#hotel near galveston beach

[billa-billa007]

Stay Galveston Central District

Galveston has a rich history that dates back to its founding in the early 19th century. It was an important port city and one of the largest cotton ports in the U.S. during the 19th century. The city played a significant role in trade, immigration, and the development of Texas.

[anushkaanu]

Rum Shack | StayGalveston

Experience the tropical vibes and savor the taste of the Caribbean at the Rum Shack on Galveston Island. Enjoy a wide selection of rum, craft beer, and specialty cocktails all in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. With great music and friendly staff, you're sure to find the perfect drink to help you unwind and enjoy your stay in Galveston. Come by for a great night out and an experience you won't forget.

[rjzimmerman]

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Coastal beaches are dynamic systems. Wind, waves, and currents constantly move sand around, enlarging a beach here, narrowing one there. Storms make more drastic changes, sometimes washing away or depositing entire beaches.

When humans build houses, roads, hotels, and other structures on or near beaches, they put themselves in conflict with this dynamic nature. Communities trying to protect such infrastructure often employ a variety of methods to hold sand in place, including hard structures such as jetties and seawalls.

These don’t actually stop sand from moving, though. They just change where and how it does move, and they often enhance local erosion. Increasingly severe storms and sea-level rise caused by climate change are only making the problem worse.

Officials in many towns and cities have turned to another method: beach renourishment. This involves bringing in sand from elsewhere and adding it to eroded beaches. Beach nourishment only accounts for about 5% of the more than 55 billion tons of sand mined worldwide every year — a level of removal that threatens coastal ecosystems worldwide — but experts say its benefits are questionable and its potential for harm perhaps underestimated.

Since the first beach renourishment in New York in 1923, projects in 470 U.S. communities have used almost 1.7 billion cubic yards of sand, according to the National Beach Nourishment Database published by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

The practice is also common in Europe, with a 2021 study reporting that the Netherlands uses an average of 12 million cubic meters of sand for nourishment annually (a cubic meter is roughly the size of a pickup truck bed, slightly larger than a cubic yard). Germany uses 1.9 million cubic meters annually, Spain about 10 million cubic meters, and Denmark 2.5 million, compared to about 16 million in the United States.

Some experts point out that beach nourishment projects help protect coastal infrastructure and restore beaches for tourism and can replace or create wildlife habitat. The city of Galveston, Texas, for example, credits a 1985 project with a tourism revival there. Another project on the island resulted in buildup of dunes along the seawall that provided additional protection and wildlife habitat.

But experts also warn that collecting and depositing sand for beach renourishment can damage complex ecosystems. Underwater sand is habitat for seagrass and marine animals such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, and conchs, and feeding grounds for rays, fish such as flounders, and sharks.

[stardustedsins]

Gentle love prompts #41. Not letting them go when hugging

Hol Horse/reader (gender neutral reader)

You’re on Texas’s Galveston Island with Hol for a weekend getaway. He’s been showing you around the places he remembers fondly from his past visits: a bar near your hotel, a chocolate shop on the Strand, and his favorite fishing spot. Of course, you’ve spent some time on the beach, too. Now he’s driven you all the way to the east end of the island, past the bridge you’d driven over when you’d arrived.

“Here we are.” He says, pulling into a ferry loading lane.

“Where does the ferry go?” You ask, watching the cars ahead of you pull onto the ferry as you inch forward.

“Port Bolivar. Not much to see there. They’ve got a retired lighthouse and an old fort, but it’s more of a gateway to the rest of the peninsula.”

“Then why are we going there?”

“Just to ride the ferry. We’ll have to turn around and take the next one back too, unless you wanna see the park at the fort.” He says as your turn to board comes, and you pass over the loading ramp with a bump. “It’s nice, it’s free, and sometimes you can see dolphins.”

He pulls up until the reflective-vested workers gesture for him to stop. He turns the car off and pulls the parking brake, following the instructions on the signs scattered around the deck. Then he unbuckles his seat belt.

“Come on, we’re gettin’ out.” He hops out and you follow him, slipping between cars to the walkway near the side of the boat.

“We’re goin’ up to the front, you can see better there.”

“Isn’t the front on a boat called the prow or something?”

“Honey, I’m a cowboy, not a sailor.” He laughs as you come to stand near the chain keeping passengers away from the very front of the boat, which lowers into the loading and unloading ramp. There’s a good view from here, and the sea breeze on your face is nice.

There’s a small jolt as the ferry’s engines start up and it begins to pull away from the dock. You sway into Hol with the motion, looping your arm around his waist in a side hug and not letting go of him.

“It’s not gonna be that rough, you don’t need to hold on to me.” He says, and you smile at him with a wink.

“Maybe I want to.”

“No complaints here.” He grins and throws an arm across your shoulders. The stronger breeze of the boat’s forward motion and the spray from the sea splashing at the side near you are cooling. At the back of the boat, people are throwing scraps of food to noisy gulls. You watch pelicans floating on the water pass by, scanning for the dolphins Hol had said you might see.

The trip isn’t very long, maybe twenty minutes, so it doesn’t take long before you can see the other dock. Hol gives you a squeeze and lets you go.

“Let’s get back to the car. Gotta be ready to get off.”

You follow him back as the engines audibly slow down on approach. You buckle up again, and soon the front ramp has been lowered and the first cars are being waved off. When it’s your turn, Hol has to drive a little ways down the road to find a place to turn around. And then you’re back in the loading line to do it again.

You repeat the whole process from before, standing at the front of the boat again once you’re underway. You keep an eye out again for dolphins. You watch a bird dive and come up with a fish in its beak, and the wind picks up enough that Hol has to tie the strings of his hat in case it blows off his head, but you don’t see any dolphins. Not until-

“Over there.” Hol pulls you close to point at something a ways away from the boat. You look closely, and there they are: the dorsal fins and curved backs of dolphins jumping and playing at the surface. It looks like there are four or five of them, but it’s hard to count when you can’t see them all at one time.

You watch them until you can’t find them again. Maybe they’ve moved on, or maybe the boat has left them behind. Either way, the return trip comes to and end, and you’re soon back in the car driving away from the dock in the direction of your hotel.

“That was pretty cool.” You decide, watching the seawall pass by your window. “Thanks for showing me.”

“Glad you liked it. Tomorrow we can try some of the museums around town. I’ve never been, myself.”

“Not much of a museum-goer in your youth?” You tease, and he shakes his head.

“I’m hardly a museum-goer now, but I think you’ll like ‘em.”

It’s sweet that he’s planned activities just for you. You’re looking forward to it.

[repperu]

Early March outing at the beach on Galveston Island near The Hotel Galvez. 😍🌈🌞

[ztafraternity]

Archives: A funny thing happened on the way to Convention

By Patti Cords Levitte, Archivist, and Susan Beard, Archives Committee Chairman

Zeta Tau Alpha has hosted Convention in a wide range of locales—twice on an island, twice in another country, and on both the Atlantic and Pacific seashores. Convention has been interrupted by tornadoes and well-meaning men’s fraternities. In the past, Convention was truly an adventure, and getting there was half the fun.

The process of getting to Convention these days is dramatically different from what it once was. Convention 2018 attendees will most likely take a flight lasting no more than a few hours to get to Orlando, Florida. Before they arrive, they will have a schedule of events and know from social media and the Convention blog what to expect. It’s hard to picture today, but going to a ZTA Convention in the past meant a very long journey and a lot of mystery about what was going to happen there.

Pictured: Alumnae waited to board the “Zeta Special” train from Chicago to Pasadena, California, for Convention 1935.

Prior to the advent of air travel, getting to Convention required a significant chunk of one’s summer vacation. Daring sisters would drive, which, before the national highway system existed, could be very dangerous, but most opted to take the train, which entailed a week of travel just to get there and a week to get back. Zetas had to set aside close to three weeks in the summer to be able to attend. Since there were fewer Zetas with fulltime jobs then, it was less of a sacrifice than it would be for a member to try to take three weeks off from work today. ZTA often chartered trains for the most direct route to Convention. Many of our “Zeta Specials” originated in Chicago—sisters would take whatever train got them to Chicago’s Union Station, then board a reserved train full of Zetas to make the final leg of the journey. Most train trips took three to five days, so the Convention trains included a huge, extended slumber party on wheels and sightseeing with new friends. Packing for the trip required a lot of specialized luggage, like hat boxes and trunks for formal gowns, but there were no limits for carry-on bags then, so every delegate had a mountain of personal baggage.

Pictured: Zetas arrived at the dock on Mackinac Island, Michigan, for Convention 1950.

ZTA also offered post-Convention trips for those who wanted to extend sisterhood fun. In the 1920s, going on a ZTA-sponsored trip to Europe after Convention was popular; in the 1930s, Alaska and Canada were hot spots; and in the 1950s, Zetas extended their vacations on cruises or in major cities near the Convention sites. We had two Conventions on Mackinac Island, Michigan—one in 1939 and one in 1950—which required boat trips. Convention 1928 was held in northern Ontario, Canada. Instructions for those brave enough to drive there were printed in Themis  (pictured below). Imagine trying to get there with that kind of information and no GPS. Convention 1960 was in Quebec, Canada, where most of the city only spoke French at that time.

Pictured: Detailed instructions on how to drive to the location for Convention 1928 warned members to watch out for bears.

In addition to the difficulties of travel in earlier years, our Conventions were also much less structured, and there were often a lot of unexpected  surprises for attendees. One of our very first Conventions, in Galveston, Texas, in 1910, turned into more of a house party than a formal meeting. Dr. May Agnes Hopkins, our Grand President at the time, was in her last year of medical school at The University of Texas at Austin, and she was the only female “brother” of UT’s Alpha Kappa Kappa medical fraternity. Thinking it would be a great surprise for her, her AKK brothers drove to Galveston and turned our Convention into a week of beach parties, boat rides and car trips. Needless to say, not much ZTA business was conducted. After that, rules that only Zetas could participate in business meetings and guests had to be registered were put in place.

Pictured: Zetas and a group of fraternity men enjoyed many car trips during Convention 1910 in Galveston, Texas.

We had some odd Convention traditions that disappeared over time. In 1930, Grand Chapter thought it would be fun to have a bathing beauty contest, like the early Miss America pageants. No talent was necessary, just a cute swimsuit. The delegates that participated were voted on by other hotel guests at the West Baden Hotel in French Lick, Indiana, and one was crowned “Miss Zeta.” Over time, this evolved to become the Province Parade, in which delegates wore costumes that best represented their Provinces or schools. By the 1950s, the winner received a trophy proclaiming her to be “Miss Zeta” for the biennium. This competition went out of favor by the 1960s, when feminism was becoming a topic on college campuses, and evening events turned toward celebrating chapter achievements instead of individual talents. We also had swim meets, where all the collegiate delegates competed, and for decades, men were invited from military academies and men’s colleges to attend a formal dance. Skit nights, with elaborate song and dance routines created to entertain sisters, were also a large part of Convention into the early 2000s. In 2006, recognizing that members have extremely busy lives, Convention was shortened by one day, and smaller events throughout the course of Convention replaced “Fun Night.”

Pictured: A banquet at Convention 1923.

Today, Convention continues to be fun, full of tradition and focused on the achievements of our chapters and Fraternity. Although our time together is shorter than it was years ago, we make the most of every minute at Convention, whether it is in a voting session, meeting, poolside sisterhood event or meal. Attendees come away with lasting memories, inspired and motivated to be better leaders and sisters.

[watersedgedigitalphotography]

Good evening. Dawn on the beach, near the Hotel Galvez. May 2020 Galveston, Texas

[qptravel]

Camping While Visiting Galveston Island and Houston

When visiting the Galveston / Houston area, there are many RV resorts to choose from. The time of the year and one's interest in visiting can help determine which camp is better. Staying on Galveston island has many advantages over staying near Houston. On the one hand, it takes a family away from the daily life of being in a city with all the traffic and, most importantly, many of the camps are located near the beach. The services offered by the camp can help with one's decision, since most Galveston camps are like the hotel's resorts. For example, the Jamaica beach RV resort is ten miles from downtown Galveston. The complex has 181 sites with full connections that include cable TV. There are two pools, one with a swim-up bar, a hot tub and a 700-foot lazy river. Other amenities include, shuffling, basketball court, mini golf and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. One will fine the forty-five mile trip to Houston is very easy on interstate 45.

Galveston island is about 25 miles long and, in some areas, less than a mile wide. At the southeast end of the island, one has to cross a toll bridge for $ 2.00 to return to the mainland, the northwest end simply stops at the mouth of the bay; however, there is a ferry service that will take you to bolivar peninsular. The other entrance to the island is across interstate 45 which turns into Broadway avenue, this is like the main street through the center of the Galveston business section.

The historic center of Galveston is located along Galveston bay in the port of Galveston, where cruise ships dock. All buildings here are of a historical nature, while some buildings are offices, others are tourist shops, and some have been converted into historical museums. Along the bay, you will find a variety of restaurants and seafood museums.

For the person who enjoys both historical and educational sites, Galveston island is a great place to visit. Buying the Galveston island city pass has a big advantage, one has to buy at least four or more attractions and the savings are 40 percent cheaper than individual tickets.

Some of the attractions included are, moody mansion, which was built in 1895, portrays one of the richest entrepreneurs of the twentieth century in america with all the original furniture. I have to say that the furniture in the living rooms is quite impressive, however, the furniture in the rooms lacks comfort and style. In the navel museum, one can tour the interior of the famous USS Caracalla submarine that sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Shikoku, which attacked pearl harbor. I'm not sure how people could live in such close places, one thing is for sure, nobody had any secret. The USS Stewart is the only eds all-class destroyer preserved in the united states. These are the only two containers located in the museum. Ocean star, a retired offshore oil drilling platform that went to the museum, explains the process of drilling, oil extraction, safety and the environmental impacts facing the oil industry. The house has become a museum while the drilling rig and the simulation equipment are still intact. Being on this platform can give you an idea of ​​what it is like to be miles from the coast and work twelve-hour shifts. For the person who likes trains, the railway museum is a must. Here you will find many cars that were built in the early 1900s until the mid-1940s, all restored to their original dates. There are several engines from different eras; however, only one can be approached. Although Galveston island is small, with many historic sites, beaches and family attractions available, Galveston can keep a family quite busy for days.

The taxes battleship located in teleport, about forty miles northwest of Galveston, is well worth it. Texas was scheduled to be used as a bombing target, but after a successful trip by the people of taxes, it was awarded the people of the state of taxes in 1948. When taxes was commissioned in 1914, it was the most powerful battleship in the world . In 1925 it underwent important modifications and during the following twelve years it sailed to the Atlantic and the pacific, representing the american naval power. The battleship taxes is a large and complicated artifact and getting around it can be very confusing. To our surprise, one can not only walk through all levels of the platform, but also through the engine rooms.

Buying the Houston city pass is the best way to see the top five attractions at a price

[billa-billa007]

Stay Galveston Central District

Galveston has a rich history as a major port city and was once one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Texas. However, it faced significant challenges, including the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900, one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history. As a result, the city built a massive seawall to protect against future storms.Today, Galveston is a popular tourist destination with a variety of attractions. The city boasts beautiful beaches, historic architecture, museums, art galleries, and a vibrant downtown area with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.

[anushkaanu]

Sideyeard | Stay Galveston

Welcome to Sideyeard by Stay Galveston! Enjoy a luxurious and stress-free stay at our brand-new hotel.

[wikitopx]

The beautiful beaches and historic downtown of Galveston, less than an hour from Houston, make this a year-round destination for Texans and tourists.

For much of the 19th century, Galveston was the largest and wealthiest town in the state, and for a brief period, it was even the capital of the Republic of Texas. The splendor of the period can still be seen in the historic buildings and handsome mansions. In the heart of the city center, the Strand district preserves many original facades, now home to restaurants, cafes, galleries and shops.

[toc]

1. Galveston's Beaches

Turquoise water laps at the seemingly endless stretch of soft sand that fronts the ocean and draws crowds of people here from spring until fall. The Seawall runs for more than 10 miles along the beach, offering plenty of room to find your own patch of sand and space to play in the shallow and often calm water.

Several washroom facilities are located along here at various intervals, and behind the beach are restaurants, shops, and hotels. At the heart of the action along here is Pleasure Pier.

One of the most popular beaches, near the east end of the island, is Stewart Beach. At this family-friendly beach, you'll find showers and restrooms, chair and umbrella rentals, a children's playground, concessions, and a lifeguard.

If you are looking for more nature and activity, head west to Galveston Island State Park, where you can go walking along the boardwalks, kayaking through the bayou, and bird-watching on either the bay or ocean side.

2. The Strand Historic District

The Strand Historical Site in Galveston - also known simply as The Strand - is a National Historic Site composed mainly of Victorian buildings, many of which survived the 1900 hurricane. There are many restaurants, cafes, galleries, and antique shops, which is a pleasant place to visit, shop and eat.

The district stretches all the way to the busy jetty, with restored old warehouses and home to many of Galveston's most important tourist destinations. Also in this area, you'll find Pier 19, with the Museum and offshore rig Ocean Star, the nearby Texas Harbor Museum and dining places overlooking the water.

Be sure to stop at Pier 21 to watch The Great Storm, a 1900 storm movie that attacked Galveston and changed it forever.

The Strand is also home to an eclectic mix of retail and dining, from old-fashioned candy stores, like LA King's Confectionery, where you can watch taffy-making demonstrations, to more upscale restaurants, such as longtime Rudy and Paco, next to the 1894 Grand Opera House, or the more modern Vargas Cut and Catch on the street.

3. 1892 Bishop's Palace

Built as a private residence, the Bishop's Palace is often described as one of the most important Victorian castles in the United States. It was completed in 1893 after seven years of construction.

The grand interior displays elaborately carved woodwork, high ceilings, stained glass windows, fireplaces, and fine furnishings. Now a national historic site and museum, the house is open to tours.

Address: 1402 Broadway Street, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: https://ift.tt/1lQ55Ev

4. Moody Gardens and Aquarium Pyramid

Moody Gardens is a huge complex with things to do for the whole family. It can easily be an all-day outing, or you can target just one of the many attractions here and spend a few hours. The most outstanding feature is the three glass pyramids.

The main attraction for many is the Pyramid tour. This huge aquarium showcases the marine life of the Pacific, the Antarctic, the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, and the Caribbean. Some of the highlights are the underwater tunnel, touch tanks, and the giant river otters and the penguins, both of which are part of the animal encounter programs.

The Rainforest Pyramid is home to flora and fauna from the tropics, including free-roaming monkeys and sloths, birds, and fish. A boardwalk at canopy level takes you right through the heart of the rainforest. The aptly named Discovery Pyramid focuses on science and offers a range of displays.

Afterward, head to Palm Beach waterpark with its white sands, freshwater lagoons, slides, lazy river, and replica paddle steamer. Also, check out the elaborate seasonal displays.

Address: 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: www.moodygardens.com

5. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

The most prominent feature along the Seawall is Pleasure Dock. Jutting out into the ocean like a carnival on stilts, the pier's roller coasters, and colorful structures can be seen from well off in the distance along the beachfront.

Opened in 2012, this 1,130-foot pier - built on the site of its predecessor, was destroyed by a typhoon in 1961 - boasts many exciting rides suitable for all ages, as well as games and activities, and a restaurant.

If you are visiting Galveston with kids, this is a fun way to spend some time. The Pleasure Pier is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and on weekends during the winter.

Address: 2501 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: www.pleasurepier.com

6. Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum

The Port of Galveston is home to many rigs and supply vessels, and with a nod to Galveston's important role in the Gulf of Mexico's bustling oil and gas industries, the Ocean Star Offshore Oil Rig and Museum offers a fascinating insight into the energy business.

Based on an actual oil rig - the Great Ocean Star, built-in 1969 - the museum displays many amazing exhibits. Highlights include a visit to the pipe deck, where some of the larger equipment needed to drill the rig's more than 200 wells is stored, along with interactive displays showing the process from exploration to extraction.

Address: 2002 Wharf Road, Galveston, Texas

Official site: www.oceanstaroec.com

7. Texas Seaport Museum and the Elissa

The Texas Seaport Museum is home to the tall ship Elissa, built-in 1877 and considered one of the finest restored historic vessels in the US. This lovely old ship still puts to sea regularly, and her fascinating story — including her rescue from the scrapyard — is told in the museum onshore.

Other highlights include a look at the history of the Port of Galveston, including the names of the more than 133,000 migrants who passed through. If you want to see more, drive over to nearby Seawolf Park for a peek at a WWII-era US Navy submarine and the USS Stewart, a destroyer from the same period.

Address: 2200 Harborside Drive, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: https://ift.tt/2O1DQfY

8. The Bryan Museum

Housed in a fabulous historic building, which was once the Galveston Orphans Home, this museum showcases a diverse collection of art and artifacts from the American West, spanning more than 12,000 years.

The permanent collection relates to everything, from Native American history to the Spanish Colonial Age and Independence to Texas. The Texas Masters Gallery features the art of Texas-born artists, as well as people who walk through the area and photograph it on canvas.

Around the museum, you'll also find works by various artists, including pieces by Andy Warhol. iPads on displays help explain the pieces and their significance, but the best way to appreciate the collection and learn about history is to take a tour. If you are lucky, you may even see the founder, Mr. J.P. Bryan, who opened the Bryan Museum in 2015.

Address: 1315 21st Street, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: www.thebryanmuseum.org

9. Moody Mansion

Built-in 1895, the interior of the Victorian Moody Mansion features stained glass, custom carved woodwork, decorative tiles, and plasterwork, along with fine stencil work throughout.

The house also impresses with red bricks, unique architecture and countless arches, along with numerous antiques, photographs and intricate artwork. Guided tours through 20 rooms are available, and many special events and programs are also held here. Also of interest are the bases of meticulous maintenance.

Address: 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: www.moodymansion.org

10. The Grand 1894 Opera House

Another ancient architecture of Galveston is the Grand Theater of 1894, a restored Victoria Theater that is splendid and withstands many storms. It still hosts a full lineup of musical and theatrical performances, along with a selection of fun shows for kids of all ages.

On the wall inside the main entrance, a plaque shows the level of the high water mark from hurricane Ike, which swept through in 2008.

Address: 2020 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas

Official Site: www.thegrand.com

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Fort Worth

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-galveston-704126.html

[skyserve1]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQJFwYzr1gQ)

From An Abduction and Murder File; A Houston resident pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping and killing the mother of two of his children in 2017. From A Seasonal Pool Accident File; A 12-year-old boy rushed to a San Antonio area hospital after being found unresponsive and floating in the pool of a North Side hotel late Friday evening. From Weekend  Gun Violence In Austin File; A teenage girl suffered severe, life-threatening injuries after being shot in Northwest Austin on Saturday. Austin police say a man walked up to her car while it was parked near Lakeline Mall and shot into the vehicle multiple times, striking the girl once. A Galveston Perfect Beach Weekend File; Beautiful blue water rolled ashore onto Galveston Island over the weekend, just in time for perfect beach weather.

[gillespialfredoe01806ld]

Pure Bliss or Massive Mortgage? The True Price of Homes on 10 Islands Across America

Catalina Island

You’re aware of the allure of the aloha of the Hawaiian Islands and you’re familiar with the not-so-modest charms of Martha’s Vineyard. These notable island getaways offer amazing restaurants, pretty parks and beaches, and an oh-so-appealing vibe.

But what does it cost to live on an island? For you. Yes, you! We surveyed the prices on 10 islands across the country, and learned what you can expect to pay for a home or condo on these idyllic isles.

Some locales surrounded by water are surprisingly affordable while other island homes might leave you swimming in debt. Come island hopping with us, and see if you’re ready to take the leap into full-time island life…

Anna Maria, FL

Median list price: $1,224,000

Do you plan to have family visiting the Gulf Coast as soon as the first snowflakes begin to fall in the North? Then you’d better spring for this five-bedroom, four-bath home on the island’s north end. Built in 1967—but it’s not dated—the $1.5 million home comes with a pool. Prices hover under a million if you opt to live small, like in this two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,752-square-foot home listed for $799,900 and across the street from the beach. Check out the pond in the backyard!

733 Holly Rd, Anna Maria, FL

realtor.com

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Mackinac Island, MI

Median list price: $469,000

This island is way more populated in summer, which means you have the trails (for hiking or skiing) to yourself the rest of the year. You can achieve your innkeeper dreams with this 10-bedroom, six-bath Victorian dating to the 1880s (listing for $2.95 million), or downsize to a darling three-bedroom condo for $399,900 near the famous Grand Hotel and boasting water views. Just don’t put a garage on your wish list: The island is car-free.

8155 Algonquin St., Mackinac Island, MI

realtor.com

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Nantucket, MA

Median list price: $2 million

Summer is when this island off the coast of Hyannis heats up, but locals will tell you that the offseason is magic. That’s when you get beaches and restaurants all to yourself. While it isn’t cheap to call Nantucket home, listing prices can vary. Spread out in a five-bedroom, Federal-style mansion (listed for $5.12 million) on highly desirable India Street (a short walk to Main Street’s shops and restaurants), or live near the island’s South Shore beaches for $1.43 million in this cozy newer home with four bedrooms, a wide deck, and a finished basement.

30 India St., Nantucket, MA

realtor.com

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Santa Catalina Island, CA

Median list price: $1,149,000

If you desire a Mediterranean climate and nightlife and access to the big city—Los Angeles County is a 22-mile ferry ride away—then the most populated of the Channel Islands might be your utopia. Try a one-bedroom villa in Hamilton Cove—which boasts a private beach—in Avalon, listed for $599,950. Or snap up this 1929 Spanish-style abode, also in Avalon, with a newly remodeled kitchen for $1.29 million. You can use the in-law suite to host all your jealous L.A. friends.

32 Camino De Flores, Avalon, CA

realtor.com

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Mount Desert, ME

Median list price: $692,500

Maine’s largest island has just 10,000 residents and is anchored by Bar Harbor (where half of the locals live) and Acadia National Park. In Bar Harbor, this Victorian-era, five-bedroom beauty runs $695,000 and includes a Scandinavian wood stove and a sauna. For a perfect weekend getaway, this two-bedroom cottage in Bar Harbor will run you $249,900. It comes with a cedar-shake outbuilding and garden shed.

15 Roberts Ave., Bar Harbor, ME

realtor.com

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Fire Island, NY

Median list price: $1.2 million

With Manhattan housing prices on the march, it’s tempting to put all your money into a Fire Island cottage. This four-bedroom home listed for $510,000—and new to the market—flaunts a private boardwalk to the beach plus multiple decks for grilling. There’s also this contemporary home, which comes with a pool. Listed for $1,150,000, it features a floating staircase and beamed ceilings.

605 Shore Walk, Fire Island Pines, NY

realtor.com

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Orcas Island, WA

Median list price: $610,000

The housing stock on the largest of the San Juan Islands skews both cute and contemporary. A perfect example is this three-bedroom, yellow Craftsman with a farmhouse sink and vaulted ceilings, listed for $629,000. You could also make a statement with this octagonal four-bedroom home on a 10-acre lot, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé Hank Schubart. It’s on the market for $4.98 million.

235 Loon Song Ln., Orcas Island, WA

realtor.com

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Galveston, TX

Median list price: $275,000

Fifty miles southeast of Houston lies this barrier island hugging the Gulf of Mexico. A two-bedroom midcentury modern in Fish Village listed for $167,900 comes with updates in the bath and kitchen, and a fenced yard that’s perfect for a dog. This two-bedroom condo with water views—built in 1996—and across from Babe’s Beach is already plugged into a vacation rental program. It’s on the market for $265,000.

7000 Seawall Blvd, Apt. 214, Galveston, TX

realtor.com

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Block Island, RI

Median list price: $1.2 million

Many homes on this island—with just 1,000 residents—feature cedar-shake shingle, including this darling three-bedroom home (listed for $2.3 million) hugging Cormorant Cove. Or you can realize all your design ambitions with this former church, on the market for $939,000. Five bedrooms are already carved out, and architectural details like the stained-glass windows have been thoughtfully preserved.

923 Cormorant Cv., Block Island, RI

realtor.com

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Hilton Head Island, SC

Median list price: $489,000

Condos are affordable here. There’s a one-bedroom unit across the street from South Forest Beach listed for $210,000. Or you could go glam with this 4,214-square-foot property with four bedrooms, listed for $875,000. Located on Ribaut Island, and built in 1995, it features fireplaces, an elegant entryway, custom cabinetry, and a soaking tub in the master suite.

34 RIbaut Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC

realtor.com

The post Pure Bliss or Massive Mortgage? The True Price of Homes on 10 Islands Across America appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from DIYS http://bit.ly/2AtojPP

[davidoespailla]

Pure Bliss or Massive Mortgage? The True Price of Homes on 10 Islands Across America

Catalina Island

You’re aware of the allure of the aloha of the Hawaiian Islands and you’re familiar with the not-so-modest charms of Martha’s Vineyard. These notable island getaways offer amazing restaurants, pretty parks and beaches, and an oh-so-appealing vibe.

But what does it cost to live on an island? For you. Yes, you! We surveyed the prices on 10 islands across the country, and learned what you can expect to pay for a home or condo on these idyllic isles.

Some locales surrounded by water are surprisingly affordable while other island homes might leave you swimming in debt. Come island hopping with us, and see if you’re ready to take the leap into full-time island life…

Anna Maria, FL

Median list price: $1,224,000

Do you plan to have family visiting the Gulf Coast as soon as the first snowflakes begin to fall in the North? Then you’d better spring for this five-bedroom, four-bath home on the island’s north end. Built in 1967—but it’s not dated—the $1.5 million home comes with a pool. Prices hover under a million if you opt to live small, like in this two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,752-square-foot home listed for $799,900 and across the street from the beach. Check out the pond in the backyard!

733 Holly Rd, Anna Maria, FL

realtor.com

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Mackinac Island, MI

Median list price: $469,000

This island is way more populated in summer, which means you have the trails (for hiking or skiing) to yourself the rest of the year. You can achieve your innkeeper dreams with this 10-bedroom, six-bath Victorian dating to the 1880s (listing for $2.95 million), or downsize to a darling three-bedroom condo for $399,900 near the famous Grand Hotel and boasting water views. Just don’t put a garage on your wish list: The island is car-free.

8155 Algonquin St., Mackinac Island, MI

realtor.com

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Nantucket, MA

Median list price: $2 million

Summer is when this island off the coast of Hyannis heats up, but locals will tell you that the offseason is magic. That’s when you get beaches and restaurants all to yourself. While it isn’t cheap to call Nantucket home, listing prices can vary. Spread out in a five-bedroom, Federal-style mansion (listed for $5.12 million) on highly desirable India Street (a short walk to Main Street’s shops and restaurants), or live near the island’s South Shore beaches for $1.43 million in this cozy newer home with four bedrooms, a wide deck, and a finished basement.

30 India St., Nantucket, MA

realtor.com

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Santa Catalina Island, CA

Median list price: $1,149,000

If you desire a Mediterranean climate and nightlife and access to the big city—Los Angeles County is a 22-mile ferry ride away—then the most populated of the Channel Islands might be your utopia. Try a one-bedroom villa in Hamilton Cove—which boasts a private beach—in Avalon, listed for $599,950. Or snap up this 1929 Spanish-style abode, also in Avalon, with a newly remodeled kitchen for $1.29 million. You can use the in-law suite to host all your jealous L.A. friends.

32 Camino De Flores, Avalon, CA

realtor.com

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Mount Desert, ME

Median list price: $692,500

Maine’s largest island has just 10,000 residents and is anchored by Bar Harbor (where half of the locals live) and Acadia National Park. In Bar Harbor, this Victorian-era, five-bedroom beauty runs $695,000 and includes a Scandinavian wood stove and a sauna. For a perfect weekend getaway, this two-bedroom cottage in Bar Harbor will run you $249,900. It comes with a cedar-shake outbuilding and garden shed.

15 Roberts Ave., Bar Harbor, ME

realtor.com

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Fire Island, NY

Median list price: $1.2 million

With Manhattan housing prices on the march, it’s tempting to put all your money into a Fire Island cottage. This four-bedroom home listed for $510,000—and new to the market—flaunts a private boardwalk to the beach plus multiple decks for grilling. There’s also this contemporary home, which comes with a pool. Listed for $1,150,000, it features a floating staircase and beamed ceilings.

605 Shore Walk, Fire Island Pines, NY

realtor.com

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Orcas Island, WA

Median list price: $610,000

The housing stock on the largest of the San Juan Islands skews both cute and contemporary. A perfect example is this three-bedroom, yellow Craftsman with a farmhouse sink and vaulted ceilings, listed for $629,000. You could also make a statement with this octagonal four-bedroom home on a 10-acre lot, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé Hank Schubart. It’s on the market for $4.98 million.

235 Loon Song Ln., Orcas Island, WA

realtor.com

———

Galveston, TX

Median list price: $275,000

Fifty miles southeast of Houston lies this barrier island hugging the Gulf of Mexico. A two-bedroom midcentury modern in Fish Village listed for $167,900 comes with updates in the bath and kitchen, and a fenced yard that’s perfect for a dog. This two-bedroom condo with water views—built in 1996—and across from Babe’s Beach is already plugged into a vacation rental program. It’s on the market for $265,000.

7000 Seawall Blvd, Apt. 214, Galveston, TX

realtor.com

———

Block Island, RI

Median list price: $1.2 million

Many homes on this island—with just 1,000 residents—feature cedar-shake shingle, including this darling three-bedroom home (listed for $2.3 million) hugging Cormorant Cove. Or you can realize all your design ambitions with this former church, on the market for $939,000. Five bedrooms are already carved out, and architectural details like the stained-glass windows have been thoughtfully preserved.

923 Cormorant Cv., Block Island, RI

realtor.com

———

Hilton Head Island, SC

Median list price: $489,000

Condos are affordable here. There’s a one-bedroom unit across the street from South Forest Beach listed for $210,000. Or you could go glam with this 4,214-square-foot property with four bedrooms, listed for $875,000. Located on Ribaut Island, and built in 1995, it features fireplaces, an elegant entryway, custom cabinetry, and a soaking tub in the master suite.

34 RIbaut Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC

realtor.com

The post Pure Bliss or Massive Mortgage? The True Price of Homes on 10 Islands Across America appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Pure Bliss or Massive Mortgage? The True Price of Homes on 10 Islands Across America

[galvestonflyer-blog]

Begin your Galveston Tour with a Happy and Friendly Journey from Houston Airport to Galveston

Having a family outing in Galveston is one of the best things you can do to enjoy the most precious and best times with your family. This island has so much to offer to you and your family that makes it an ideal destination for enjoying quality family time. Let us check out few of the highlights of this wonderful island.

Take a ride in the Tallest Water Coaster of the World–To celebrate the 12th anniversary of Schlitterbahn Galveston the park has unveiled MASSIV waterslide which is the tallest water coaster 82 feet high with 123 steps to climb to the top. You can enjoy the twists, turns, drops and splashes of this impressively daunting ride with your entire family to have an adrenaline fueled experience.

Go for Eco Dolphin Tour–Take a one hour eco-dolphin tour in a 40 foot pontoon boat with the Galveston Water Adventures team and get to learn a little about the island along with an opportunity to capture the photogenic creatures near dolphin pods.

Enjoy a ride of the ELISSA – Go back to the time of the royal classiness of the tall ships by riding on the iron hulled sailing ship ELISSA which is functional since 1877. It is located at the Texas Seaport Museum at Pier 21. A ride on ELISSA leaves an unforgettable impression on every member of your family even the little ones!

Encounter Penguins – Go for the 45 minutes long penguin encounters at the Moody Gardens and get up close to penguins from the Aquarium Pyramid and experience the chilly world of these incredibly resourceful birds.

Enjoy the Making of Taffy at La King’s Confectionary – Watch the fascinating old world practice of making taffy at this old school candy store. This will definitely lure your little ones along with those having a sweet tooth! But the interesting thing that you will be noticing is the guy who makes salt water taffy.

Isn’t that interesting! Go for Horse Riding on the Beach – Sit high on the saddle on the back of the trained horse and tour the beach to experience an exceptional angle of beach exploration.

Besides these there is a lot more that you can do and see in Galveston Island.

How to reach Galveston Island? To reach this incredibly beautiful island you will need to take a flight to Houston and from there you can take airport transportation for Galveston TX. Always make sure to go for private airport transportation Galveston TX services that will make your journey from Houston airport to Galveston an easy and stress free affair.

Conclusion: The Galveston Flyeroffer professional fast and friendly airport transportation Galveston TX services. Their seamless, hassle-free transportation services will take you directly from Houston Airport to Galveston cruise port or hotel. To know more visit https://www.galvestonflyer.com/

[abitterlifethroughcinema]

It’s a Wrap, Part I

Film Reviews from the 51st Annual Sitges Fantasy/Horror Film Festival

by

Lucas A Cavazos

The first long weekend of Sitges welcomes all industry and press with interviews about town, press junkets under AC’d halls or windy tents, and celebs of all levels milling about, taking in the sunny, lazy rays of a late summer that lulls about in this micro-climate town. And that’s when this critic gets all sorts of involved in walking between the outer skirts of the city, where the Hotel Melia hosts the brunt of the events, and then back into town where the other cinemas and plenty of eats and beach time are easily at one’s fingers and toes. It’s to note that throughout much of the year, none of the cinemas in Sitges are used much except for special events or screenings…which is to say, that there are no full-time working cinemas running in Sitges throughout the year. The Retiro Theatre boasts a two-storied cinema in the centre of town, as well as, a garden and a restaurant and many of the first-run features and marathon that premiere at the main screens at Melia Hotel get another run there or down the street and around the corner at the Prado Cinema, which also boasts a restaurant and garden, but I saw my first post-inauguration day screening Zoo #### at the Sala Tramuntana, the smaller cinema of the Melia Hotel. At the Tramuntana, there is a grand tendency to showcase a wide variety of international and B-grade fare that deserve a mention, as well. Case in point, this film by budding director Antonio Tublén. A Danish-Swedish production, this zombie-lite film was a thing of unexpected delight and someone in the industry at the festival should certainly do themselves a favour and pick this film up for distribution. Not only does it tackle the horror genre (more specifically, the Zombie film sub-genre), but the way the film's creators have weaved such poignant human elements in an otherwise often comedic, often touching film that serves up enough jumps to hit the fan's scare buttons, is assuredly rare. Part of the film's delight lies in the fact that it can work as a horror film or as a comedy, a drama/thriller or maybe even a dark romance film. When an indie movie can simply and so seamlessly do that, you're dealing with something more than your average zombie flick. Strained couple Karen (the wonderful Zoe Tapper) and John (a younger Simon Baker-lookalike named Edward Speleers) find themselves on an embattled turf zone when an unknown virus starts sweeping their fine Swedish city. The government mandates all people to stay indoors but scrounge whatever food is available before doing so, as apparently the virus appears to be one causing humans to attack and feed in frenzy on other humans. When the couple witness a plane crashing a la 9/11 into a nearby apartment complex, we all know that the shit has hit the fan, quite literally in fact, as a chunk of the plane crashes a hole into their bathroom. But that’s when part of the beauty of the film commences. While forced to spend every waking and resting moment together (and for awhile, with a couple from down the hall...which is its own movie, frankly) the couple falls in love again. Much of that has to do, of course, with the terrifying circumstances just outside the doors where zombies stagger in wait, but the essence of the film is not wasted for one moment. I must say that I really want people to see this film, and when you throw in the witty, comic relief that only a biting British writer could muster so sardonically to perfection, what you get is a stand-out indie zombie film, which likely deserves its own genre, I suppose…but at least this one stands out above the rest.

Perhaps the title gives hints as it is all in the Piercing ###-1/2 way that actress Mia Wasikowska, playing Jackie, looks over the substance of her room, her gaze of longing yet vapidity, that only a skilled actress can serve without a strain of effort. She's almost looks like a rebirth of Martha Plimpton, the child actress who incidentally got her own start in some odd Calvin Klein ads when she was all of 10 or 12. But I digress, as this thriller/comedy follows the plan of how Christopher Abbot, playing sociopathic Reed, is a guy hellbent on hiring an escort and then butchering her with ever-so-planned precision. There is a scene near the film's start where Reed accurately times his every single action to how he will overpower and then dismember his escort prey, replete with the sounds of hacksaw grinding, blood splatter and gristle collapsing on the floor...all quite nasty yet completely visceral and quite funny. As I watched the film, I kept feeling that director Nicholas Pesce was striving for a Tarantino-esque ode while keeping it a tad Coca Cola Light with less actual splatter. Anyway, as it turns out when Jackie arrives at his hotel room, things go, let's say, slightly awry, when she takes a bathroom break and ends up stabbing herself repeatedly in the leg in a feigned attempt at something sensual. However, it all comes off rather off the wall and so unexpected, that even Reed has no idea what to do but try to call the paramedics, which she denies, and so he aides her there in the hotel. But rather than take advantage of the situation, he eventually gets her to the hospital and then to her home afterward...and then the crazy fun can begin. In an reversal of fortune move, she calmly seduces him into staying for a soup dinner which she spikes with halcyon. Let the sordid games begin. Any fan of American Psycho will likely vibe on this odd fare, but I must warn you…it’s a crazy ride with little joy.

Staying on at Tramuntana a bit later brought about the premiere of an eerie yet drearily slow Spanish-Albanian production called The Invocation Of Enver Simaku which I gave a sufficient ###, so let’s twalk. The political upheaval in Albania by the late 90s was something that played a soft whisper in the background of uni study halls lightly playing CNN as background fodder when I was a late youth. Apart from the fact that my ex's next boyfriend after me was from Albania and later died from a severe cancer that swallowed him within a year, I had very little idea about Albania and its recent tortured past, now skirted by a slow and burgeoning rebirth. Following the search of an answer to the senseless and sudden slaying of his wife and many others, while on a break visiting Albania two decades before, a journalist played by actor Julien Blaschke ventures back to where the brutal slaying occurred. Apparently at the hands of a man who had previously been in catatonic state for over 35 years, this could hardly be a full explanation, so he contacts a sort of X-Files division of Albanian governmental research departments, and this leads to a possible evil spirit called the ‘kukuth.’ This spirit demon theoretically possessed people and forced them to ravage and kill. All I can say is that while keeping an engaged audience, the film suffered from A Tad Too Long Syndrome but it certainly piqued my curiosity to perhaps visit Albania one day…just not the small villages.

Galveston #### also premiered at the Festival and brought with it all the emotional punch of a honkey tonk brawl after ten shots of Jack Daniels. Think what you will of the waif-like look of the Fanning sisters, but I have the thought that they are two of the more dedicated sister-actresses in the business today. Telling the story of lives intertwining at inopportune moments, Galveston was a social wake-up call, very much in the pathos vein of The Florida Project but with a gritty and violent varnish. Ben Foster plays Roy, a man facing mortality when the film starts with him visiting a doctor who has a bad report about something found on his lungs, but rather than face that construct with his doctor, he throws a fit and storms off, never even finding out what cancer or illness he has. Adapted from Nicholas Pizzolatto’s novel, director Melanie Laurent brings us a human story that focuses on how Roy gets embroiled in a con job gone awry and when the dust settles, he has to run off with a young one named Raquel, played by the ebullient Elle Fanning, and the two end up on a road trip that leads to the film’s titular town, the beach side city nearest Houston on the Gulf of Mexico. At the outset, Roy wants very little to do with Raquel, but when she has him run by her old home, she ends up running out with a bag of clothes, some cash and a little 3-year old girl…her sister. What ensues afterward is a lesson in social negativity, white non-privilege, and human duress. Without giving poignant parts of the story away, elements add themselves into the life story of this unlikely trio of people, but what happens as the film ends gives light to a world that most of us will thankfully never know, as well as, the discovery of a new female director with a masterful hand. One of the finest films I viewed at this years Sitges’ Film Festival.

More to follow shortly....