This Sun-Soaked Beach Town Turns Family Reunions Into a Breeze

Family reunions in Galveston this summer are all about waves, sand, and laughter.

Beach towns along the Gulf are a natural fit for family reunions — coastal vibes, great shopping, fresh dining, and sunsets that never get old.

This summer, Galveston is ready for you. Let’s start planning your upcoming family reunion.

Why Galveston?

Fresh Gulf seafood. Rooftop views. Unique, coastal venues. A laidback atmosphere.

And it’s only 50 miles south of Houston.

Galveston has 32 miles of beaches for kids and family members to play games, stroll, or swim.

Beyond the beaches, Galveston has art, historic architecture, cute boutiques and stores, ghost legends, and more.

Plus, it’s a huge Gulf Coast barrier island. Live the island life!

Any history buffs in your family reunion party? Treat them to stories of Galveston’s origins and a long history of hurricanes, battles, and more.

There are quite a few local museums to wander through, but Visit Galveston also has a podcast called Galveston Unscripted that you can listen to anywhere.

Stroll on the beach, and plug in your earbuds.

Group activities in Galveston range from beaches to outdoor activities to historic museums to haunted tours to shopping and dining.

Galveston’s food scene is a must-try for any foodies in your family.

From casual dockside spots to upscale waterfront dining, Galveston’s restaurants serve up every style of Gulf seafood imaginable.

Want a private dining space for your group? Galveston Island has plenty of restaurant options ready to accommodate your size, preferences, and budget.

Where will you host all of these people? The Galveston Island Convention Center has 140,000 square feet of event space. It’s built for large parties.

Parking at the convention center for booked events is complimentary — one less thing to worry about. Treat your family members!

A two-story parking garage with 700 spaces sits directly beneath the building.

To book the Galveston Island Convention Center, submit a request for proposal (RFP), and they’ll get in touch with you shortly.

If you have any questions, you can reach out directly to the Visit Galveston sales team to help with booking your group, the dates you want, and so on.

The Galveston Park Board can help you with special events and rentals, too.

They’re the ones responsible for maintaining beach parks as well as any amenities offered for public use.

Visit their website and submit an inquiry to connect with their Beach Parks Special Event Manager.

Rent a space on the beach and the team will have it cleaned and marked off before you arrive, keeping it clear from passing beachgoers.

If you need to drive onto the beach to set up or tear it down, ask the team first. If you don’t, you’ll get a violation ticket.

No fences are allowed on the beach, so keep that in mind as you’re picturing your event.

They’ll set up bollards and chains around your event space and designate parking lanes for you for parking and traffic control. They’re not responsible for who comes in or out, though.

There’s a volleyball court your family can rent and use. They’ll rake and level the sand for you to keep it smooth. Renting this court includes shade, electricity, and picnic tables.

The pavilion is open to the public during regular hours, but you can book an exclusive after-hours rental for your group.

For any event, their team asks you to send a layout at least 30 days before your first event day. Trash can service is included in all rentals.

Weather’s always a factor. All Galveston venues on the beach are outdoors. If you have to cancel due to weather, they’ll let you reschedule for the next available date they have on their books. Or they’ll work with you on a refund.

Deposits are refundable (as long as the area stays tidy and clean). If you have less than 1,000 people, it’ll be a $500 deposit. Each rental location has its own fee, too.

Security is sourced and managed by the Park Board. The Galveston Beach Patrol and Police Department review your event details and assign a number of police officers to your event.

There are restrooms on site at the beach. But if you have more than 500 family members coming, you’ll need to add extra accommodations for restrooms. They’ll set up portable toilets for you.

Parking is $15 at the gate on the day of your family reunion. Or the parking can be pre-purchased by one event organizer at $15 per vehicle, 5 days before the reunion.

You’ll need insurance on your event for any general liability.

Any outside vendors are only allowed with approval by the Park Board. If you’re going to bring in vendors for your family reunion, who are going to sell goods, products, or services, they must present a permit at least 30 days before the event.

You’ll need a permit if there is going to be alcohol service at your family reunion. Submit your plan for review to get a temporary TABC permit on site. East Beach’s concession stand has a Beer and Wine license, and they’re happy to serve your family, too.

Loudspeakers require a permit, if the speakers emit more than 75 decibels. Fill out an application to get this squared away.

If you want to set up a tent that’s larger than 400 square feet, you’ll need a permit. All you need to do is fill out an application and submit that.

Recreational fires are permitted, but check on permits, rules, and regulations for burning restrictions, fires, and so on on the Park Board’s website.

One cool thing about using this special events team is that they have pre-approved vendors. They’ve got everything from food and beverage vendors to dessert vendors to event decoration and setup vendors to unique event enhancement vendors.

Scrambling to find the right fit? Their pre-approved vendor list saves you the legwork — just pick and confirm.

How to Get Everyone There?

The nearest international airport to Galveston is the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). It’s on the south side of Houston — about 40 miles from the island, roughly a 45-minute drive.

You can also have folks fly in to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the largest airport in Houston. It’s 70 miles away and about an hour and a half from Galveston.

To get to Galveston from the airport, you can get shuttles, rideshares, or rental cars.

Getting around the island? There are lots of walkable ways to get to the group venues in Galveston. But if you’d like to go farther, you can opt for a rideshare or their historic trolley system. Enjoy the ride!

In total, Galveston has more than 5,000 hotel rooms!

From little inns and historic hotels to national chains and luxury resorts, there’s something for every member of your family.

If you’d like to plan multiple days on Galveston Island, contact the Visit Galveston sales team, or fill out a request for proposal (RFP) to get their free assistance and tips in finding the right venue and room block for your group’s needs.

After that, your event will be transferred to the Visit Galveston services team who can help you with all things Galveston.

If you’ve already booked your room block and event space, that’s okay! You can still reach out to the Visit Galveston teams. You may be able to use some of their services.

Did you know Visit Galveston has a whole team dedicated to assisting you with making your event a success?

They’ll work with you on your goals for the family reunion and help you find what you’re looking for.

Galveston has 14 hotels with group event spaces. These include the Clarion Pointe Galveston (Beachfront), the Spark by Hilton Galveston, the Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites, the Comfort Suites Galveston, the DoubleTree by Hilton Galveston Beach, and the Hilton Galveston Island Resort.

Other hotels with group spaces are the Grand Galvez, the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Galveston West (Seawall), the Holiday Inn Resort Galveston (On the Beach), the Inn at the Waterpark, the SpringHill Suites, and The Tremont House.

Additional options are the Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center, and The San Luis Resort, Spa, and Conference Center.

If you’re hoping to find private dining spaces on Galveston Island, look no further than Riondo’s Ristorante, Number 13, Katie’s Seafood Market, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., or Fish Tales.

Other standout options include Mario’s Seawall Italian and Pizzeria, Hearsay on The Strand, Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant, Fisherman’s Wharf, Saltwater Grill, The Porch Cafe, Willie G’s Seafood and Steaks, or Texas Tail Distillery (great name!).

Your family reunion could be this summer. Are you ready to start planning?

If you’re in the planning stage or in early brainstorming phases, Galveston is your destination for family fun, good times, event venues, hotels, and miles of beaches.

Coastal never looked so good. Even on Uncle Ted.

Where: Galveston, Texas

Find them online at visitgalveston.com, listen to their podcast Galveston Unscripted, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest, and pull up directions on Google Maps before you head out — because a family reunion on the Gulf Coast is one for the books.