pjacqueimo

Having been to California and Florida, wondering how good is Texas beaches compared to them? If Galveston and Corpus Christi are't the best beaches in Texas, which are? Thanks

SeamusSA

If you are comparing to FL and CA, Galveston will majorly disappoint with grey beaches and brown water. Corpus is marginally better, but the best beaches by far in TX are found in South Padre Island.

The_Diamond_Z

+1

I honestly don't know how you can have ocean + sand and wealth (USA) and still have the kind of beach that is Galveston.

DELee

a. Gulf o' Mexico ain't an ocean
b. Gulf o' Mexico doesn't support huge waves pushing loads of sand around
c. Drainage of Eastern United States into the Gulf are a lot of dirt (need more mountains to erode)
c. Hurricanes hitting Galveston and other low lying regions aren't conducive to pulling in huge loads of sand (from TBD source) into an area and wait for the hurricanes to pull it out into the Gulf

David

The_Diamond_Z

I can't disagree with any of your points but given all that Galveston Beach does have going for it (sun, sand, tourists, money, a large body of water), it could and should be a much nicer place to visit than it is.

kale73

Galveston Beach is fine if you enjoy swimming / wading in seaweed.

I haven't been to CC in ages.

slpybear

SPI is by far the best Beach to visit. Others farther up the coast can be nice in short "windows" but it is hit or miss. All see lots of tourist/beachgoers.

GUWonder

While I have mostly fond memories of frequenting Galveston as a child, it has never been the kind of beach destination that would incentivize me to fly to go see it for the water. I wouldn't even want to drive to it if I could help it.

BOSishome

Galveston is fun during Mardi Gras...

Surfside, Matagorda, etc can be fun if you live in Houston and want to drink on the beach and feel the sea breeze...

But if you’re thinking of flying for them, I’d advise against it.

james318

The Mississippi river dumps huge amounts of sediment in the water. That sediment is carried towards Galveston, making the water brown and murky. At certain times, the water can be quite blue and beautiful due to a different pattern of wind and currents.

DELee

I was about to say, isn't the blue because of what gets discharged from the plants, refineries and other facilities that empty into Galveston Bay, but I digress...

David

EmailKid

One of major problems with Galveston is all the Houstonians visiting There, I said it. They bring their food with them (no, not all), and in fine Texas tradition leave their trash behind Hard to make an investment when there is no tax revenue to support it.

I've driven from Key West to Galveston a couple of decades along, and there is a very clear difference when one gets to the other side of Mobile Bay. Seems that is where the sediement from Mississippi River stops, and it does not end until one gets to Mexico, though Padre Island is not bad for clear water (why spring breakers go there and not so much to Corpus and Galveston).

Small potatoes compared to what the Mississippi discharges. Which is why on occasion Galveston will have nice clear water when the conditions are right. Generally for a day or two, and not very often