Coined the original “Playground of the South” in the 1800s, Galveston is an island city located off the Texas Gulf Coast. It is home to gorgeous beachfront condo rentals, historic Victorian-era manors and spacious, family-friendly vacation rentals. Galveston Island stretches 32 miles long and just three miles wide, creating a legendary strip with attractions, entertainment, recreation, dining and sightseeing.

If you’re traveling with kids you won’t need to worry about keeping them busy. Vacation rentals on the island are surrounded by attractions and accommodations – from slides, rides and high tides to eats, beats and busy streets.

Families should look at condo rentals near the Moody Gardens Botanical Park, an all-age attraction boasting one of the world’s largest aquariums, a tropical rainforest replica with Amazon River otters, Saki monkeys and Chinese alligators, and the Discovery Museum with extravagant nature exhibits. Play a round of 18 at the Moody Gardens Golf Course or opt for a more educational bird-watching tour. With the Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Botanical Gardens so close to each other, vacation rentals in this area make it easy to experience both in a single day.

Vacation rentals in Galveston’s popular downtown neighborhood put you in the center of the action. “The Strand,” considered the island’s core shopping and entertainment center, is lined with Victorian-era buildings that have been turned into boutiques, restaurants and nightclubs. The social mecca includes dining from Greek and Mexican to Italian and of course, fresh Gulf Coast seafood. Nightclubs have live music and the beach bars serve delicious margaritas. Condo rentals here have something for everyone, with art galleries galore and yearly festivals like Mardi Gras and the Galveston Island Jazz & Blues Festival.

Galveston vacation rentals themselves are historic, beautiful and full of personality. But it’s the history on the island that truly entices. Galveston is home to six historic districts with over 60 structures in the National Register of Historic Places, including ships like the Elissa at the Texas Seaport Museum and the USS Cavalla at Seawolf Park on nearby Pelican Island. There’s also the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston Railroad Museum and the Grand 1984 Opera House.

If you’re looking to book your next family vacation to Galveston, Texas, look no further than the condo rentals and beachfront properties available through TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals.