Our Saturday was busy with work around the house (farmers market, cooking and baking, Pinewood Derby cars, and yardwork) but we worked hard in order to treat ourselves to a day in Galveston on Sunday! After a long string of chilly, rainy days, we were all itching to get out and explore.
We started at the Aquarium at Moody Gardens, which we hadn't visited in almost four years. The boys got in free because of their good grades.
The boys loved the shark scavenger hunt through the aquarium and we stopped and read about all kinds of fish, sharks and anemones. Our favorites were the seals and seal lions, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, and penguins, of course!
We arrived at the penguin enclosure right at feeding time. We learned so much from the biologist on duty.
You know we can't skip these cut-outs!
After visiting the aquarium, we ate an early lunch at the Garden Restaurant. The boys love the buffet! We walked around a bit outside. Goofy boys!
It was a gorgeous day to be outside -- in the 50s and sunny!
Our next stop was Galveston Island State Park. We had never been before and hiking was was exactly what we needed after a big buffet lunch.
Some of the trails were muddy after the recent rains, and there had been a prescribed burn a couple months back, but it was still absolutely beautiful! We saw a crab and a great blue heron and found many oyster shells.
After our hike, we hopped in the car and drove to the opposite end of Galveston, onto Pelican Island to visit Seawolf Park. Seawolf Park is home to the USS Cavalla (submarine) and the USS Stewart (destroyer escort). Seawolf Park is named after the USS Seawolf, one of the 52 submarines lost during World War II.
We had a guided tour of the Cavalla and learned so much about the submarine. During wartime, 80 men would have been on board. Beds were everywhere, including over the torpedoes!
Henry found a backgammon board in the crew's mess.
After touring the Cavalla, we visited the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort. An anti-submarine ship, the USS Stewart is one of only three remaining destroyer escorts in the country.
We wandered around Seawolf Park for a bit afterwards.
And then we ended our day at Fisherman's Wharf with dinner and a view of the Elissa and the boats in the harbor. Our favorite ice cream shop, La King's, was closed but we treated the boys to caramel apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
What a perfect day in Galveston! The boys had so much fun that they are already asking me to plan our next adventure...
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