Galveston's Moody Gardens are perhaps its biggest attraction. Three pyramids worth of zoo, amusement park and museum, the Moody Gardens are designed to appeal to almost any taste. Don't forget the island's Schlitterbahn Waterpark if Moody Gardens isn't wet enough for you - and the ocean doesn't have enough slides.

But Galveston is also very historic. As a pirate haven that became a center for commerce, only to lose a great deal to hurricanes, Galveston has many fascinating historic sites. You might want to catch a showing of The Great Storm, at that, for a perspective on the destructive hurricane that shook Galveston to its foundations.

Don't forget Galveston's purely natural attractions. State parks, passes, reefs and bayous serve as habitat for the many birds that fly through here.