Galveston Island State Park & the Wild West End

Out on the quieter west end of Galveston Island, the state park spans both sides of the island at once — a Gulf-facing beach on the south, and 2,000 acres of coastal prairie and bay marsh on the north. It's a completely different Galveston from the busy Seawall: uncrowded sand, boardwalk trails over the dunes, paddling trails winding through the marsh, and some of the best coastal birding in Texas. This driving-and-walking tour takes in both halves of the park, from the beach side to the bay side, with an observation tower and paddling access along the way. Bring water, sun protection, and bug spray for the marsh, check the park's status and any beach-driving rules, and slow down — the whole point of the west end is that it hasn't been paved over.