The ferry to the mainland.
Esther kept eating the bread we brought for the birds.
A real ice cream truck!
I had to get something with bubble gum eyes.
We explored an old fort-turned-park. Esther was fearless.
Back on the ferry we spotted some dolphins!
Esther was just a tiny thing last time we went to the beach. These are her first steps in the sand.
I think she liked it.
Building sandcastles
A couple tips for visiting Galveston in August:
::Stay away from the beach until about 3-4pm. When the sun isn't so high, there is much less chance of sunburn. And the light is gorgeous in the evening.
::Most people visit the West Beach, where all the restaurants are. We like the East Beach. There are fewer people, and the views are beautiful.
::Visit Murdoch's for some refreshment and great views. This was my favorite stop of the week.
::The ferry is free, and the kids love it! Try not to throw bread so that it lands on the cars below. Especially if there are people in those cars. We know.
::Go during Shark Week (Discovery Channel). Somehow, our beach trip always coincides with Shark Week. We love it! (Our humor runs a little dark...) We spend the afternoons at the beach, grab some dinner, and then go back to learn about sharks facts, shark attacks, and shark myths. We can't get enough. Donnie and I even rented Jaws
::Kites are really easy to fly on the beach. We bought a real one--an easy flier--and it popped up in seconds.
::Last year we stayed at the Hilton, and this year we stayed at a little dive called the Beachcomber. Honestly, I liked the dive just fine. We saved some money. They had continental breakfast, free WiFi, washer/dryer, fridge and microwave in the room, and great air conditioner. The Hilton nickled and dimed for everything, so this was kind of a relief. But the Hilton's pool was way better.
Have you gotten away for some family time this summer? Where did you go? Do you have tips for traveling with little ones?
