20 days in Texas Gulf Coast Itinerary

An old colonial city and a busy cruise ship port less than an hour's drive from Houston, Galveston sits on Galveston Island and serves as a popular vacation destination for both domestic and international travelers.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Galveston: Quintana Beach (in Quintana) and Kemah Boardwalk (in Kemah). There's lots more to do: get to know the fascinating history of The Seawall, make a splash at Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, get in on the family fun at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, and take a stroll through The Strand.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Galveston online itinerary planner.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Galveston is an approximately 14-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Central European Standard Time (CET) to Central Standard Time (CST) is minus 7 hours. Traveling from Amsterdam in August, expect nights in Galveston to be much warmer, around 31°C, while days are somewhat warmer, around 38°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Wed) early enough to fly to South Padre Island.

A vibrant resort town, South Padre Island sits on a barrier island of the same name, located just off the Texas Gulf Coast.

South Padre Island is known for wildlife, adventure, and classes. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: identify plant and animal life at Sea Turtle, Inc., enjoy the sea views from Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site, get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports, and make a trip to Largest Outdoor Sandcastle in the USA.

To find maps, traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the South Padre Island tour builder.

Traveling by flight from Galveston to South Padre Island takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In August, daytime highs in South Padre Island are 37°C, while nighttime lows are 30°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Sat) early enough to drive to Brownsville.

Brownsville is the county seat of Cameron County, Texas. Start off your visit on the 20th (Sun): trek along Brownsville Historic Battlefield Trail, then get outside with Outdoor Activities, and then stroll the grounds of Old City Cemetery. Keep things going the next day: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Gladys Porter Zoo, pause for some photo ops at Iwo Jima Memorial & Museum, and then stroll around Hugh Ramsey Nature Park.

To find reviews, maps, and more tourist information, use the Brownsville trip itinerary planner.

You can drive from South Padre Island to Brownsville in an hour. When traveling from South Padre Island in August, plan for somewhat warmer days in Brownsville, with highs around 41°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 29°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Mon) so you can go by car to Corpus Christi.

A gulf coast town with a semi-tropical climate, Corpus Christi serves as a getaway destination with a life of its own.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Corpus Christi: Port Aransas (Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas Beach, &more) and Rockport (Paradise House, Rockport Beach, &more). Spend the 24th (Thu) exploring nature at Padre Island National Seashore. The adventure continues: brush up on your military savvy at USS Lexington Museum, ponder the design of Corpus Christi Watergardens, tour the pleasant surroundings at Malaquite Beach, and meet the residents at Texas State Aquarium.

For maps, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Corpus Christi tour itinerary builder tool.

Traveling by car from Brownsville to Corpus Christi takes 2.5 hours. August in Corpus Christi sees daily highs of 41°C and lows of 28°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Fri) so you can fly to Houston.

Although urban sprawl remains synonymous with Houston, most of the city's tourist attractions lie within the relatively small downtown area, surrounded by diverse neighborhoods housing the nation's biggest African-American, Asian-American, and Latino communities.

When in Houston, make a side trip to see Helen's Garden in League City, approximately League City away. There's lots more to do: get curious at The Houston Museum of Natural Science, get engrossed in the history at Holocaust Museum Houston, see the interesting displays at Space Center Houston, and explore the engaging exhibits at Children's Museum Houston.

For other places to visit, reviews, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Houston trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Corpus Christi to Houston takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In August, daily temperatures in Houston can reach 41°C, while at night they dip to 29°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Thu) early enough to fly back home.