A few years ago I decided that as the kids turned 10, we would celebrate turning the double digit milestone by taking a one on one weekend trip. Obviously Ashlyn’s turn came first…and rather quickly! 😉 I left the destination up to her within the guidelines of it being within 3 hours of home. She decided on a beach and I narrowed it to Galveston… 4 hours away… but an easy beach. Especially easy, because Grandma and Grandpa live on the way and would make for a fun getaway for the boys as well!

We drove down the morning of May 15th and got the boys settled in Houston with Grandma. Ashlyn and I then arrived at our seawall beach front condo in Galveston by 2pm. The airbnb find really set the trip off to a great start! The condo was set up like a hotel suite with a full kitchen and a balcony facing the beach. The building was quiet, had a clean pool, round the clock clerks and best of all, beach access right across the street. For a steal of $70/ night, I will absolutely rent the condo again.

We spent our first afternoon and evening catching up with some of my local friends and their kids on the beach. Dad then came down and took Ashlyn and I out to Benno’s for dinner. Where we FEASTED on shrimp, crabs, and fish. So yummy.

 

 

The following morning after a bacon and eggs breakfast, Ashlyn and I enjoyed a morning walk on a near deserted beach. Another bonus to the timing of our trip; school wasn’t out yet and we were there during the week. After our walk, Ashlyn wanted some pool time and that’s where we hung out until Auntie Jen joined up with us for the remainder of Ashlyn’s agenda. First up, lunch at Chick-fil-A on the seawall. Then a stroll across the street to Murdoch’s Pier, an elaborate souvenir shop positioned over the beach. Ashlyn purchased shark tooth necklaces for the boys and a turtle snow globe for herself. She and Auntie Jen also enjoyed shopping the jewelry. 😉

 

 

Next up was the ferry with hopes of seeing some dolphins. No luck on the dolphins, but Ashlyn had a great time snapping photos from the upper deck and enjoying a boat ride without feeling sick. NOW it was time for the beach. After a quick stop at Walmart for snacks, chairs and a boogie board, we gathered up the rest of the gear and spent the afternoon enjoying the surf and Ashlyn’s joy in the waves.

 

 

Dinner that night was simple at Ashlyn’s request with macaroni and cheese and veggies in front of the tv.

Friday morning was departure time and we pit stopped along the deserted seawall to check out some historical monuments and scenery one last time before meeting Auntie Jen in Seabrook for breakfast.

 

 

As we were en route to pick up the boys and head back to ETX, already lamenting that we were sad to leave the beach, Ashlyn asks me if I grabbed her pink teddy from the room. LOL. Making a long story with a lot of last minute decisions short, we retrieved the boys from Houston and then the bear from Galveston. By 3 pm, the four of us were setting up on the beach at Galveston Island State Park. 😂 The Schultz Family joined us a few hours later and we finally had to force everyone out when the sun started going down.

 

After a good night’s sleep at the Schultz’s and easy morning visiting with our sweet hosts, we officially headed home looking forward to our next time at the beach.

Galveston thoroughly delivered one heck of a vacation surprisingly! I had very low expectations for this experience and once I let myself get caught up in the kids’ simple pleasures of it all, I can see us making an easy trip to Galveston at least once a year!

-Lindsay