USA Travel Guide

You may not often put Texas and “boardwalk” together in your mind, but fact is Texas has one of the longest coastlines in the continental United States, and gosh darn it we use it. Just a half-hour (or so) car trip out of Houston and you’ll be at Galveston Bay, home to a major cruise ship port and the classic, Coney Island-style fun of Kemah Boardwalk.

Though it opened in 2001, Kemah Boardwalk has got some old school appeal. Flashy carnival rides, midway games, sundry shops with personality to spare, beautiful outlooks over the bay – it’s that perfect combination that seems to charm kids and adults alike.

But don’t get me wrong, this is a modern amusement complex. After all, nothing is more than eight years old, and several attractions come much more recent than that. The theme park draws the biggest crowds. More than 16 rides and attractions are on-site to test your courage, priced either by ride (3-4 bucks) or for unlimited access with a prepaid wristband ($18.99 + tax).

Favorites include Pharaoh’s Fury, a classic swinging ship ride, the Inverter, the only ride that takes you upside down, the Boardwalk Tower, which takes you way high for unforgettable views, and the beautiful two-story carousel. But the favorite, of course, is the Boardwalk Bullet, a high-speed, high-intensity, super-twisted wooden roller coaster. Not only is this the only rollercoaster on the Texas gulf coast, but since the closing of AstroWorld in Houston, it’s the only rollercoaster in the whole region. (Unfortunately, it’s not available with the unlimited ride wristband).

Hopefully the rides don’t churn up your stomach too much, because lunch is definitely on the day’s menu. Kemah Boardwalk has just about everything, although seafood is the decided specialty (and so close to the coast, how could it not be?). It’s a little cheesy, but there’s no doubt that kids love Aquarium, the restaurant walled with floor-to-ceiling aquariums. You can also get wood-fired pizzas, Mexican cuisine, steaks and much more at the various Kemah Boardwalk restaurants.

So you’ve fed the thrill bug and you’ve fed yourself; the only thing left is to hit up the shops. Kemah Boardwalk stays true to its name with real boardwalk-style shopping. That means outrageous shops with stacks of … stuff piled high as the light fixtures. You’ll find plenty of brand names and plenty of not-so-brand names scattered all over the place.

All in all, you’re looking at a full day at Kemah Boardwalk, and I haven’t even mentioned some of the most time consuming attractions like Stingray Reef or the Boardwalk Beast (about to close for the season. We’ll get back to it next spring). For vacationing families or just a one-day getaway, this is a place to check out.

Learn more about Kemah Boardwalk here.

Because it’s a fairly short drive and you can do just about everything in a single day, Kemah Boardwalk makes for a great day trip out of Houston at any time of year. If you live in the area, or even the next time you’re traveling in, consider a visit. For hotels in Houston, we again recommend the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown Hotel. It’s a great location and property for any kind of Houston trip.

Have fun!