Tag: beach trip

Pet Friendly Guide to Galveston

Read on for the inside scoop on the best places to bring Fido, how to beach like a pro with your pup, and what your canine companion shouldn’t miss on your Galveston beach vacation!


Beach Trip Tips

What do you need to bring to the beach for your pet? Your furry friend needs plenty of fresh water, a shady spot to relax and pet friendly sun screen on those delicate noses & thinly-furred areas!

The American Kennel Club has lots of good tips about sunscreen for your pup. Be an informed pet parent – be sure to avoid zinc oxide-based sunscreens (zinc is harmful if ingested). Look for varieties meant for human babies or sensitive skin. Better yet – ask your vet if they carry any in their office!

Find more tips for keeping your dog’s tail wagging during your beach trip here.

Local Leash Laws

Keep yourself and your VIP (very important pet) out of the dog house and on the right side of the law!

City ordinance requires dogs to be leashed at all times – including on the beach. This also lets you (attempt) to keep them out of the surf, and prevents them from bothering nesting shore birds or knocking over sandcastles during their beach stroll!


Dolphins & Doggos

Nothing makes us happier than watching a good case of the zoomies – on land or at sea!

Baywatch Dolphin Tours welcomes pups & their people on 45 minute guided tours of Galveston. Their covered jet drive boats (no propellers = happy sea life) depart from Pier 21. Pups ride free!

Footloose & Free Galveston Dog Park

Lindale Park at Fourth Street & Marine Drive has a great dog park that offers a chance for your pup to mingle and run to their heart’s content!

This off-leash Galveston dog park boasts a fenced green area with benches, water stations, and a small dog section. It also has a dog agility course, thanks to the efforts of a local Eagle Scout and Better Parks for Galveston.


Doggy Dining on Galveston Island

There’s a whole pack of pet friendly Galveston restaurants happy to feed you & your pup while you’re out & about on the Island! Our favorites include:

  • Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar (Postoffice Street)
  • MOD Coffeehouse (Postoffice Street)
  • Shrimp N Stuff (Avenue O location)
  • Sunflower Bakery & Cafe (14th Street)
  • Sand Bar at West End Restaurant (West End)

Enjoy dining al fresco on their patios and have a delicious meal with your whole family! (Call ahead to verify current hours & policies.)

Tasty Treats

With all of the delicious Galveston restaurants that you have to choose from, it’s only fair that your pup gets to partake in some special dog treats too!

Pattycakes Bakery offers fresh baked goods daily – including dog treats! Stop by early for the best selection at this local Galveston Island favorite.

Want a cool treat? Check out the homemade ice cream at Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream. Flavors change daily. (#localtip – Run, don’t walk, to taste their Ultimate Nacho specialty sundae!)

Local Galveston Vets

You never know what will happen with your favorite canine! Just in case:


Get away & play in Galveston

Don’t be part of the 39% of people who have skipped vacations to stay home with their dog – book a pet friendly beach house!

Staying at a pet friendly beach house lets your pup’s nose get a full workout from the safety & serenity of the deck or fenced yard…and island sunbeams are the perfect place for a quick snooze before getting up and doing it all over again!

There’s something for everyone here on pet friendly Galveston Island. We hope to see you & your pup racing the waves soon!


Your Summer 2020 Galveston Vacation

Wondering what’s new for your Sand `N Sea Galveston vacation rental experience this year? Check out our Summer 2020 Resource Page for all of the COVID-19-related updates – from our new contact-free check-in details to the most up-to-date information about our cancellation policy.

Already booked your Island getaway? Keep reading for the best insider tips on how to have a stress-free vacation!

NEW Contact-Free Check-in & Check-out

Guests no longer check in at our Pirates Beach office. We have moved to a contact-free, express check-in process!

You’ll digitally sign & submit your check-in paperwork the day before arrival. On your check-in day you’ll receive a text with the code to the key lock box at the home as soon as it’s ready for arrival. (Make sure you’ve provide your cell phone number when you book your reservation!)

No more worries about being stuck in traffic! Arrive any time after 5:00 p.m.

On departure day, return the keys to the lock box at the home by 10:00 a.m. It’s that simple!

Please know that we deeply miss personally welcoming each of you to Galveston. Don’t worry – we are still only a phone call away! Email us at info@sandnsea.com or leave us a message at 409.797.5500 if there is anything we can do to help during your stay.

View the Step-by-Step process here.

Please note: We are not able to accommodate requests for early arrivals or late departures. We need to ensure our professional housekeeping teams have the time necessary to accommodate our full cleaning, disinfecting & sanitizing protocols before every new arrival.

TOP 5 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

#1 – Bring Supplies

Just like in your own home town, some supplies are still difficult to find on the Island (paper products, hand sanitizer, cleaning products, shelf stable groceries, medications, etc.). Shop ahead and bring essential supplies with you.

Don’t forget – less time in line at the grocery means more time on the beach!

Use our Starter List of Things to Bring to get your packing list started!

#2 – Beach Rules

All 32 miles of Galveston’s public beaches are open. We encourage you to keep a few things in mind:

Leave at least 6 feet between you and your neighbors. (Beach breezes carry water droplets!)

Respect the guidelines and keep your group at 10 or less.

Leave No Trace – dispose of all of your waste items in the bright blue trash cans provided by the City & be sure to bring your beach equipment in each night.

As of May 15, there are six West End beach access points that are closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends. Pedestrian traffic is welcome. Click here for details.

#3 – Where to Eat

Galveston restaurants are slowly shifting back to dine-in service in a limited way (primarily outdoor dining, at 25% capacity).

Just interested in grabbing your favorite dishes and lounging on the deck of your private beach house? The majority of our local eateries continue to offer curbside pick-up service.

Find a current list of open Galveston Restaurants here – and don’t be afraid to call ahead to your favorite if it’s not on the list!

#4 – What to Do

Looking for a little more than just relaxing and soaking in the sun?

BONUS – FREE download: Historic Galveston Island coloring book! Full of fun facts about some of the most interesting spots on the Island!

#5 – Housekeeping

Our Property Services managers have been hard at work educating & training our professional housekeepers on our updated protocols. The key points:

Hospital-grade disinfectants continue to be used before every new arrival. (Rated to kill COVID-19.) All of the chemicals we use are EPA-approved. Our teams use ROOM SENSE 200 on all hard surfaces and Champions Aerosol Disinfectant on all soft surfaces.

Housekeepers & Inspectors follow all CDC guidelines and wear fresh masks & gloves as they clean each home. They pay special attention to high-touch areas including, but not limited to:

  • light switches, outlets, lamps, fan pull chains, elevator controls
  • cabinet knobs, drawer pulls & other handles including faucets & toilets
  • controls for large & small appliances, including TV remotes
  • stair railings & outdoor deck railings

Our commercial laundry sanitizes all towels and sheets at 160 degrees between guests. (Most home machines only reach 100 degrees.)

Galveston Concierge Services & Beach Equipment Rentals

Need grocery delivery? Beach chairs, umbrellas or tents? Dreaming of a campfire on the beach complete with s’mores? The professionals at Sea La Vie Concierge Services can take care of it all! 409.457.9544

Interested in renting a golf cart? Rick’s Rentals is located out here on the West End and will deliver & pick up directly from your beach house. 409.632.0256

Enjoy all 32 miles of sandy coastline during your stay: add to your seashell collection, ride the waves, work on perfecting your sandcastle technique, catch fresh Gulf seafood for dinner, and more! Get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy your vacation on historic Galveston Island!

We look forward to seeing you at the beach!