Visiting Galveston With A Dog

Hello sweet friends! I have been thinking about what type of content you might enjoy during the the summer months. Perhaps some gorgeous homes, glorious gardens, delicious restaurants, interesting museums, and more? I hope you will enjoy Travel Tuesdays for the next two months. We’ll kick off the series by Visiting Galveston With A Dog.

Visiting Galveston With A Dog

At the end of April Mr. Decor and I decided to travel to Galveston for a mini three day getaway. We’ve been wanting to get out and see more. The only thing really holding us back has been Gracie the dachshund. So we decided to see if she liked traveling. Spoiler alert! She does. We used this pet car seat and she loves it. 

This was not my first trip to Galveston. I’ve been there once before which I wrote about in this post. 

We used Airbnb to find a pet friendly condo. You can Google Pet Friendly hotels Galveston, TX and it will bring up several different types of accommodations. Try to bring your pet’s own bed. The familiarity of it will help in making them feel safe. Gracie loves this bed. It comes in several sizes and colors.

Galveston is a coastal port city about 50 miles south of Houston, Texas. We began and ended each day with a walk on the beach. 

The beach was deserted during these times that we went which is why Gracie is off leash. If other people are enjoying a walk we always use a leash. This reflective leash is great for safety and it holds up in water and other tough conditions.

Note: the beach provides clean up baggies. Please be kind and pick up after your pet. 

One morning dozens of Portuguese Man O’ War had washed ashore. While they are beautiful the tentacles possess an extremely painful sting even after being beached. Both pets and their owners should give the creatures a wide berth. 

The Harbor

There are several great restaurants located in the harbor/pier area. Many of them allow dogs on the patio area. When dining we bring along the pet car seat and place it next to the table. This gives Gracie a comfortable and familiar place to sit. I also try to bring along a small Tupperware dish of her dinner to enjoy at the same time. 

The pier is also a fun place to stroll and hang out. 

The Strand

Nearby is the historic district is called The Strand. The word “strand” is an Old English term used to describe a shore or riverbank. Numerous buildings with shops and restaurants are located here. Many are pet friendly. The wide sidewalks are perfect for dog walking. We love the ice cream at Star Drug Store. 

Nature Trails and State Parks

The East End Lagoon is a nature preserve that spans almost 700 acres of diverse habitat on the barrier island’s east end.

The nature trails are easy to find and a gentle walk can be done in under an hour. 

There are no facilities so bring water with you to stay hydrated. This is the Portable Pet Water Bottle Dispenser we use for Gracie and it works beautifully. 

Galveston Island State Park is also a beautiful destination.

There are a number of trails that wind through the bayside salt marsh and prairie.

Depending on the time of day the tide can cover some of the wooden walkways. 

As Gracie is a small dog she had to be carried through some of the deeper areas. 

It’s so worth it as the wildlife sightings are just incredible!

Glorious Homes

Galveston is famous for it’s numerous neighborhoods of Victorian era architecture. 

All of these glorious homes were on just two streets. There were so many more we could have seen. But as it was a warm day we needed to take care to not overdo it in the sun. 

I always check the heat of the sidewalk by placing my own bare foot on it first. If I can stand in the same spot for several seconds I know it’s safe for Gracie to walk on. 

This was my favorite house on the block. 

I loved the coral pink paint paired with white and turquoise. 

The garden was gorgeous too!

Gracie hopes you have enjoyed this tour of Galveston. 

You can view a fun Instagram reel of her first encounter with the beach HERE. 

Next week we will head to Portland. 

Laura

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