Having just returned from a ten day visit to Galveston I feel compelled to write about my experiences. This was my first stay at Moody Gardens and I am pleased to report it was an absolutely wonderful experience. Travel to Texas was quite easy especially with Houston's Hobby Airport only 40 minutes from Galveston. The Moody Gardens Hotel is new, clean, and beautifully managed. The house staff were courteous and made our stay quite comfortable. The rooms are nicely decorated and spaceous. We stayed in two adjoining rooms as my two younger children were with us. The lobby of the hotel is one of the most beautiful I have visited. The indoor swimming pool is a two lane lap pool but was perfect for my family's swimming and play. Very few people use this pool. A much larger outdoor pool is also available and is kept at near hot tub temperatures for this time of year. Once again, my two children loved it. The Moody Garden attractions are beyond compare. One of the largest (and newest) aquariums in the south is found at Moody Gardens. It is very impressive in size, scope, and beauty. Multiple habitats are represented and many hands-on exhibits are available. A separate tropical rain forrest (Amazon) is also found in a separate pyramid. Also a must-see and very impressive. A 3-d IMAX theatre is available with at least three films. We had time to see only one which was quite good. A ride film is also available. A science museum is also available but I was not quite as impressed. Exhibits change frequently and at present a putt-putt golf course is set up with a ecology theme. My kids loved it but I was not as impressed. A boat ride on an old fashioned paddle wheel boat was OK but not very impressive as the ride simply covered a small inland bay. Not bad but also not a high point. Nearby beaches are a lot of fun. Moody Gardens has their own private beach (not presently open this time of year) which looks quite good. Public beaches on Galveston Island are excellent and groomed perfectly. A visit to the west end of the island allows for excellent shell hunting on the many miles of public beaches. I wound recommend a visit to Moody Gardens in a heart-beat not only because of the hotel but also for the wonderful cultural and educational attractions.

Recommended: Yes