Located just 50 miles from Houston, Galveston Island is easy to reach from virtually anywhere in Texas - yet unlike any place else on the Gulf Coast. It's perfect for your Texas beach house rental. A unique and eclectic coastal town that combines "high-brow" and "down home" with a little Texas attitude thrown in for good measure, Galveston's storied downtown is rich in history and charm. Guests staying at their beach rental at Pointe West in Galveston, Texas enjoy exploring the historic Strand, a crazy quilt of restored Victorian iron-front architecture that's a veritable bazaar of boutiques, antique galleries, food and fun. Best of all, the unique attractions of downtown Galveston are less than 20 miles from Pointe West, a Texas beach resort.

You'll find a delightful blend of the new and old: trendy restaurants, galleries, boutiques and night spots as well as the beguiling Victorian-era homes that line the leafy avenues stretching outward from downtown.

With more than 550 designated historical landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places, Galveston is a huge, irresistible smorgasbord for history, arts and architecture buffs. Savor it all with a tour through one of the beautifully-restored historic antebellum mansions on The Strand. Stroll the trendy Post Office Arts District or visit the circa-1877 Tall Ship ELISSA at Pier 21 on the water.

Of course, no visit to Galveston Island would be complete without a visit to several area attractions, including Moody Gardens - a fantastic entertainment complex with its 3 pyramids that house a rainforest, an aquarium and a discovery center. Galveston is now also the home of Schlitterbahn, one of the nation's largest water parks.