some love ❤️ for Galveston (Houston, Panhandle: crime, home, organic)

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Right it shouldn't be seen as anything more than it is. The best way to describe it is it's not pretentious.

That's not what I meant at all. Just because a city is beautiful and well planned doesn't make it pretentious.

[Texyn]

I will say that the murky water of the island does have a warping effect on the perception. It is a phenomenon I call "The Galveston Warp."

What happens is that the utter shock of seeing such brownness in the water interferes with the analytical/sensory processes of the body. This causes abnormal sensation and worry of beach "ickiness," that would otherwise be ignored if the water were turquoise and clear, and further impedes critical-thinking skills, causing people to construe all sorts of fallacies.

As a result, you have unending complaints about Galveston's seaweed, flesh-eating bacteria, syringes, jellyfish, etc, even though such features manifest on every beach from time to time. It is also why so many nonsensical claims about the island are present (i.e. too much pollution/oil refineries, cesspool, etc).

The sand is an aspect most affected by this phenomenon. Many will argue that "brown sand" causes Galveston to be unattractive, despite the fact that:
1.) Galveston's natural sand isn't brown at all.

2.) Brown sand in and of itself doesn't make a beach unattractive, because of the wide variety of colors beach sands can come in.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Gunion Powder

That's not what I meant at all. Just because a city is beautiful and well planned doesn't make it pretentious.

I think it has more to do with the attitude and culture behind it. After living in CA for several years there is an attitude with some aspects of the beach culture in the coastal towns here.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Texyn

I will say that the murky water of the island does have a warping effect on the perception. It is a phenomenon I call "The Galveston Warp."

What happens is that the utter shock of seeing such brownness in the water interferes with the analytical/sensory processes of the body. This causes abnormal sensation and worry of beach "ickiness," that would otherwise be ignored if the water were turquoise and clear, and further impedes critical-thinking skills, causing people to construe all sorts of fallacies.

As a result, you have unending complaints about Galveston's seaweed, flesh-eating bacteria, syringes, jellyfish, etc, even though such features manifest on every beach from time to time. It is also why so many nonsensical claims about the island are present (i.e. too much pollution/oil refineries, cesspool, etc).

The sand is an aspect most affected by this phenomenon. Many will argue that "brown sand" causes Galveston to be unattractive, despite the fact that:
1.) Galveston's natural sand isn't brown at all.

2.) Brown sand in and of itself doesn't make a beach unattractive, because of the wide variety of colors beach sands can come in.

Very interesting points. Yes, I think if the water were more blue the town wouldn't be called all sorts of disgusting things.

[marcopolo2000]

In terms of Texas coastal cities, I would take Galveston over the others any day. The beaches aren't nice but Galveston offers a lot more to see and do than Corpus, SPI, etc. No beach in Texas is what I'd consider great. Sure Padre Island is better than Galveston's beaches but not really worth that extra drive.

[radiolibre99]

What is considered the Texas Riviera?

[Texyn]

Originally Posted by marcopolo2000

In terms of Texas coastal cities, I would take Galveston over the others any day. The beaches aren't nice but Galveston offers a lot more to see and do than Corpus, SPI, etc.

Yes, Galveston has the greatest amount of amenities over all the Texas shoreline cities; very interesting historical fabric (lb for lb), quite uncommon in Texas.

Originally Posted by marcopolo2000

No beach in Texas is what I'd consider great. Sure Padre Island is better than Galveston's beaches but not really worth that extra drive.

The South Texas beaches are indeed fantastic, no mistake about it:
1.) Thanks to a far south latitude, warm winter temperatures and SSTs, have a longer reliable window of enjoyable comfort compared to all other continental US beaches outside of peninsular Florida. Just look at this past week, for instance: North Florida and the Panhandle dealt with freezing low temps (down to the 20s in parts), and 50s/60s for highs, while South Texas stayed in the 70s and 80s.

2.) Warm weather allows great tropical landscaping rare in much of the continental US, adding flavor to the beach scene.

The water definitely is a turquoise blue in South Texas, so in reality, the only difference between aesthetics in areas like SPI, and those of the Panhandle FL beaches is the sand color (a factor that can vary so much from beach to beach, that the aesthetics aren't linear). Galveston's beaches are exactly like these South Texas beaches, just that the water is murky.

[texas7]

I don't find south Texas beaches to be that great, they're nice but I don't put them at great. And, they certainly don't compare with Florida panhandle beaches.

The water isn't turquoise until you go to Mexico ,- what the water does have is clarity. I find it to be very similar to Galveston color with the major exception being that it's clear in south Texas where Galveston isn't clear. The sand is the same mud consistency of Galveston but a slightly lighter brown. Would I do I've to south padre for their beach? Probably not again.

[rbheeler]

I love Galveston. You can get a good meal, stroll along the Strand or Postoffice Street, go hear some music at the Old Quarter, go see the Elissa, think about the Great Storm, and enjoy walking on the beach and listening to the waves too. (I like Jamaica Beach the best.) No, it's not the Pacific Ocean, but who cares. It's our beach.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Very interesting points. Yes, I think if the water were more blue the town wouldn't be called all sorts of disgusting things.

Maybe I made the mistake of taking a trip to Galveston not long after I had visited Miami Beach. Two completely different experiences for sure.