Angling to be Your Warm-Weather Destination

Although Galveston Island has an attraction for any type of tourist all year long, the spring/summer months are my favorite times of year. Beginning with the reason that Galveston appears on many travelers' bucket lists, the weather is optimal and the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico make for the perfect family getaway or location for downtime during your company’s retreat. Or in what’s becoming a world-renowned destination for weddings, Galveston is optimal in the spring and summer for fairytale nuptials, and our newly expanded port makes it easy for you and your spouse to jump on one of 10 cruise ships that call Galveston home.

This issue of Island Soul magazine showcases the distinguishing characteristics of our Island from other tropical destinations in Texas and throughout the United States. For starters, the obvious draw is our location and, by association, prominence as a premiere fishing destination. Each spring and summer, anglers from around the world come to sink a line in the deep blue Gulf, but also to fly fish in our bayous and tributaries and cast off of our piers (page 22).

Yet part of being a warm-weather fishing destination means that our seafood is the freshest, most flavorful in the Lone Star State. That’s a credit to many of our bellwether restaurants and the approach they’ve taken to ensure quality Gulf-to-table dishes, decade after decade. Read about the storied, tried-andtrue restaurants as well as the new joints on the block starting on page 12.

Geography also allows us to be leaders when it comes to getting that perfect vacation adrenaline rush. Our feature story on page 36 gives you a taste of the adventures that await. Cruise our thoroughfares and quaint historic neighborhoods on a Slingshot, or soar high above the Earth on the Texas Star Flyer. Or, level up—way up—and jump out of a perfectly good airplane with one of our expert skydivers.

But falling from the sky or going almost 40 mph down a waterslide might not be everyone’s idea of a fun adrenaline rush. In fact, some people get their rush with tours through living history installations. The Galveston Naval Museum at Seawolf Park (page 38) houses the USS Cavalla submarine and the USS Stewart destroyer escort, both of which are available for tours. It’s a truly singular experience to lay your eyes on two real-life vessels of war that helped preserve and defend our democracy.

This is just the beginning of your Island getaway. Peruse this issue of award-winning Island Soul magazine while lounging on one of our beaches, relaxing at one of our resort or B&B pools, or while patiently waiting to catch a trophy fish. Whatever your fancy, Island Soul has a story for you.

Michael W. Woody, Chief Tourism Officer Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau; Editor-in-Chief, Island Soul