Memorial Day is the gateway to summer and its just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about family vacation ideas. You have probably been hearing the buzz about all the exiting things going on at Galveston Island. We have come back better than ever after Hurricane Ike. Islanders have a history of never giving up, so we rebuilt the island to be prettier and more fun than ever in an effort to become the best tourism hotspot for multi-day travelers.
Our neighbors in mainland Houston may not realize that the fun and sun of Galveston is less than an hour’s drive away. For visitors who are arriving by plane, Cool Tours offers airport transfers from IAH (Bush) and HOU (Hobby). Once you arrive at your hotel, Cool Tours also offers complimentary pickups at your hotel to take you to the loading location for our popular Hop-on Hop-off tours (call to schedule).
Our Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing tours provide you with transportation to all of the popular East End attractions. No more worries about traffic and parking. Here are a few of the top attractions awaiting you.
- Historical homes: Tour Galveston’s East End Historic District and see the greatest collection of 19th Century Victorian Architecture in the country, including the Moody Mansion and Bishops Palace while learning about Galveston’s rich local history.
- Museums and Theater: Visit the Railroad Museum, the Texas Seaport Museum, and the Ocean Star Drilling Rig Museum to learn about the history of the railroads, how the Texas oil industry shaped our island, and our legacy of seaborne commerce and immigration. The Pier 21 Movie Theatre offers two excellent 30-minute movies – The Great Storm tells the story of the hurricane that struck Galveston in 1900 and is still the worst natural disaster to ever occur in the United States; and the movie Pirate Jean Lafitte where you will learn about the life and times of the most notorious pirate to call Galveston home in the early 1800′s.
- Beaches: Relax in the sun with a vacation that includes a trip to Stewart Beach, the most family-friendly beach on Galveston Island. At Stewart Beach you will find showers, snack bar, umbrella rentals, volleyball courts, rest rooms, and everything else your family needs for a relaxing day on the beach. And don’t forget East Beach where you can enjoy live outdoor concerts on the beach in the brand-new music pavilion.
- Shopping: Who can pass up a relaxing shopping spree on the Strand with its wide variety of clothing stores, souvenir shops, Art Galleries, and sidewalk cafes.
- Kid’s Activities: The kids (regardless of age!) won’t want to miss seeing the playful dolphin on one of the excellent boat tours – the Baywatch Dolphin Tour or the Harbor Tour. And don’t miss the Haunted Mayfield Manor – a year-round haunted house that is certain to add a little excitement to your day!
Our riders thank us all the time for deciding to feature climate controlled buses and an ice chest of cool water bottles to give out to our vacationing sightseers since our summer sun can get a little bit hot. We also offer large colorful maps and activity books for the kids. We designed Cool Tours around you, our island visitors. We pride ourselves on our customer service so don’t hesitate to call or write us with any questions regarding the island.
In 2012, Galveston had the best tourism season in its history and we are anticipating even larger crowds this year. As you can imagine, having more and more people enjoying our attractions and beaches, traffic can become a problem, and finding parking places even worse. Cool Tours Hop-On Hop-Off service is the perfect answer. Buy a 24-hour Hop-On Hop-Off ticket as you board at our loading location and your traffic and parking problems are solved.
Having fun has never been easier on Galveston Island than it is in 2013; come down and join us!
