Neighborhood

Seawall, Galveston

The Seawall is Galveston’s Gulf-facing corridor for beach days and family things to do — Moody Gardens, Pleasure Pier, miles of free sand below the boulevard, and an easy half-day sightseeing loop along the water.

The history: After the 1900 hurricane, Galveston began building its 17-foot concrete seawall in 1902 and raised the grade of the entire city behind it — buildings jacked up, streets filled with sand. Extended repeatedly over the decades, the wall now runs more than 10 miles along the Gulf front.

Best use: Beach time, family attractions, and a simple half-day along the water.