Tag: family weekend getaways in Texas

Learn More About the Animal Residents

At Moody Gardens, we have thousands of animal residents and a huge variety of different species! Keep reading to learn more about these exciting creatures from all over the world.

pygmy loris

Pygmy Loris: A Pygmy loris is a mammal that can be found in the rainforests and bamboo groves throughout Asia, including China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. This wooly creature has a brown coat and grows to be up to ten inches long and weighs about two pounds. They are recognized by their large eyes and small ears. Pygmy lorises are nocturnal animals that feed on small invertebrates, eggs, small reptiles, fruits, and vegetation. They can easily climb trees because of their opposable thumbs and strong hands and feet. The Pygmy loris is a threatened species, but cooperative breeding and conservation by various organizations is helping to ensure their survival.

 

Gentoo Penguins: We have a special place in our heart for the penguin residents at Moody Gardens! The Gentoo penguin can be found on the sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. They are recognizable by their red eyes ringed in white feathers, with a white patch above each eye that extends over their head. Their black beak has a vibrant orange “swish” and they waddle around on orange feet. The Gentoo penguin is listed as a lower risk-near threatened species because of habitat destruction.

animals at mg

Ocelot: The ocelot is an endangered medium-sized wild cat with tawny fur and irregular dark brown spots and stripes. They come from arid and forested habitats all over the world, including many parts of Central and South America. Ocelots are terrific swimmers that hunt during the night feeding on small deer, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds, other small mammals, and sometimes they go fishing!

 

To learn more about the animals at Moody Gardens, come explore the Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid. Moody Gardens is the perfect destination for your next family weekend getaways in Texas.

 

Why Should You Make Moody Gardens Your Next Family Vacation?

200361162-001Make your next family vacation a Moody Gardens vacation! At Moody Gardens we have your whole trip covered, from the entertainment, the relaxation, and a place to stay. Our attractions are fun, educational, and appropriate for everyone in the family.

 

Family Friendly Accommodations

The Moody Gardens Hotel is accommodating for the entire family. We have a great selection of rooms and suites to provide your family with a comfortable place to rest your heads at night. The kids can enjoy the complimentary fun of Kid’s Crew while parents visit the Spa at Moody Gardens for a relaxing couple’s massage!

 

Dining Options

When you stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel, your kids get to eat free at the Terrace Restaurant, which has the best shrimp gumbo in Galveston. For a more formal dinner experience, taste the famous entrées at Shearn’s Restaurant prepared by Galveston’s most-celebrated chef, Executive Chef Urs Schmid.

 

Fun and Educational

The attractions at Moody Gardens are not only tons of fun, but they are also educational. When venturing through the Aquarium Pyramid, you and your family learn all about the penguins, seals, and other sea creatures. You can even get a personal experience with the penguins through the Penguin Encounter program. Other educational yet exciting attractions are the Rainforest Pyramid and Discovery Museum.

 

Location

Moody Gardens is located on Galveston Island, one of the more-popular vacation destinations in Texas. Situated right on the Gulf of Mexico, when you stay at Moody Gardens Hotel, you experience all that Galveston has to offer.

 

Start planning your next family weekend getaway in Texas at Moody Gardens! Once you plan your vacation with us, you’ll realize why we are one of the best places to stay in Galveston. You look forward to seeing you soon!

Moody Gardens Offers Year-Round Fun

Screen Shot 2013-01-09 at 4.57.21 PMAt Moody Gardens, we are not a seasonal attraction that is only open certain times of the year. The fun here is nonstop and year-round! While we do have seasonal attractions, such as Palm Beach and Festival of Lights, we also have our popular Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid, and tons of events each month.

 

If you do happen to come during the winter or summer seasons, you can’t miss the Festival of Lights or Palm Beach. The Festival of Lights includes over 1 million holiday lights, and is the largest holiday lights festival in the area! Palm Beach opens in the summer, providing guests and island residents with Galveston’s only white sand beach!

 

Year- round attractions you can’t miss include:

  • Aquarium Pyramid
  • Penguin Encounter
  • Rainforest Pyramid
  • Discovery Museum
  • Colonel Paddlewheel Boat

 

Moody Gardens also offers three different theaters that provide unique cinematic experiences. Catch your next film at the Moody Gardens 3D Theater, Ridefilm Theater, or the 4D Special FX Theater.  Each theatre provides a different kind of experience, from a regular 3D viewing to a ride featuring a 180-degree wraparound screen!

 

Be sure to stay up to date with our Calendar of Events. Each month we have Birding 101 and Birding 201. These free classes are designed to teach visitors about the variety of bird life living on Galveston Island. The classes are presented by Moody Gardens and Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council and available twice a month.

 

We also offer Pyramid Camp for kids each month, with a variety of different themes. Sign your kids up for Pyramid Kids Camp: Catch Me If You Can in February or Pyramid Kids Camp: Primate Palooza in April!

 

Learn more about the fun at Moody Gardens by exploring our website.

 

If you’re looking for family weekend getaways in Texas, book your next trip at the Moody Gardens Hotel. We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

Galveston Area Attractions

dv801006Obviously, the most popular attraction in Galveston is Moody Gardens. Our Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, Golf Course, and more have been attracting locals and island visitors for years. However, while we are proud of Moody Gardens there are other great attractions to visit while vacationing (or living) in Galveston.

 

Galveston Island Ferry: The ferry is one of Galveston’s most popular attractions. The ferry is on Highway 87, and visitors can park and ride the ferry or drive their cars aboard. The ferries are free and run about every fifteen to twenty minutes.

 

Pier 21 Theater: Want to learn more about Galveston’s rich history, or the historical hurricane in 1900? The Great Storm is a multimedia presentation that gives visitors a look at the devastating storm through a multi-image documentary. The 27-minute film shows the story through actual accounts from diaries and letters of survivors.

 

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: The famous pier is the perfect spot to take your family for a fun-filled day while you’re in Galveston. The pier has been transformed into an amusement park, with tons of rides that soar over the Gulf of Mexico. There are also plenty of shops and famous restaurants, such as Bubba Gump Shrimp.

 

Seawolf Park: This historic park is a memorial to the USS Seawolf, which was a United States Navy submarine mistakenly sunk by U.S. Navy Forces during World War II. The park also has a popular picnic area, and you and your family can fish off of the well-maintained pier.

 

These attractions are only a handful of the fun experiences you can have in Galveston. Don’t forget to spend a day on the beaches, hang out along the Seawall, or go shopping in the Strand. To learn more about Galveston and what it has to offer visit www.galveston.com.

 

If you’re looking for family weekend getaways in Texas, then look no further than Galveston Island. Moody Gardens Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Galveston, and one of the best places for entertainment! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Dining Options at Moody Gardens

Screen Shot 2012-12-21 at 12.04.18 PMMoody Gardens is known for its educational and recreational attractions, such as the Rainforest Pyramid and Aquarium Pyramid, but did you know that we also have quite a few delicious dining options? When you come for the fun, don’t miss out on the food as well.

 

At the Moody Gardens Hotel, we have the privilege of serving food artfully prepared by Galveston Island’s most celebrated chef, Executive Chef Urs Schmid. Chef Urs and his culinary team use only the finest and freshet ingredients to create our exquisite cuisine. Join us for a memorable meal at Shearn’s Restaurant or The Terrace Restaurant.

 

Shearn’s Restaurant

If you’re on the hunt for Galveston’s finest dining, then you have found the right place! Shearn’s Restaurant is located on the ninth floor of the Moody Gardens hotel, and its cuisine and service can’t be beat.  Locals come to Shearn’s Restaurant to enjoy the entrées and the upscale ambiance. Come taste Chef Urs signature dishes such as the lobster bisque or shrimp DeJonghe for yourself! Join us for dinner Tuesday through Saturday in dressy casual attire. Sorry, but no jeans, shorts, or tank tops allowed.

 

During the afternoon and evening, enjoy a cocktail in Shearn’s Lounge. Surrounded by views of the pyramids and Galveston Bay sunsets, it’s the perfect location for an evening drink.

 

The Terrace Restaurant

Dine in a location designed to bring the outdoors inside. You’ll be surrounded by tropical plants, hand-painted murals, hand-painted stained ceilings, and magnificent butterflies when you enjoy a meal at the Terrace Restaurant. The Terrace Restaurant can be found on the lobby level of the Moody Gardens Hotel and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bring your family in to try the best gumbo in Galveston! Kids also eat free at the Terrace Restaurant when you stay in the hotel!

 

Join us at Moody Gardens for your next special occasion or family weekend getaways in Texas.

 

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