Galveston Outdoor Activities

Galveston is an outdoor paradise perfect for your next beach escape. Go boating, try your luck at fishing, or rediscover the simple joy of flying a kite. Your Sand `N Sea beach house will be your home away from home. Get ready to lounge on your private deck and listen to the waves roll in from the Gulf.

We know everyone is looking for something a little different for their island escape. Dreaming of soaking in the sunshine and fresh salt air? A few of our favorite outdoor activities are highlighted below.

Be sure to take a look at our Top 11 Galveston Outdoor Activity Ideas blog for even more reasons to plan a trip soon!

Outdoor Fun for your Beach Vacation

BEACHCOMBING & SANDCASTLES

Stretch your legs - and your architectural creativity - by taking some time to beachcomb on your next trip. You can find shells, shark teeth, mermaids purses, sand dollars and more right outside the door of your beach house! The best time to hunt for hidden gems is right after a storm rolls through, but you can find interesting oddities pretty much any day of the year. 

After you've roamed the beach awhile you can use your recent beach finds as decoration or structural supports for your sandcastle! Kids of all ages will enjoy creating turrets, moats or entire neighborhoods while they sit on the shore. (This is also our favorite activity to keep kiddos occupied while sunblock is soaking in!)

KITE FLYING

Galveston beach is the ideal location for flying a kite! Conditions are near-perfect almost all year. The refreshing Gulf breeze makes kite flying easy and fun. Find traditional diamond-shaped ones and even large flying dragon kites at local shops like Kites Unlimited on Seawall Blvd. 

Tip: Use a kite to mark your spot on the beach to make it (and your beach house!) easy to find after swimming or wandering down the beach.

BIRDING

Whether you’re a feather fancier or casual observer, bird watching is a great way to enjoy Galveston’s native beauty with your family. Galveston is home to a multitude of species including Roseate Spoonbills, Terns, Herons, White-tailed Kites, Ospreys, and Crested Caracaras. 

Excellent birding locales include: 

  • Lafittes Cove Nature Preserve
  • 8 Mile Road
  • Sportsman Road
  • Oppenheimer Birding Observatory

FISHING AND BOATING 

The beaches of Galveston provide ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, especially fishing, where the catch of the day is often speckled trout, flounder, redfish, mullet, bull shark, or king mackerel. Whatever your preference—shore fishing, beach fishing, canal fishing, or wade fishing— Galveston has it all.

You can fish along East or West Galveston Bay, San Luis Pass, and from the two fishing piers along the seawall. Launch from Waterman Marina, West End Marina, and Jamail Bay Park. 

For fishing charters, including super-sized boating, be sure to check out: 

Don't forget! You'll need a fishing license to cast a line in or even to rake & take clams.

There are lots of places to explore, but some of the best fishing happens right from the deck or beach outside of your West End vacation rental.

PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS

Great parks and recreational areas abound in Galveston, however, the centerpiece of outdoor excursions is Galveston Island State Park (keep up with current hours and special events). The island’s diverse bayside and beachside ecosystems make the park ideal for activities like biking, paddling, and hiking, or simply looking for seashells.

Other notable parks include: 

  • East End Lagoon and Nature Park and Preserve
  • Seawolf Park 
  • Jonathan Romano Skate Park
  • Lindale Dog Park

 

WHERE TO STAY IN GALVESTON

Explore the variety of homes for rent at Sand 'N Sea Properties and cast a line right from your deck chair in Galveston. Whether you’re seeking a cozy canal home for a fishing trip or a large beachfront home for your family to fly that kite on the beach, we’ve got you covered (literally). 

While you decide which Galveston outdoor activities your family will enjoy most, explore our contemporary beach house options (including pools and open floor plans) and book your fun-filled family beach escape today!