Bolivar Peninsula -Texas' Family Vacation Choice
Warm Gulf Waters - Dazzling Sunsets - 27 Miles of Beaches
Drive East on Hwy 87 from the ferry landing to the junction
of Loop 108 and Hwy 87. Turn right towards the Gulf of
Mexico. You will come to a wide, flat expanse of beach
that has very little surf and shallow water making it ideal for
small children. One can find interesting shells - perhaps an
olive or a wentletrap - certain times of the year. This area is
called "The Flats" and is an excellent place to observe
many differnt species of water fowl. It is a natural nesting
ground and feeding area.
In the '60s, families of Mexicans would move to the "flats", to spend the summer living out on the beach and working their 2000 foot nets to bring in the catch of the day, hundreds of speckled trout! Also in the nets were dozens of live crabs, sting-rays, mullet, poagies, sharks. That event was one of the highlights of the day for the summer visitors. We could take all the crabs we were willing to rescue out of the nets, without getting pinched!!. (Now those nets are unlawful!)
 
The North Jetty is about 1-1/2 miles East of the Ferry Landing.
This granite rock jetty extends several miles into the Gulf
of Mexico The first 200 yards is a paved walkway. To get
beyond that point, you must climb over the granite rocks. There
is a small boat cut about one mile from shore. You can usually
catch a good mess of crabs and most of the year the fishing is
good. Bait and refreshments are available. Lots of FUN!! Children
can play on the nearby beaches.How to clean a crab 
Drive to the tip of Bolivar at the ferry landing and leave your car in the parking lot. Board the ferry for a ride across Galveston Bay. Bring a loaf of bread or a package of crackers, and maybe some binoculars. When you are underway go the rear of the boat and feed the hungry seagulls. The children will delight in watching the gulls dive for food. Be sure to wear a hat because you never know what might fall out of the sky.> You have a good chance of spotting some dolphins playing alongside the boat. And people watching is a great sport for all ages! When you get to the Galveston side stay on board and return to Bolivar.  Spend a day in Galveston browsing on the Strand.
There are blocks and blocks of intriguing shops and gourmet restaurants.
See the stately Bishop's Palace on Broadway. The Railroad
Museum is a whimsical delight. On the ship channel near the
elegant Harbor House Hotel is the old sailing ship "Elissa".
Visit the Moody Gardens click Discover a ten story Rainforest Pyramid with over 2,000 species of exotic plants, animals and butterflies from Asia, Africa and the Americas. At the IMAX, (on the Moody grounds), see images in 3-D that leap off the screen to the awesome sensation of IMAX digital sound. In the same rotunda enjoy gourmet meals with spectacular nightly Dancing Waters fountain displays at the Garden Restaurant.The museum shop has nature inspired gifts from around the world.There are acres of gardens and jogging trails to explore. Daily cruises aboard the luxurious Colonel Paddlewheel Boat leave from the dock there. The children will especially enjoy Palm Beach at Moody Gardens, with a massive freshwater swimming pool with sandy beach surrounding it. Most of it is shallow water. There are lawn chairs, umbrellas and a concession stand. Great! |