Jaunted

Tags: Galveston Field Trip / Kolaches / Beach Travel / → All Tags

Visiting Post-Ike Galveston

Jaunted contributing editor Christine Bord recently took a Volunteer Vacation to Galveston, Texas. Here she tell us what else there's to see and do in this Texan beach town.

Galveston, Texas was hit hard by Hurricane Ike last fall and the scars can still be seen from the debris on the beach to the dilapidated buildings dotting the coast. Despite the hardships Ike caused, the city is slowly recovering and there is still a lot to see and do on this unique island. It's also fairly accessible, just a short drive (about 60 miles) south of Bush Intercontinental Airport. Here’s a look at the best Galveston has to offer.

Where to Stay:
At the Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort on Galveston’s main drag, Seawall Blvd, every room has a balcony with an ocean view. The resort gets rave reviews for its service on TripAdvisor and we found out first hand that if you call the hotel directly to make a reservation they'll throw in a free breakfast. Rates start at $170.

more ›

Tags: Volunteer Travel / Galveston Field Trip / Operation Photo Rescue / → All Tags

Restoring Hope One Pixel At A Time in Galveston

Jaunted contributing editor Christine Bord has written frequently about Volunteer Travel and today, she tells us about her recent trip with Operation Photo Rescue.

Last weekend, in the dining room of Galveston’s historic Michel Menard House, seven volunteers from Operation Photo Rescue collected photos damaged during Hurricane Ike. After the on-site volunteers meticulously photograph each image, the photos are then uploaded to a worldwide network of image restoration artists (also volunteers) who will do their best to restore them. Once restored, the photos are returned to their owners at no charge.

I was one of those volunteers poring over moldy, torn and blurred pictures that were stuck to glass frames or worse, disintegrating in our hands. As heart-wrenching as it was to hear the survivor stories of those who lost their churches, cars, businesses, even pets in the hurricane, it was worse to watch the remainders of that life disappear as well.

more ›

Tags: Hurricane Ike / Hurricanes / Bars / → All Tags

More Post-Ike Travel: Where's The Only Open Bar in Galveston?

As Galveston residents packed to flee last week ahead of Hurricane Ike, a biker bar along the seawall called the Poop Deck boasted it would defy official warnings and not close. We haven't read of its fate yet, but sadly any establishment facing the Gulf of Mexico along Seawall Blvd. probably sustained major damage.

But six blocks away, the party continues at Robert's Lafitte, a gay bar known for its tight door and drag shows. Despite losing all its windows and drawing three feet of water in the storm, Robert's Lafitte re-opened Monday to pass out food and celebrate the career of Tina Turner, gaining converts beyond the usual barflies:

more ›

Tags: Hurricanes / Hurricane Ike / Travel Storms / → All Tags

Hurricane Ike Batters Southeast Texas: Galveston Soaked, Houston Tempest-Tossed

It's been an active hurricane season so far in 2008, with storms like Cristobol, Dolly, Edouard, and Gustav causing untold damage in the Caribbean and the eastern and gulf coasts of North America. Ike, the latest menace, came ashore in Galveston, Texas overnight, dumping several inches of rain and causing surging tides throughout the mostly-abandoned community. Though slightly further inland, Houston suffered as well, with scores of windows blown out of downtown skyscrapers and debris littering the streets.

Since making landfall, Ike has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, and the early word from officials in southeastern Texas is that as bad as it was, it could have been worse. The people of Haiti, for example, have suffered greatly this season, with one storm after another destroying homes and lives, washing out roads, and requiring massive shipments of aid to alleviate some of the misery.

With its greater resources, I'm sure coastal Texas will bounce back soon, drawing visitors to the sandy beaches and laid-back bars that dot the coastline between Galveston and South Padre. It's just Florida with cowboy hats, after all. But the list of hurricanes still has twelve names on it, and it might not be long before Kyle, Marco, Omar, or Paloma show up looking for a party.

[Photo: NOAA]

Related Stories:
· Officials: No Loss of Life Due to Hurricane Ike [Galveston County Daily News]
· Hurricane Coverage [Jaunted]