We often spend a portion of the holidays in Houston. Although we love seeing family, sometimes Houston itself gets old. We’ve tried various trip add-ons through the years – Texas Hill Country, Big Bend National Park, New Orleans, and even a detour through Hot Springs, AR and Memphis, TN. This year, we decided to take an overnight trip to Galveston since the weather was mild at 70 degrees in December.

It’s important to note that Galveston experienced its pinnacle as a prominent port city, rivaling New Orleans, during the late 1800s. However, everything changed on September 8, 1900, when a massive, Category 4 hurricane wiped out the town and killed approximately 6,000 residents. For more detailed history, I recommend Eric Larson’s book, “Isaac’s Storm.” Although the citizens quickly rebuilt the town, Galveston never attained its former glory as nearby Houston took over as the larger port city. In many ways, a trip to Galveston is like stepping back in time.

During Prohibition, two Sicilian brothers, Sam and Rosie Maceo, built a gambling empire that led to Galveston’s second surge of popularity. Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Phil Silvers and others frequently headlined acts at the Maceo’s high-class gambling joints bringing tourists and money in. This “Free State of Galveston” lasted until the Texas Rangers closed the famous Balinese Room for good in 1957.