Galveston: Spring Break or Bust
By Tina Divara
Six months after Hurricane Ike devastated the island of Galveston, the island is still in the mist of reconstruction. Galveston’s plan is to be ready and waiting to greet the groups of tourists coming to the island for spring break.
Warm temperatures with clear and sunny skies is generally the weather for the Gulf Coast section of Texas. Those who cannot afford to travel to the more popular hot spots, such as Mexico or Florida, take the short ride down Interstate 45 south and dead end right into the sandy shores of Galveston Island.
After the extensive damage to the island sustained during Hurricane Ike, Galveston residents, business owners and officials have been working diligently to get the island back up and running. Spring break is the kick-off to the summer tourist season and islanders are eagerly awaiting spring break with open shops, hotels and attractions.
RoShelle Gaskins, public relations manager for Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been promoting Galveston to encourage the upcoming season.
“The island is ready for spring breakers,” Gaskin said. “They will find fresh new beaches, newly renovated shops and restaurants.”
One of the major attractions for the island is the more than 20 miles of beach that is open for sunning and surf play. The City of Galveston has invested in a multimillion dollar project to replace 500,000 cubic yards of sand along the Seawall that should be completed before the spring break crowd arrives.
“All beaches are open; the parks with amenities (pavillions) that will be open beginning March 6,” said Lou Muller executive director for the City of Galveston.
Muller also stated that Apffel “East Beach” park will not reopen till the first weekend in April.
Spring break is not only about the beach, but also about spending time shopping and dinning with family and friends. The majority of the shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses along the Seawall are open and ready for tourist. A souvenir shop next door to Stewart Beach called Wings, had its reopening Feb. 28.
“Yes we are ready and stocked for the spring break crowd,” said Bonnie Carley, assistant manager for Wings.
Over on the bay side of the island, many of the shops and restaurants located in the historic Strand district are still in the reconstruction phase, and slowly but surely are planning to reopen. The spring break crowd will find some familiar spots open when they do visit the Strand district like Fisherman’s Wharf, Courtyard Café and Oliver’s.
Other attractions that will be open for the public to visit are Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn,Galveston Island Waterpark, Moody Mansion and the Flight Museum. Moody Gardens has a new attraction for the month of March in addition to its normally scheduled events, called the Penguin Encounter which allows tourists an up close look at penguins. Schlitterbahn’s indoor swim park will open March 16 for those who love the sun but not the sand that the island has to offer.
“Not only will our guest notice an enhanced park experience, but this is a perfect getaway location for a fun and safe spring break vacation spot for the entire family,” said Ron Sutula, general manager of Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark.
Jason Gilkerson, a resident of Pasadena, is amazed to see how much of the island is up and running.
“I think Galveston is not 100 percent ready but I think that when people come down and see how much is open they will be surprised,” Gilkerson said.
Click here to see The Signal's Spring Break U-Cast on YouTube.
