FIRST VISIT TO GALVESTON ISLAND

Yesterday we arrived at Galveston Island State park and settled in.  After lunch we took an auto tour. We drove along Seawall Boulevard with beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico, down to Harborside Drive with views of Galveston Bay and Pelican Island.  This is our first visit to the island and we were surprised at how much there is to see and do here.

Quiet campground on the beach

On the harbor side, we found a place to park across from the Jewel of Galveston - the National Historic Landmark Elissa.  Elissa is one of only four pre-20th-century tall ships in the US.  It was built in Scotland in 1877, rescued from a Greek scrap yard by the Galveston Historical Foundation in 1974 and was restored at a cost of nearly $7 million.

Denis at the helm of the Elissa

Try to imagine what it would look like with all her sails billowing in the wind

If you're interesting, here's links to some of the places we visited:

1877 Tall Ship Elissa
1892 Bishops Palace
1895 Moody Mansion
Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Grill

Bishop's Palace

Moody Mansion

Sacred Heart Catholic Church adjacent to Bishop's Palace

Had a wonderful meal at Fisherman's Wharf next to the Elissa.  It was recommended by a nice lady at the museum.   She even gave us a coupon for a free appetizer and the restaurant validated our parking ticket which would have cost has $12.  Our meal with tip was $36 but with the parking paid for and a free $7 appetizer, I figure the meal cost us only $17.  That's pretty good for grilled swordfish with pasta, the Galveston trio with seafood stuffed jalapeños, shrimp kisses and crab queso with chips, a bloody Caesar and ice cream sundae for dessert.  We did good!

From inside the restaurant we had a great view of the Elissa

This was the appetizer - it was a full meal for me

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.