Galveston: Historical Significance, Family Fun and Parking Innovation

By Melonie Curry, MBA

You may think Galveston is just a quaint, quiet beach town on the outskirts of Houston. Galveston has a rich history and great attractions for the entire family. In fact, traveling there on any sunny weekend or holiday from Houston, you could find yourself stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for the 60-mile drive.

Galveston is home to three National Historic Landmarks – The Tall Ship Elissa, East End and The Strand. The city is also the birthplace of Juneteenth with several sites and tours explaining the origin of the Federal holiday.

In the Strand District, you can experience the quaint beach town with more than 100 shops, restaurants and art galleries. Adjacent to the Strand District is the Port of Galveston; the fourth most popular cruise port in the United States.

The host hotel, Hilton Galveston Island Resort, located on the seawall, is a short walk to the beach. The seawall is a great area for sightseeing, dining and a visit to the island’s amusement park, the Pleasure Pier. Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn and the Grand 1894 Opera House are just a 10-minute drive. The hotel has a resort-style pool area with a swim-up bar.

The highlight of your visit will be, TPTA Conference and Trade Show. The Conference and Tradeshow is scheduled April 21-24. Packed with over 15 educational sessions, exhibits showcasing the latest in parking innovations, and numerous networking opportunities. You can register for the tour and get an insider view of the parking operations for the Port of Galveston. You will have also an opportunity for deep-sea fishing and a thrilling casino night full of prizes. Our awards luncheon will recognize excellence in the Texas parking industry.

The TPTA Board looks forward to welcoming you to Galveston. If you are foodie, find me…I will be sure to let you know some of the hidden gems.