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Created in 1817 by the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte, Galveston today is a popular destination for tourists. In the past few years, the port has become a departure point for America's most popular cruiselines. If you're planning a cruise from Galveston, schedule a few extra days to enjoy this amazing Texas island and all it has to offer visitors.

Galveston has 32 miles of beautiful gulf beaches, with pristine sand and clear waters, banked by natural dunes. Swim, surf, fish, collect shells, or try your hand at building a sand castle in one of the sculpting contests. One of the best beaches is East Beach, with its game room, volleyball courts, showers, snack bar, and gift shop. It also features the Big Reef Nature Park that's sure to be a hit with nature lovers. On summer weekends, you can enjoy live music and concerts at the outdoor bar.

History buffs will delight in the Bishop's Palace, a Victorian castle built by Colonel Walter Gresham. The sprawling mansion was begun in 1886, but because of its ornate details and rare materials from around the world, it wasn't completed until 1892. The palace has been named as one of the top 100 most important buildings in America.

The whole family will marvel at Moody Gardens, with its amazing theme-based pyramids. There's a 10-story Rainforest Pyramid that will convince you that you're in the tropics, along with the largest bat exhibit in the Southwest. The Palm Beach area is complete with white sands, blue lagoons, lush tropical foliage, and cascading waterfalls. The Discovery Pyramid will have you mesmerized with its interactive science exhibits, as will the 4-D special-effects theater and the IMAX ridefilm theater, which takes you on a world tour at heart-pounding speeds. The Aquarium Pyramid has 100,000 square feet of show space displaying the world's waters - one of the largest in the world!

For an entire day of fun, take the kids to the Schlitterbahn, a premier indoor water park with 32 rides and attractions. You'll enjoy a huge wave pool, an uphill water coaster, speed slides, whitewater rapids, hot tubs, family raft rides, and a unique surf ride. There's a special water playground for the little ones, too. One of the best features of the park is the weather: the air and the water are both kept at a perfect 80 degrees!

You can't leave Galveston without experiencing the Strand District, located in historic downtown adjacent to the waterfront. Here you'll find historic buildings that withstood the storm of 1900, now housing quaint shops, restaurants, pubs, antique warehouses, specialty stores, theaters, museums, galleries, coffee shops, and cozy little cafes. Be sure to check out the fascinating Grand 1894 Opera House and the Pier 21 Theater, where you can view the 27-minute film about the Great Storm, a category 5 hurricane that nearly destroyed the entire area and took the lives of 8,000 residents - the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. While you're in the district, stroll along the brick streets down to the wharf to see an historic tall ship, explore a real offshore oil rig at Pier 19, or just take a break on a bench at the waterfront park and soak in the ambience.

You can spend weeks in Galveston and still not see and do everything she has to offer. Don't think of this wonderful island as just a place to board a cruise ship. The area is a top-notch destination in its own right. Once you experience Galveston's natural beauty, unique history, and varied activities, you'll wish you could stay longer!

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
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