Galveston is a nearby summer playground
By Clair Maciel
photography by vadim troshkin
It’s that time of year again. The kids are almost out of school, beach weather is
here and you’re probably planning the family’s next summer vacation. Ideas, anyone?
How about a weekend getaway on an island? Galveston Island, that is.
Galveston has long been a top destination for Houstonians looking for a quick
weekend vacation. It’s about an hour drive and 50 miles away, taking you not too far, but just far
enough to get away for a while.
Whether you’re into the wildlife scene, arts and entertainment, or simply want to soak up
the sun and sand on the beach, Galveston offers a variety of activities and
events for the whole family. And you can’t go wrong with the seafood there, either.
Sports and Beaches
One of Galveston’s biggest summer attractions is, of course, its beaches. With 32 miles of beach
and nine beach parks, you’re sure to find plenty of room for relaxing, swimming and surfing.
The most popular hot spot for families is Stewart Beach (6th & Seawall). Dellanera RV Park (FM 3005 & 7 Mile Road) is ideal for those traveling in a recreational vehicle, and East Beach (Seawall & Boddeker Drive) is a prime spot for nature lovers, as it is home to Big Reef Nature Park.
For families looking for a few more thrills in their water adventure, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark offers three main areas of attraction, complete with rides, slides and wave
pools. Not only is it much closer to Houston than its flagship Schlitterbahn
park in New Braunfels, but the indoor feature at the Galveston park gives
visitors a welcome escape from the harsh sun and heat. The park is open daily
through September 21 during Schlitterbahn’s summer season.
Want to see who can build the biggest, most elaborate and detailed sandcastles
around? Check out the 22nd annual AIA Sandcastle Competition at East Beach on May 31. You’d be amazed at what these skilled sand artists can do with a pail and shovel
(AIAsandcastle.com).
Athletes who enjoy a pickup game of beach volleyball can take part in the weekly
tournaments hosted by the Gulf Coast Volleyball Association throughout the summer at Stewart Beach, including the Ocean Potion Memorial
Madness tournament on May 24.
Attractions and Entertainment
If you’re looking for indoor, air-conditioned activities, Moody Gardens has several exhibits and museums where you can find entertainment and education. Get up close and personal with penguins, sharks and thousands of
tropical fish at the Aquarium Pyramid, or see exotic plants and animals in the
Rainforest Pyramid.
A new Titanic artifact exhibition is also on display, giving visitors the chance
to learn more about the infamous cruise ship and see rare artifacts recovered
from the sunken ship. But check it out while you can, the exhibit is on display
for a limited time.
The IMAX 3D, 4D and Ridefilm theaters offer an adventurous take on the movie
experience, and the Palm Beach area features white sand and blue lagoons.
If you can’t take in all of Moody Gardens’ exhibits in one day, there’s even a hotel and spa on site so you can spend the entire weekend there.
Shoppers can hit the Strand for a stroll through historic downtown Galveston and stop in at each of the
shops, retail stores and eateries along the way.
Wildlife and Education
As a home to hundreds of species of birds, the island is an outdoor classroom
for the nature and bird watching enthusiast. Moody Gardens offers a series of free classes on the various species of birds that call
Galveston home. Birding 101 classes, which teach the basics of birding, are
offered on the second Saturday of every month, while Birding 201 classes are
held every third Saturday of the month.
If you’d rather go on a field trip, guided birding tours are held at Galveston Island State Park, including one on May 11. Experienced local birders take participants through
different areas of the park to see the various birds migrating through the
area.
The state park also offers a family fishing clinic on May 17. Kids and parents
can learn the basics of fishing in a classroom setting, then take what they’ve learned outside and practice with a hands-on lesson. Call the park at
409-737-1222 for times and details.
So whether you’re looking to create an itinerary for a weekend vacation or just feel like being
spontaneous on a day trip, Galveston has a variety of activities for everyone.
For more information on any of these events, or to see more ideas on how to
plan your Galveston getaway, visit Galveston.com.
Contributing editor Clair Maciel is a Houston freelance writer.
Resources
For more information, visit www.Galveston.com and www.Galvestoncruises.com
Walker Boosts MS 150
Clay Walker (left) is one of the shining stars in country music, having sold 10 million albums while racking up 11 number one country hits. Walker, who began his career in Beaumont, still calls Texas home and, despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over a decade ago, shows no signs of slowing down.
“My goal right now is to not only raise awareness,” explains Walker, “but to find a cure.”
And that’s why Walker spends so much time helping events like this month’s Houston-to-Austin BP MS 150 bike ride. Last year, Clay welcomed riders at the Tully Stadium start line, and in 2005 he partnered with Governor Rick Perry as a rider.
“It takes funding for the research to find a cure,” Walker says. In 2003, to help fund that research, Walker created the Band Against MS non-profit foundation.
“I think that individuals, as well as teams, have the same goal in mind–that’s winning. To me, I find that we can win much better as a team and that’s why I started the Band Against MS and brought in the best team you could possibly find to run a charity,” explains Walker.
The BP MS 150 is the largest non-profit sporting event in Texas. More than 12,000 cyclists from all over the world will be in Houston for the start of the race. This year, organizers have set a goal to raise $14 million to support the kind of research that will hopefully someday create a world that’s free of multiple sclerosis.
BP MS 150
April 12-13
Houston-To-Austin Ride
Begins at Tully Stadium in Houston and Rhodes Stadium in Katy
Overnight at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange
For more information, visit Ms150.org. To join the stop MS movement, log on at JointheMovementLoneStar.org. To partner with Clay Walker in his efforts to find a cure, visit www.Bandagainstms.com.
—Lisa Malosky
River Oaks Hosts Clay Court Champs
Two players ranked in the top 30 in the world have signed up to play in the relocated U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club April 14-20.
James Blake (right), ranked 12th in the ATP rankings, and Tommy Haas, ranked 27th, have committed to the 32-player draw, according to event organizer Bronwyn Greer. Blake reached the quarterfinals of the 2008 Australian Open. Haas’ career high rank was number two.
Players had until early March to sign up for the tournament, which had been at Westside Tennis Center (now known as Westside Tennis & Fitness) the previous seven years. Greer expects a stellar, but late-committing field because the tournament is held the week after Davis Cup play. A qualifying tournament is scheduled for April 12-13 at River Oaks, with the top four qualifiers making it into the main draw.
“Players are attracted to the event not only because it’s a warm-up for the French Open, but also because of the $436,000 in prize money,” Greer says. “The singles winner will pocket $68,800. The winning doubles team will split $25,000.”
The tournament format is best-of-three sets. The surface of the eight clay courts at River Oaks is similar to the famed crushed red brick of the French Open, which leads to grueling rallies, well-constructed points and the signature slides that are a part of the clay court style of play.
River Oaks has done nothing to alter its well-maintained courts and can accommodate about 3,400 fans for the final. “All seats have a clear view and box seats are selling fast,” Greer says.
River Oaks’ tradition of hosting championship tennis events dates back to 1931. The U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship is the second longest running United States Tennis Association (USTA) championship event in America, second only to the U.S. Open.
—Philip Billnitzer
Battling Babes
They’re tough, yet flirty. Aggressive, but sassy. And they’d knock you to the ground in a heartbeat without so much as a blink or an apology. Well, at least on the skating rink they would.
They’re the women of the Houston Roller Derby (HRD) league, and with the 2008 season underway, they’re putting Houston on the map as a new hot spot for this retro sport.
Established in 2005, HRD (Houstonrollerderby.com) is growing just as much in its participation as it is in its popularity and fan base. The league includes four teams, each with its own tough-girl title. There’s the Bayou City Bosses, Burlesque Brawlers, Machete Betties, Psych Ward Sirens and the all-star HaRD Knocks. The skaters also come with intimidating monikers like Goldie Bloxx, Rosie the Ribhitter and Wreck Hell Welch.
During the 2008 season, which runs from March to September, teams battle each other, as well as other Texas teams. Home matches, or bouts, are held at least once a month at downtown’s Verizon Wireless Theater.
You might be surprised by the athletes you’d see bashing each other on the rink. “We have skaters from every type of background, including housewives, lawyers, IT consultants, graduate students, massage therapists, photographers, teachers and scientists,” said “Carmen Geddit,” HRD interleague director and one of five Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) representatives for the league. “You’d be amazed at the variety of women who are interested in playing a full-contact sport.”
Geddit said HRD skaters train three to four times a week to stay in shape for the grueling bouts. Houston area women are invited to join a recreational league to learn about the sport, train with HRD skaters and get a solid workout. Just be sure to bring your helmet and knee pads.
—Clair Maciel
April Run Spotlight
Run for the Rose and Ridin’ For The Rose
Date: April 6, 2008
Races: 5K chip timed run, walk and 1K family/kids run/walk
Benefits: Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation, Children’s Memorial Herman Hospital, and brain cancer research at M.D. Anderson Hospital
What Makes it Cool: The run starts at Reliant Stadium and the scenic course winds around Reliant Park. It will end with the runners and walkers entering Reliant Stadium, where a huge awards ceremony and post-race party will take place on the floor of the stadium. After the party, join the motorcycle riders for the Blessing of the Bikes and police escorted procession out of Reliant Park for the ride to Pelican Junction for the post-ride party.
In 2002, Dr. Marnie Rose was just 27 years old and in the first year of her pediatric medical residency at Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Despite her diagnosis, she agreed to share her life with a TV crew from the ABC reality series “Houston Medical.” She died on August 23, 2002. For Information, visit www.Runfortherose.com.
—Text and photography by Karen Thibodeaux