If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been in the throes of a design renovation for our 1915 Victorian beach house in Galveston, TX. I’ve had a ton of people ask, “Why Galveston?”
We started going to Galveston for Thanksgiving a few years ago when we were still living in Washington, DC. We loved renting a beautiful large Victorian home so everyone could stay under one roof. The weather was still warm enough in November for walks on the beach and it was an equidistant drive for both of our families. Galveston became a great place for our family to create memories.
After our move to Austin last year, we found ourselves going to Galveston with the family quite a bit. This little island has so much history and charm – I mean, come on – it was founded by a famous pirate (Jean Lafitte). Before Ellis Island opened in 1892, Galveston was the point of entry for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. Sinatra partied here, BB King played here, it’s loaded with cool ghost stories and tours. The list of reasons why Galveston is cool as hell just goes on and on. The best way I can describe Galveston is if New Orleans merged with a quiet beach town this might be what you get.
The architecture of the Victorian homes on the island is just stunning. I love walking through the neighborhoods with a cup of coffee and looking at all the beautiful buildings. There are art galleries galore downtown and more festivals throughout the year than I can count. The month of December is a stellar time to visit Galveston, they have so much going on for the whole family during the holidays. Check out the list of events below and take a trip down to Galveston. Step back in time, have a cocktail, and enjoy the the slower paced beach life.
Dickens on the Strand
Dickens on The Strand is an event put on by the Galveston Historical Foundation. Based on 19th-century Victorian London, the festival features parades, non-stop entertainment on four stages, and costumed vendors peddling their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink. You can even attend a traditional English breakfast hosted by the great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens at the historic 1859 Ashton Villa. Click here to see the full schedule of events.
See A Christmas Carol at the The Grand 1894 Opera House
The Grand is one of the few remaining theaters of its era in Texas and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. You can see a variety of shows at The Grand year round (Willie Nelson just performed here) but during the holiday season you can snag tickets to A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker. Click here for tickets!
Moody Gardens
A Festival of Lights, Iceland, and Ice Skating are just a few of the holiday attractions for the kids to check out at Moody Gardens. Click here to check out Moody Gardens.
The Stacy Strategy 