Looking at some beach getaway options from Houston. Hoping to spend a few days by the beach and was looking for suggestions for something not too far from Houston.

Was thinking of Galveston, but only know of it as a boarding & disembarking point for the cruises.

Thanks in advance for any inputs on the above.

Galveston is your nearest and best option. Furher away, but still within Texas, you could head to Mustang Island near Corpus Christi or South Padre Island.

Thanks for the info.. any hotel recommendations in Galveston ? The folks traveling would be a total of 4 adults and any spot on the beach front would be an added bonus.

If you are staying near the eastern end of Galveston Island, all of the hotels are on north side of Seawall Boulevard and beaches, if any, are on the other side/south side of Seawall Boulevard.

If you have a car and would like to minimize the number of other tourists you have to deal with, drive further west/south for a less crowded beach.

WRT places to stay, there are multiple places on the eastern side of the island as mentioned across Seawall Boulevard that have access to the beach. You could also look at renting a beachside condo or cottage to the west/south as well as a few resorts there as well.

David

Beaches down south are nicer, but Galveston Island beaches are almost OK in the summer when the sand dries out.

It's the water that's variable. It's blue - green further off coast, but it varies how close the blue line comes to the beach. Every once in a while in looks very nice, but most of the time water is brown right at the beach and within a few hundred feet.

For most hotels on the Seawall you will have to cross the street to go to the beach, but it's no big deal.

Don't forget about the free ferry to Bolivar Peninsula. Chances are you will see dolpins swimming along the ferry. Car lines can be long in the summer, especially on weekends, but you can park by the ferry landing and just walk on for the (IMHO fun) ride.

Everyone I know seems to go to Port Aransas. I haven't been, but it sounds like there aren't many hotels there, but rentals are plentiful.

I went to Corpus Christi ages ago, back in the early 1990s, and really liked the beach nearby. We'll be going there in October, and I'll report back after my visit.

If Padre Island is too far I would rent a beach house at Surfside.

http://www.texasexplorer.com/Surfside.htm

i have tried a lot of get away trips but California was my best trip