Beat the Heat in Galveston at Moody Gardens

This summer is turning out to be a real scorcher no matter where you are spending it, but if you happen to be planning to visit Galveston, one of the best places to beat the heat is Moody Gardens. Whether staying in the hotel or just visiting for a day of fun, there is plenty for family travelers to see and do to help take the sting of the summer heat out of your vacation.

Kids always love a good waterpark and Moody Gardens doesn’t disappoint. Palm Beach features the only white-sand beach on the island. Billed as a seaside adventure park, you can float along the lazy river, play at the wave pool and splash pad, ride the water slides, or play a round of volleyball at the sand volleyball court. Guests of the hotel can visit Palm Beach for free or you can purchase a day pass or a season pass.

The property is home to three distinct pyramids (a blue one, pink one and glass one) visible from many parts of the island. If you want to get out of the sun, you can look to the pyramids for fun and entertainment. The blue pyramid is home to the largest aquarium in Texas, where you can see marine life from five different ocean environments, including the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, South Pacific, North Pacific and Caribbean. While viewing penguins, sharks, seals, sting rays and thousands of fish, you and the family can also learn about marine ecosystems, conservation efforts, and the intricacies of the relationship between humans and the sea.

In the glass pyramid you will find an indoor rain forest with more than 1,700 species of endangered plants and animals. This space was designed to recreate ecosystems from Africa, Asia and the Americas. You are able to roam the pyramid at your leisure, sharing the space with many animals also free to wander as they wish, like cotton-top tamarins, white-faced Saki monkeys and sloths. Other animals living in this fascinating space are Komodo dragons, giant Amazon River otters and a myriad of colorful birds.

The pink pyramid, the smallest, is home to Discovery Museum, which features different traveling exhibits showcasing the sciences. The current exhibit is Body Worlds RX: Prescriptions for Healthy Living. The exhibit is not only interesting to see but also extremely educational, teaching kids about the human body and how our lifestyle choices and health conditions affect it.

You can also get in a game of golf if you are willing to brave the sun and heat. The par-72 course is rated one of the top 50 courses in the United States and has tees designed to accommodate all skill levels, so whether your family is made up of seasoned players or newcomers to the sport, you can spend the day together on the green.