Florida.

Katie's Seafood House in the harbor by the Strand.. Fresh fish from that day, owned by Katie's Seafood Market. Touristy but good. Right on the water with a view of their fleet of fishing boats. You will eat fish caught that day by the boats you are looking at. Pretty cool, looks really neat at night.

Let me know if you need more info. Wife has been in NP school at UTMB for a couple of years so we get to go a few times a year.

Just so the haters know that we get to go used to be we have to go, once we figured the place out it's something we look forward to and its much closer than Destin/30A which is best beach area in the Mainland to most people .

hawt and muggy......

Nothing really luxurious, but there are some decent eats and things to see around there locally. We tend to go to Surfside more in the offseason to relax.

If I have to drive through Houston to get there, its a deal breaker. Lots of places on Texas coast I'd rather be than Galveston.

Yep. Be careful wade fishing. I have a house on the pass(treasure island…gulf side) , I get to see someone getting searched for almost every time I’m there. Some very good fishing though. For beach fun, go south towards Surfside. For food, go into lake Jackson

The strand is for the girls to go shopping. Don’t get caught up having to go with them. As for other attractions, I never go to those….I am always heading to Home Depot for stuff to fix the house that’s rusted away since the last trip there. Lol.

Tia Juanita's in Crystal Beach is. Lights out good. Really good fish tacos but I usually get the seafood enchiladas. Also The Stingaree might be reopened too which is at Crystal but over on the Bay side right on the Intracoastal waterway. Be aware that crossing over on the ferries can involve substantial wait times especially on weekends. Also the topless Jeep weekend has already happened.

Go see the Battleship Texas in drydock also Seawolf Park (in the morning before the sun heats up surfaces) see the only submarine to sink an aircraft carrier in WW2.

I like the harbor side restaurants pretty good too and they are right by The Strand .

Guidos for more upscale dining . . . try the oyster sampler.

There used to be a couple of anything goes gentlemen’s clubs on the way there, it’s been too long since I’ve been but they were good family fun.

I support both of these recommendations. Also - Benno's for Cajun seafood. For the beach, if you drive southwest toward San Luis Pass past Jamaica Beach there are a couple of spots where you can drive down to the beach and park at Sea Isle and the Rusty Hook Bait Stand - these will be somewhat less crowded than closer to Galveston. If you do drive over the pass to Surfside, the Red Snapper Inn serves an excellent and very reasonably priced fish po-boy, made with red snapper, but only at lunch. If you pass through Lake Jackson, the state aquarium there is free and worth a visit.

Going to Galveston is really all about expectations.

Demitri's or something like that. A friend and I stopped there about 30 yrs ago.
Totally nude. BYOB.
At midnight they had all the girls come out and do $1 lap dances.
I'll never go back.