Romantic, seaside getaways have always fueled the poetic and keep postcard companies in business. Speaking personally, however, there's something all too typical about the everyday Caribbean vision. It feels like a neighborhood full of extravagant houses that all look exactly alike, without character, and I find it hard to find romance. I need a real beach that balances the romantic aspects of vibrant culture and tradition with natural beauty and a rockin' good time. I need Galveston Island. With half the money you spend in Bermuda or Barbados living out another cookie cutter beach dream, you and that special someone could fall head over heels for the romance that is Galveston.
Romance abounds everywhere you turn on the island as long as you take time to stop and smell the sweet, salty air. The cobbled streets of The Strand can take you to an era long since forgotten with Dickens on the Strand each Christmas. The festival is a tribute to the sights, tastes and sounds of a Charles Dickens holiday (but with the 65 degree Galveston climate!), and has been held in December for 34 years and counting. Or, sneak back to the romantically wild revelry of college life in early spring during Mardi Gras Galveston- wild times long since forgotten for other reasons. Never mind the time of year though, a stroll on the Strand at dawn or dusk is a perfect way to spend time with the one you love. Restaurants, bars and hotels here range from rustic and rowdy to quaint and quietly elegant- something for every mood and pocketbook.
Another way to experience the romance of Galveston Island is to become immersed in its history and cultural lifeblood. A perusal of the island's Lone Star Flight Museum, the Hurricane Museum, beautiful Moody Gardens or the deeply historic Victorian neighborhoods will put you in tune with its people. A trip to the docks to watch the leathery old salts carry forth the time-tested traditions of the ocean as they unload their catch or cargo is another perfect way to understand a real romance- the romance between man and sea. If you take time to digest some interesting language and swagger, the stories you will hear are of true love and life. The famous Galveston Seawall was built after a hurricane battered the city in 1902 and stretches for 10 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, making it another ever-present reminder of Galveston's deep history. Originally intended to prevent flooding, the Seawall is now home to hotels, restaurants and nightlife that keep romance seekers flooding back time and time again. A scenic yet exciting stroll down the wall is a perfect way to begin or end a romantic evening.
If the bustle and breath of Galveston as a city doesn't fill your romantic sails, a scenic drive down Seawall Boulevard is a great way to absorb true natural beauty. You can find remote spots far from any crowd, rich and raw with wildlife and unique geography. This is how the Karankawa Indians experienced the island. This is how Cabeza de Vaca and the swashbuckling Jean Lafitte experienced the island. Wind whipped, sun bathed and soaked in solitude, a blanket, campfire and bottle of wine on one of these beaches is like no other romantic experience. Galveston offers 32 miles of beautiful beaches and nearly 10 parks for your picking. Many of these beaches are habitats protected and kept beautiful by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, so make sure to leave only sandy footprints and take only beautiful memories and photographs.
After a walk in the brisk sea breeze, a sand dune hike, some rabble rousing on The Strand and a fresh seafood or Mexican dinner at one of the hundreds of different restaurants Galveston has to offer, you and your loved one can enjoy the romance of the best in theater and refined entertainment. The Grand Opera House is a nicety not usually found in a common Texas beach town, and has become a staple for Galvestonians and visitors alike. In 1993, The Grand Opera House became "The Official Opera House of Texas", and its not hard to see why the title is well deserved. The epitome of resiliency, since opening in 1894, the building has survived two devastating hurricanes, a painstaking restoration and thousands of shows from ballet to Broadway, making the stately theater a staple of Galveston romance.
Maybe you've never been. Maybe you've just passed through on your way to another postcard. The next time you're down though, take some time to feel the sand and breeze on your skin; taste the salt on the tip of your tongue; stay and behold a few stunning sunsets. Feel the romance that is Galveston Island.
This guide to Galveston's romantic possibilities was brought to you by Travis Jones
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