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Places of Interest - Crystal Beach and Bolivar Peninsula

Bolivar Beach Flats
Drive East on Hwy 87 from the ferry landing to the junction of Loop 108 and Hwy 87. Turn towards the Gulf of Mexico. You will come to a wide, flat expanse of beach that has very little surf and shallow water making it ideal for small children. One can find interesting shells - perhaps an olive or a wentletrap - certain times of the year. This area is called "The Flats" and is an excellent place to observe many differnt species of water fowl. It is a natural nesting ground and feeding area.
In the '60s, migrant fishermen would move to the "flats" to spend the summer living out on the beach and working their 2000 foot nets to bring in the catch of the day, hundreds of speckled trout! Also in the nets were dozens of live crabs, sting-rays, mullet, poagies, sharks. That event was one of the highlights of the day for the summer visitors. You could take all the crabs  were willing to rescue out of the nets, without getting pinched!!. (Now those nets are unlawful!)


Fishing and Crabbing at the North Jetty
The North Jetty is about 1-1/2 miles East of the Ferry Landing. This granite rock jetty extends several miles into the Gulf of Mexico The first 200 yards is a paved walkway. To get beyond that point, you must climb over the granite rocks. There is a small boat cut about one mile from shore. You can usually catch a good mess of crabs and most of the year the fishing is good.   How to clean a crab


Take a Ferryboat Ride
At the ferry landing, you can leave your car in the parking lot and walk on the ferry for a ride across the bay. Bring a loaf of bread or a package of crackers, the children will delight in feeding the seagulls. This must be done at the back of the boat only. Bring a pair of binoculars to get a close look at the passing ships.You have a good chance of spotting some dolphins playing alongside the boat. And people watching is a great sport for all ages! When you get to the Galveston side, stay on board for the return trip to Bolivar.


A Day in Galveston
Spend a day in Galveston browsing on the Strand. There are blocks and blocks of intriguing shops and gourmet restaurants. See the stately Bishop's Palace on Broadway. The Railroad Museum is a whimsical delight. On the ship channel near the elegant Harbor House Hotel is the old sailing ship "Elissa".
Visit Moody Gardens Discover a ten story Rainforest Pyramid with over 2,000 species of exotic plants, animals and butterflies from Asia, Africa and the Americas. At the IMAX, (on the Moody grounds), see images in 3-D that leap off the screen to the awesome sensation of IMAX digital sound. In the same rotunda enjoy gourmet meals with spectacular nightly Dancing Waters fountain displays at the Garden Restaurant.The museum shop has nature inspired gifts from around the world.There are acres of gardens and jogging trails to explore. Daily cruises aboard the luxurious Colonel Paddlewheel Boat leave from the dock there. The children will especially enjoy Palm Beach at Moody Gardens, with a massive freshwater swimming pool with sandy beach surrounding it. Most of it is shallow water. There are lawn chairs, umbrellas and a concession stand. Great!



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