8 of the Best Resorts in Galveston With a Lazy River - The Family Vacation Guide (2024)

posted byCharmaine Corteson August 2, 2023// last updated on August 2, 2023

Are you ready for your next vacation? Choose a destination with endless history, beaches, lazy rivers, and beautiful resorts. Galveston proudly boasts the motto, “It’s island time,” and if you’re unfamiliar with the phrase, that means it’s time to kick back, relax, and forget your worries! This town covers over 32 miles of sandy beaches.

Galveston in Texas has something for everyone, whether you’re into art, shopping, ghost tours, or simply tanning next to the water. It’s a prime destination for those hot and sweaty months of the year.

Featuring beautiful escapes, Galveston offers several resorts with lazy rivers to cool off from the heat. When you’re on island time, a day spent at the beach soaking your toes in the water is never hard to come by. Here is a list of the best resorts with lazy rivers.

Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center

Staying at the Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center will truly introduce you to a paradise. Besides being a resort, this place offers significantly more than your average hotel.

One of this resort’s unique qualities is the access to the boat dock for guests. Travel to the Moody Gardens via water with no problem. You won’t have to struggle through traffic when bringing your boat to the resort!

Aside from the luxurious stay at this resort, guests can also indulge themselves in an array of unique water experiences, all on-site!

These unforgettable attractions include the Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, Discovery Museum, 3D and 4D theaters, Audience Recognition Theater, and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat ride. Guests and visitors get a unique hands-on experience at these exhibits, and people of every age will enjoy them!

In the Aquarium Pyramid, visitors will interact with and even pet penguins and river otters. Guests can also touch coral reefs in the Coral Reef lab and watch beautiful animals swim by in the aquarium.

When guests come to the Rainforest Pyramid, they can explore the “rainforest.” Birds roam and fly freely outside for guests to view and take pictures of all the different species home in the rainforest. The exhibit also features exotic plants and endangered species of the rainforest, which is on a whole new level of an interactive experience.

Another attraction enjoyed by guests is the Discovery Museum. This museum provides an interactive journey through the power of music. While enjoying this immersive experience, guests can head over to the 3D and 4D theaters, fully feeling the effects of being in the movie! In the Audience Recognition Theater, everything comes alive in a whole new way. People from the audience can participate in the show while watching with glasses!

Guests can explore more around the ocean after spending time on land at the other exhibits. The Colonel Paddlewheel Boat provides a calming 45-minute boat ride along the Gulf Coast. The boat is open for dinner cruises and events as well.

Hilton Galveston Island Resort

Hilton Galveston Island Resort overlooks the ocean and is within walking distance from the beach. After stepping foot on the sand, guests can cool off at the lazy river pool.

The hotel provides guests with two different dining rooms without leaving the comfort of the resort. The dining rooms show off the beautiful scenery of the oasis just waiting for exploration. The hotel is also within walking distance from the City Center and Grand 1984 Opera House!

The San Luis Resort Spa and Conference Center

Part of the San Luis Resort experience is endless shopping trips, a visit to the Cove, restaurants, and an easy walking distance from the several attractions Galveston Island has to offer.

Without leaving the resort, stores are right at your doorstep. Enjoy retail therapy while on vacation with another form of relaxation. This resort is just an eleven-minute drive to the Moody Gardens, where you can find yourself soaking up the water in the lazy river. You won’t get bored with the endless amenities in the resort right at your fingertips.

Casa Del Mar Beachfront Suites Onsite Team

Although this hotel doesn’t have a lazy river, it’s within walking distance of Moody Gardens. This resort is in the perfect location for any type of vacation activity, ranging from the various beaches in Galveston to the national parks.

The location is in the center of all the action for visitors to explore the beach town of Galveston. There’s no need to take the time to drive and park as almost everything on the island is within three miles. Talk about convenience!

Commodore on the Beach

When staying at the Commodore on the Beach, you overlook the Gulf of Mexico and have your own private balcony to admire the ocean waves passing by.

Another perk to staying at this resort is the location of the Seawall. The Seawall has restaurants within walking distance from the hotel and bike rentals just around the corner to save yourself from walking. The resort is also only a 13-minute drive to Moody Gardens’ lazy river!

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Galveston Beach Resort

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Galveston Beach Resort is true to its name. Once you are off the hotel property, your toes meet the sand immediately. This perfect location provides visitors the convenience of being a mere 11 minutes away from the lazy river in Moody Gardens.

Guests are just a drive around the corner to the historical district of Galveston as well. Galveston’s Historic Strand includes so many activities, stores, and restaurants to dine in. All the buildings in this historic district are more than a century old, and with just a glance at their architecture, you’ll feel as if you’re in another time.

The kind of stores are unique and range from antique, art galleries and souvenir shops. If you’re looking to treat yourself to a sweet confection, tourists enjoy getting their sweet goodies at La King’s Confectionery.

After you stop for a sweet treat, make sure you check out some of Galveston’s attractions, including Ocean Star Offshore Energy Center and Museum, the Texas Seaport Museum, the tall ship Elissa, and Pier 21 Theater.

Diamond Beach Luxury Suites by Ab Sea Resorts

The Diamond Beach Luxury Suites by Ab Sea Resorts is located at the end of Historic Seawall Boulevard. This location allows guests to explore the many Galveston attractions just in the backyard of where they are staying. These activities are free for guests of the hotel. Some of the activities include:

• 61st Street Fishing Pier
• Schlitterbahn Galveston Water Park
• Escape the Island- Galveston Escape Rooms
• Galveston’s Historical Ghost Tour

And of course, it’s just a 9-minute drive to the lazy river at Moody Gardens!

Hampton Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn & Suites just takes one step off the hotel property to touch the sand and is walking distance from the Galveston Seawall. There’s no such thing as being bored in Galveston with endless shopping, museums, and restaurants to explore.

When guests are ready to cool off, the Moody Gardens’ lazy river is only a 10-minute drive away from their stay. There is nothing quite like ending the day lounging in the lazy river.

Conclusion

With so many unique and luxurious resort options, it’s clear Galveston isn’t just known for its charm and extensive historical background as a town. This town contains the perfect amount of relaxation and luxury to practice self-care and treating yourself to the finer things.

Although Galveston has an extensive chunk of land dedicated to the beach, one of the most exciting activities enjoyed in this Texas town is the Moody Gardens’ lazy river. Guests of all ages will enjoy this long stretch of water and soak up the sun’s rays while lounging peacefully along the lane.