Galveston! Part Four, The Ferry Boat Ride

The highlight of our trip was taking the Ferry across the bay to the Bolivar Peninsula! It was only an 18 minute adventure at sea (both ways) but I don't think any of us will forget it! Jonathan was so excited to be on the boat! We saw birds and dolphins!

I had never been on a Ferry boat before, so it was a first for me. I was a little freaked out about driving my new car on the boat and having it so close to all these big trucks, but it was okay in the end.

Once we got to the Bolivar Peninsula, we drove for miles just to check this out. It was actually kind of sad, there wasn't much of anything. Houses, but not many. I think we saw 2 gas stations, 1 very small no name grocery store and 1 bait store. No restaurants, not even fast food! Amy told me, after we got back, that the Bolivar Peninsula was one of the hardest hit places down there from Ike. So that explains why there was just nothing there!

We drove for a while more and decided to stop at Crystal Beach. It was a cool beach and we had lots of fun playing! I took some of my favorite photo's of the trip! Then we headed back! 



Driving onto the Ferry Boat!




Looking down on my car from the upper deck. Look, there is an 18 wheeler parked next to me! Scary!





Old War Ships



Ship Wreck

Another Ferry and a bunch of boats in the distance.

The Bolivar Light House



Dolphin!!!


 

King of the World!




Like father, like son!




It was a beautiful day! Sunny and 75, with a lot of wind!





We saw jelly fish washed up every few feet! Yucky!



Galveston! Part Three, The Birthday Celebrations!

We went to Galveston to celebrate Michael's Birthday! One of the reasons Michael and I keep coming back to Galveston is the good food! It did not disappoint this time! We ate at the Fisherman's Wharf, Shrimp and Stuff and Gaido's! All so good! I highly recommend! --- Happy Birthday Michael!!!!!



The Fisherman's Wharf. I surprised him by telling the waiter that it was his Birthday and the waiter brought him a very yummy pecan pie! Michael's Birthday Eve celebration!




At the Fisherman's Wharf. Jonathan LOVED being there and sitting by the water. One of my favorite Jonathan quotes from the trip...a boat had just gone by us and he yelled, "Turn around boat, I need to see your face!"




This boat, the Elissa is docked next to the restaurant. James, Michael's brother, worked on this boat one summer.




The family...looking a little tired...it had been a long day of driving!



One of the main reasons we came to Galveston, Gaido's! Amazing seafood! Michael had the sea scallops and I had the red snapper...Jonathan had a peanut butter sandwich! It was so yummy! 



B-Day Boy!



Galveston! Part Two, The Hotel

Michael and I have been to Galveston at least 4 or 5 times over the past 11 years and in all the times we have been there, we have NEVER liked the hotel we stayed in. The hotels along Seawall, the main street along the beach, are mostly older and haven't been updated in a while. They are musky and the carpet feels damp and gross. We haven't been staying cheap either. The last time we went we stayed at the Hilton and paid over $100 a night, but it was still gross feeling.

So this time, we decided to stay in downtown Galveston. We choose The Tremont House Hotel, a Wyndham property. The building is over 100 years old, but it has been recently updated. It is located one block from 'The Strand', where most of the downtown shops, restaurants and bars are located. And it is just 2 blocks from the Harbor. We walked down to the Strand both nights, it was so much fun!

We didn't have a single bad experience with the hotel, everyone bent over backwards to help us with every little thing. It was so nice. The only complaint I have is that it was a bit noisy. As ships would come into the harbor throughout the night, they would sound their horn! Yikes, that will make you jump out of bed! And there was also a couple of night clubs that I could hear the thumping of the music, which drove me a little crazy. Otherwise, totally awesome!



The outside of the hotel, on one of our night walks.




Jonathan loved our window. He was ALWAYS looking out and talking to the boats and telling us what was going on!




The View from our room.




The View



Our room



The Bathroom. Okay, it's weird to take a picture of the toilet, but I loved the tile in there and this was the only way I could get the whole wall!




Enjoying his morning milk.



He loved this mirror, if he wasn't looking out the window, he was looking in the mirror. He got a hold of daddy's sunglasses!



The Lobby




The Strand.




The Strand




A shop on the Stand that I have a really good memory of going with mom and dad on our trip 5 years ago.

 



Just for comparison...this was the first hotel we stayed in at Galveston. We thought it would be cool to stay in a hotel that was on a pier over the water...we were wrong. It was heavily damaged from Hurricane Ike, we assume it will be torn down.



Galveston! Part One, The Beach

Michael, Jonathan and I went on our first road trip together to Galveston. A quick get-away over a 3 day weekend. It was so much fun and everything we needed after a very long year. We were also celebrating Michael's Birthday, which was 12/11!

I took 625 photo's in less than 48 hours! I would love to share them ALL with you, but I have narrowed down the photo's into categories, so please check them all out!

I'll start with what happened first, THE BEACH! The week or so before we left I kept telling Jonathan about the The Beach, so he kind of knew what I was talking about when we got there and he loved it! Since it is December, it was a little chilly, especially with the wind...but it was still a wonderful and memorable time!



As we drove over the bridge into Galveston...the beginning of a beautiful sunset.




We went straight to the beach! This is my favorite photo so far of my two favorite guys.




A statue along the beach. Jonathan thought he was getting away with something by touching it, which cracked me up!



Michael and Jonathan...Jonathan's first steps on the beach.



Jonathan's first seashell find.



That one was pretty cool, so he is off to find more!

 

The next 7 photo's you will see Jonathan bravely save his daddy from the high tide.

Okay, well let's just say, Jonathan thinks that he saved Michael from the tide...he didn't know what to think of the water...we will be working on that! :)

This is the last day, on Sunday. A cold front had come through the night before and it was clear and beautiful, but 45 degrees.



Playing under the pier.