Galveston Beach Day: Stewart, East Beach & the Seawall

Galveston is Houston's beach, the barrier island where generations of Texans have come to stand in the Gulf. This tour maps out a classic island beach day, moving from the family-friendly sand at Stewart Beach, out to the wide open flats of East Beach at the island's eastern tip, and along the ten-mile Seawall that has defined the city's shoreline since the great hurricane of 1900. Along the way you'll pass the Pleasure Pier riding out over the waves and the longest continuous sidewalk in the country. Bring sunscreen, water, and cash for beach parking, watch the surf and the flags, and plan your day around the tides and the crowds — mornings and weekdays are calmest. The stops run roughly east to west, so you can chase the sun down the Seawall.