Galveston Texas Trip december 2012

        The trip to Galveston Texas was just a 4 hour 4 day get away from the normal routine. We decided to stay at two places and one being Silverleafs Seaside Resort and the other was Four Points Hotel on the ocean. We went to several things in Galveston area such as Seawolf Park which had the USS Gavalla a WWII Submarine and the USS Steawrt a Destroyer of WWII also. We went to the Pleasure Pier and had dinner at the Bubba Gump Srimp restaurant. A couple of restaurants we tried while there are Kellys off of I-45 coming into Galveston and the Shy Katz Deli in Galveston, and I will describe everything so if you want to take a little get away to Galveston Texas you might have some what of a clue.
        For any place that has a beach in December that is a tourist area is not that busy as if it is during the summer time. I only say about 15 people swimming the whole 4 days we were there. During the summer it would be backed and there would be swim suits everywhere. The area was steady with locals and tourist but not congested with people from all over the country like the summer is so if you want less people go in the winter.

        Now lets start with where we stayed, me and my wife decided to try two places one being the Silverleaf Resorts Seaside Resort and the Four Points Hotel seen below. The Seaside Resort is a nice place if you have children and its not a torcher chamber the reason I say this the kids can play at the recreation center and outside, and at night your room has a lock so the kids don't walk in. You have a kitchen so you can eat inn and save money, if you have a descent size family like we did when our kids were growing up. We save a lot of money this way so we could see and do more with our family. We were in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, kitchen, dinning, and living room with a balcony. I was more than enough room for me and my wife but we had a friend stay the night since he was in town and we just hung out. The resort is quiet and about 13 miles from anything major how ever the ocean is right across the road and its just a short walk to the beach and right now it's the only handy cap accessible walkway to the beach in Galveston Texas.

Silverleaf Seaside Resort

        The beds at the Seaside Resort we comfortable and we had no problem sleeping. Now I don't know if they were comfortable or we were just tired, It was one of the two. Basically the bad this about the resort is you are 13 miles from the main activity however if you have children its not that bad and you are in a resort community which is nice also. Along with the recreation center you have miniature golf and you can even check board games out on the rainy days while you are there so they have something to do.
        The Four Points Hotel was different but nice and if you have children it is a torcher chamber just because its a standard hotel room however the room is a modern style design and the beds are very comfortable with a pillow top. The hotel offered free internet and breakfast does not come with your stay. If you want a microwave or small refrigerator you can rent them for an extra $10.00 US a day. The hotel has a pool, bar, and restaurant located in the lobby area to the right as you walk in. It's also right across the road from the Pleasure Pier. The coolest thing about where we stayed we purchased them through out travel club membership that we have and we are even going to make a commission on our own booking. So if you want information on how that works, click on the link to a DREAMTRIPSLIFE site and watch the video.

Four Points Hotel

        Let get to the food a the Pleasure Pier at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. The food was pretty standard at the Bubba Gump and if you are looking for Gulf shrimp don't go there because all there shrimp is from a shrimp farm and believe me its a different taste and not in a good way. I would ratter have gone to the Shrimp N Stuff instead. However the food was still good but the bear battered fish was great we would have that again but forget the shrimp. The liquor drinks are tasty and reasonable in price.

        The Pleasure Pier In Galveston Texas is nice but for some it could be pricey however there may be a reason for this is simply helps control who wants to be there on the pier instead of who wants to hang out. The pricing is below and here is the link to the pricing at the pleasure pier.

All Day Ride Pass

This is the pass to have! Ride as many times as you want throughout the day! Valid for all 16 rides. Based on height requirements.
$26.99 (48" and up)
$19.99 (under 48")
You do not need to purchase a Pier Walk-On Pass if you choose this option. Good for day of purchase only. Children 2 and under are admitted onto the pier at no cost. Every guest must purchase a ticket/wristband to ride one of our rides including children under the age of 2.

Family All Day Ride Packs

$89.99 - Two passes (48" and up) and Two passes (under 48")
$94.99 - Three Passes (48" and up) and One Pass (under 48")
$99.99 - Four Passes (48" and up)
Additional passes must be purchased at regular price.

Individual Ride Ticket

Tickets start at $4.00 per ticket.*
*Requires Pier Walk-On Pass to gain access to Pier

Pier Pass (Walk-On)

You will need a Pier Pass in order to gain admittance to the Pleasure Pier. The Pier Pass only allows you to enjoy the Pier, but NOT to experience the rides. If you're on the Pier and decide to join in on the fun, you can upgrade to an "All Day Ride Pass" by paying the remaining difference ($16.99 48" and up and $13.99 under 48") – or you can buy individual ride tickets inside at our ticket windows. If you are purchasing an All Day Ride Pass wristband, this pass is not necessary.
$10 (48" and up)
$8 (under 48")
$7 Senior Citizens (must show valid I.D.)

         We also had breakfast at a place called Shy Katz Deli right off the boulevard in Galveston. Lets just say it was great and the portions of food were more than enough as you can see to the left. The restaurant appears to be an old reclaimed corner neighborhood grocery store as you can see below. Don't let the exterior of the building fool you, the food there is fantastic and if your ever in Galveston Texas and wanting breakfast or lunch go there we went there two of the days we were staying. You and your family will thank me and my wife. Besides its helping the local business instead of the large franchise corporations.

 

        Lets talk about one more place called Kelley's Home Cooking. The food at Kelly's is truly home cooking and about as close as you will get for a restaurant. the one we ate at was right off I-45 heading into Galveston located at the address below. If you like chicken fried steak go to Kelley's, if you like home made mash potatoes go to Kelley's, If you like baked potatoes GO to Kelley's. Pretty much if you haven't figure it out GO TO KELLEY'S. The food is great so check it out, and you will be full when you leave maybe a little to full.

4604 Gulf Frwy. @ F.M. 1765
LaMarque, Texas 77568
409.935.3131
Fax: 409.935.2113
Click For Map

Lone Star Flight Museum

        The Lone Star Flight Museum was pretty cool. We started out by getting 50% off to get in because the

travel club we are apart of had a 2 for 1 discount coupon seen above that we could use anytime. So we printed it out. There were several others coupons we could have used in Galveston, but we go down there a couple times a year and I can write about those places next time. You see the discount coupons are not just for things such as this. Their are so many other places such as museums, movie ticket, food, oil changes, gyms, hair salons, shopping, and much much more. Its a great right now value, other than the travel we are able to do. We have never been here and it was pretty cool and we found out that all the aircraft in the hanger works and they fly them every Saturday. They fly PT-17 Stearman Bi-plan, T-41 Muscaler, T-6, P-51 Mustang, B-52 Bomber, and the B-17 Flying Cross Bomber. They all cost to fly with the instructor and the prices for the experience is valued right. You can go to the Lone Star Flight Museum and check out the prices and schedules

The  aircraft above is a modified Boeing PT-17 Stearman. Built in 1942 and was used as aprimary trainer in the US ARMY Air Force. The aircraft has been fitted with the more powerful R-985 engine rated at 450 HP.

This aircraft was featured in the film " Secondhand Lions" sharing top billing with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine. Flying Scenes were performed by on of the Lone Star Flight Museum pilots.

        There are so many aircraft in this museum that it is very impressive that they have them but more impressive is that they fly. As they acquire more aircraft to restore to fly you have to appreciate the love of aircraft that the men and women that volunteer at the flight museum and what it takes to make all this happen. So go to the flight museum and see the aircraft you and your children will enjoy yourself. We will go back again, because this helps to support the museum in the restoration and maintenance of the aircraft.

Seawolf Park

        Seawolf Park commemorates US naval history with the USS Cavalla, a World War II submarine which memorializes the lost USS Seawolf, and the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort, both of which are open for visitors to tour. The park is situated on Pelican Island, located between Galveston Island and the mainland. Other structures at the park include a 3-story pavilion, a lighted fishing pier and a playground. We all need to support our history. The money for the military vassals are mainly by the people that visit and donations. Maintenance is mostly done buy volunteers so go do your duty young and old and see what your fellow Americans from the passed used to protect the shores of this country. Do your duty and help preserve the history of the United States of America.

USS CAVALLA SS244 BUILT IN 1943

        The USS Cavalla is berthed in Seawolf Park, Galveston, Texas as a memorial to the lost submarine USS Seawolf. Cavalla was a Gato class fleet sub, designed and built in the summer of 1943 by the Electric Boat Company and launched on November 14, 1943. She was commissioned on Feb. 29, 1944, the first "leap year" boat built by E.B. On June 19, 1944, on her maiden patrol, she sank the 30,000 ton aircraft carrier Shokaku (veteran of Pearl Harbor and Battle of Coral Sea). This earned her the Presidential Unit Citation.

        After the war, the Cavalla was decommissioned in 1946. She was brought back to service in 1951 and assigned to the Submarine Squadron 10 in New London, Conn. To meet the Soviet threat, she underwent conversion in 1952 to a new class of American sub--the SSK (hunter/killer).

        On January 21, 1971, the U.S. Navy transferred possession of Cavalla to the Texas Submarine Veterans of WWII. The Cavalla was then delivered to her permanent berth in Seawolf Park, Galveston, Texas.

Gulf coast locals usually refer to the Cavalla as the "Seawolf", mistaking the name of the memorial park for that of the submarine on exhibit there. Next to her is the USS Stewart DE-238.

        Cavalla is currently enjoying a renaissance; volunteer efforts are at a ten year high, the local press has covered her history and renovation, and efforts are underway to bring her back to the proud state her crews maintained.

Cavalla Historical Foundation 2504 Church St. Galveston, TX 77550
Curator: Master Chief Petty Officer John McMichael, USN, ret. 409-744-7854

USS STEWART DESTROYER ESCORT 238 BUILT IN 1942

         USS Stewart began her service operating out of Miami as a "school ship" training student officers. She escorted President Roosevelt in the presidential yacht down the Potomac River to rendezvous with USS Iowa in the Chesapeake bay for his mission to Casablanca and Tehran. In 1944, she commenced North Atlantic convoy operations, making 30 crossings with occasional enemy submarine and aircraft encounters. Heavy seas and icing conditions were frequent.
         Stewart moved to the Pacific theater in mid 1945, and conducted training exercises out of Pearl Harbor until the end of the war. She was decommissioned in late 1945. In 1974, Stewart was formally donated to Seawolf Park. She is the second ship named for Rear Admiral Charles Stewart who commanded another ship in the historic naval fleet, USS Constitution, from 1813 to 1815.

        Overall it was a great time in Galveston Texas and if you want to know more about the travel club we are apart of go to DREAMTRIPSLIFE and watch the video. If you want to know how you can make money go to the opportunity and watch the video you will have to put your name, email and phone number to watch the video. All that will come from that is I will contact you and this is all you have to say, not interest, I'm interested or I have some questions very simple. So click on OPPORTUNITY and if you want to be notified of future trips just join this site for free and you will receive them as we travel.