Galveston Island State Park

Saturday we packed up the truck and headed back to Galveston for our long anticipated camping trip at Galveston Island State Park.

Our campsite was on the bay side of the park. Though, I admit, I was disappointed at first that we weren’t on the beach side in the end I was very pleased with our location. The bay side camping area was grassy not sandy and the mile between us and the beach was enough to keep the salt spray off the camping gear.

Much, if not all, of the park is new thanks to Hurricane Ike. It’s been a while since I’d been west of the seawall and I was blown away by how much damage was still visible and how much rebuilding was still taking place, almost 4 years later. The restrooms on the bay side of the park fall into the rebuilding category…I’m think the old ones are still floating around in the Gulf somewhere.

Arriving just after noon we set up camp and let E toddle around the campsite for a while…absolutely covered in sunscreen of course.

Getting into trouble…

After Evie took a nap we packed up our stuff and headed over to the beach to let her play in the water. She wasn’t too sure what to think of the waves at first but once she figured out they were fun we could barely keep up with her!

Crawling around in the water with Mommy.
Watching Daddy play with Baxter and catch hermit crabs in the sand.

 Around 6 p.m. we left the beach and went back to the campsite to grill burgers and roast marshmallows. Roasting marshmallows and sitting by the campfire is by far my favorite part of camping.

Roasting marshmallows with Mommy.

Unfortunately, a long day in the hot sun meant an early bedtime. We slept listening to the sounds of the sea breeze and our neighbors who apparently weren’t as tired as we were.

Sunday morning we woke early and fired up the campstove to make breakfast. Cooking breakfast outside is my second favorite part of camping.

“Helping” Mommy cook.

After breakfast we, reluctantly, packed up camp and left the park. Wanting to explore beyond the seawall a little further we drove to the far west end of the island, put the truck into 4×4 mode and drove out onto the beach. After driving up and down the beach we went back into Galveston proper and back onto the seawall for lunch. We decided, after much debate to go back to Casey’s. We didn’t return for the food but for the patio instead. We knew Baxter would be welcome.

Waiting for handouts…

He laid, dutifully, under the table during lunch waiting for us to hand him pieces of our hamburgers and french fries. He even scored some of Evie’s peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

Exhausted and slightly sunburned we drove home after lunch. Our fun camping trip had come to and end but I doubt this will be our last trip to Galveston this summer!