The island
11:00 AM
Everything on this end of the island is a bike ride from the porch
The inn sits in the East End, between the old harbor streets and the Gulf. Six bikes wait by the side gate, free for guests.
Close by
What is near the inn?
Four places guests ask about before anything else, and one street they find on their own.
The East End Historic District
The inn sits inside it. The district covers about 150 acres and more than 550 buildings, and it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1976. Most of the houses are Victorian, with a few Greek Revival survivors.
The Strand
The old commercial street by the harbor, about half a mile from the inn. Its Victorian buildings hold shops, galleries and restaurants now.
The Seawall
Built from 1902 to 1904 after the 1900 Storm, and extended ever since. It now runs for more than 10 miles along the Gulf, and the beach is a short bike ride from our porch.
The Bolivar ferry
It is free and it runs 24 hours a day. The crossing is 2.7 miles and takes about 18 minutes each way.
Dickens on The Strand
December 4 to 6, 2026, the 53rd year of the festival. Rooms for that weekend are the first to go. See the weekend.
What is on the island's calendar?
| When | What | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| December 4 to 6, 2026 | Dickens on The Strand | The 53rd year. Friday evening is free, and Saturday and Sunday are ticketed. |
| January 29 to 31, 2027 | Mardi Gras! Galveston, first weekend | Parades downtown and along the Seawall. |
| February 5 to 7, 2027 | Mardi Gras! Galveston, second weekend | Fat Tuesday follows on February 9, 2027. |
| June 1 to November 30 | Hurricane season | A hurricane warning for the island during your dates means a full refund. |
| Every day | The Bolivar ferry | Free, and it runs 24 hours a day. |
The name
Why is Galveston called the Oleander City?
The name has been in print since at least 1874. That January the Galveston Daily News suggested that Oleander City suited the town better than Island City.
The streets were lined with oleanders then, and many still are. Ours bloom pink along the front fence from spring into fall.
Getting around
How do guests get around?
Most guests park once and leave the car until they go home.
By bicycle
Six cruisers with baskets and locks wait by the side gate. They are free for guests, first come.
On foot
The East End is flat and shaded, and the porches are worth the walk on their own.
By car
Leave it in the gated lot behind the house. You will want it for the west end of the island.
By ferry
Walk on or drive on at the east end of the island. The crossing to the Bolivar Peninsula is 2.7 miles and takes about 18 minutes.
The island, answered
How far is the beach from the inn?
A short bike ride. The Seawall runs along the Gulf side of the island, south of the inn.
Are the bikes free?
Yes. Six cruisers with baskets and locks are free for guests, first come.
Do I need a car in Galveston?
Not for the East End, The Strand or the nearest beach. You will want one for the west end of the island.
Is the Bolivar ferry free?
Yes. It is free and it runs 24 hours a day. The crossing is 2.7 miles and takes about 18 minutes each way.
Your dates
Ask for your dates
Pick an arrival day, the number of nights and a room. The innkeeper replies the same day.
Rates are samples for this demo and are before tax. See rates and policies.