Hafen
Galveston

OVERVIEW

Settle in for panoramic drives through Galveston and Houston and come away with excellent overviews of both cities. History will take center stage in Galveston, where you will travel through the Strand, a robust entertainment district along the bay whose Victoria-era buildings now hold shops, galleries and restaurants. Candid commentary will provide you with a good grasp of Galveston’s sometimes wild-and-woolly past. Being America’s fourth-largest city, Houston is a hub for bigger, more contemporary landmarks such as the NRG Astrodome stadium and a medical center that ranks as the world’s largest life sciences destination. The highly affluent River Oaks residential neighborhood will reveal yet another side of Houston. Following photo stops at the urban oases Hermann Park and Sesquicentennial Park – which was built to commemorate the 150-year-old founding of both Texas and Houston – you will enjoy free time for lunch on your own in the massive POST Market food hall.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through the Strand historical district for a glimpse into Galveston’s intriguing past.
• Pass Houston landmarks ranging from the NRG Astrodome stadium to a massive medical center.
• Stop to take pictures in two of Houston’s most celebrated and photogenic public parks.
• Spend free time in the POST Market food hall, where you might dine on your own.
• Transfer to the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Drive through Galveston’s historical Strand district and enjoy free time in Houston’s cutting-edge space center, two contrasting experiences that offer great insight into the past and present. The Strand is the cultural heart of Galveston and its opulent 19th-century architecture harkens back to a time when this fabulously wealthy city was known as “The Wall Street of the South.” The Strand couldn’t be more iconic. Similarly, the NASA Johnson Space Center has been synonymous with Houston since its founding in 1961. While browsing this extraordinary facility, you will learn about its technological innovations and scientific discoveries. You might walk beneath the twice-flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and through the aft compartment of the Skylab Trainer, where astronauts learn how to adapt to living in a space station for months on end. As an alternative, you can settle into a comfortable chair and watch films about past space missions on a five-story movie screen.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through the Strand historical district for a glimpse into Galveston’s intriguing past.
• Spend free time exploring the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.
• Gain an understanding of the area’s respect for the past and vision for the future.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.