Garie Beach

Has anyone ever been to South Padre Island Texas and/or Galveston Texas ?

I am trying to find out what the best beach is to take my sons for a short vacation and would appreciate some personal insight. What Texas beach do you think was best? Pax et Bonum, Debra

Public Comments

1. South Padre is awesome watch the times you go though because some kids go on spring break and it can get roudy.. Other then that it is an awesome place to go..
2. I would have to say South Padre Island! Galvaston isn't that nice. Unless you go over to Crystal Beach in Galvaston, that is more of the "teen party beach"...
3. Hi Debra - I live in Houston, which is about an hour's drive away from Galveston, and I grew-up going there a lot. I've also been to Padre a few times in the past. I have to agree with your other 2 answerers and say that South Padre really is a nicer beach, even though I have some fond memories of growing-up going to Galveston. Galveston does have some nice things about it, but the beach really isn't one. It's usually really dirty and smelly, and some times when there are oil spills out in the Gulf, the oil ends up on the beach. It's been a while since I've been to Padre, but I do remember being blown-away by how clean the beach was (nice, white sand), because my comparison was to Galveston. Definitely recommend South Padre for a short little getaway with your sons. Blessings to you.
4. For actual beach quality, then definitely go for South Padre. It's beautiful, clean and (relatively) cheap. For a fun place to go though, Galveston wins out. The water is murky most of the time (not necessarily polluted - just muddy) and the beaches are pretty tame, but there's lots of history and cool architecture. Plus, it's a short drive from Space Center Houston and all the attractions in Houston. Also, for a happy medium, you might think about Corpus Christi. The beaches are nice, there's plenty of museums and sights to fill up a weekend and it's pretty cheap. Just depends on what you're looking for.
5. no, but i have a friend who had a beach place in corpus christi-until a hurricane relocated all his stuff out into the gulf of mexico... thank about it, though...'corpus christi.,,' has a nice catholic ring to it, huh? that might be just the place for you...just kidding, have fun wherever you go!