Great Texas Getaway: Kemah Boardwalk Near Houston
School is out. Summer is here, and getaways are on the menu! My brother-in-law is the king of spontaneity. His family has been frequenting the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, TX for the past five years, and it is one of their favorite destinations for a quick getaway because there is something for everyone to enjoy. We had the privilege of joining his family on a last minute getaway.
The beauty of the Kemah Boardwalk is that there is really something for the whole family. There are thrill rides, arcade games, dancing fountains, and ample shopping. Located just 30 minutes southeast of Houston, this hidden getaway makes a great day trip, or a weekend getaway.
Kemah Boardwalk Beauty
The Kemah Boardwalk is situated on 40 acres of land on the west side of Trinity Bay. You can walk up and down the boardwalk and enjoy the water views while watching boats sail in the bay. With all of the entertainment right on the water, it's really a very beautiful place to be.
Thrill Rides
What would a boardwalk be without thrill rides?! Set up like a traveling fair, this stationary playground will please even the greatest thrill seekers. If you think it looks fun during the day time, you should check it out at night when it's all lit up! It's quite a sight. Check out the ride list here: Kemah Boardwalk ride list. You can purchase tickets per ride, or you can buy an all day ride pass, which if you're planning on riding more than five rides, is a great value.
They even have a wooden roller coaster if you're looking for some high speed thrills!
Not to worry, there are also several rides for your younger thrill seekers...just tamed down a bit! Isn't this double-decker carousel beautiful?
Kemah Boardwalk Shopping & Dining
My girls opted for shopping over riding and had a ball. At the other end of the boardwalk, near the Boardwalk Inn, there are fun shops to browse and enjoy. All of the restaurants looked amazing. We enjoyed our evening meal at The Pizza Oven.
Also within walking distance is a restaurant called T-Bone Tom's Steakhouse that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Wow! This place was amazing!
It heated up pretty quickly on the boardwalk, so my girls were very thankful for the dancing fountains to play in and cool off. We had it pretty much to ourselves on Sunday morning, but as the day progressed, the crowds showed up and so did hours of live entertainment!
Live bands played all afternoon, and then in the evening an amazing stunt man showed up and wowed us with his fire juggling stunts and tricks. He was incredible!
Stingray Reef & Aquarium
A highlight of our day was feeding the stingrays at the aquarium on the boardwalk. These stingrays were HUGE and it was so fun to watch the girls bravely stick their hands in the water and wait for the stingrays to "kiss" their hands and take the fish they offered.
If you're looking for a family fun getaway along the Texas coast, the Kemah Boardwalk is a great destination.
What's your favorite Texas coast getaway?
Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.