Want to get out of your rut, and try somewhere new and different for your family vacation? Then pack your bags, and make your way to Galveston, Texas.

Visitors of all ages will love the variety of entertainment found in Galveston, from historical and architectural gems to trains, ships and oilrigs. For example, architectural and cultural treasures such as The Grand 1894 Opera House, Ashton Villa and The Bishop’s Palace provide glimpses of life as it was lived long ago.

Given the damage and neglect The Grand sustained through the years, it’s quite a feat to have it restored to its original glory. Today, The Grand hosts a wide array of shows including opera, musicals and drama.

Both Ashton Villa and The Bishop’s Palace reflect the grand architecture of the 1800s that afforded the wealthy true showcases to call home. Built in 1859, Ashton Villa was one of Texas’ first brick mansions, and it incorporated many modern conveniences of the day, such as indoor plumbing and “gasolier” lighting. Today, visitors can see how the family of James Moreau Brown lived, thanks to the many family heirloom furnishings and paintings by Brown’s daughter Rebecca, known as “Miss Bettie.”

While The Bishop’s Palace also contains many “modern” conveniences, its more prominent features are the many beautiful fireplaces scattered around the home. Purchased by owner Col. Walter Gresham from around the world, the fireplaces actually served as the starting point for many of the rooms’ designs. Of course, the first notable feature of the home is its exterior, which was designed by Nicholas Clayton and constructed of native Texas granite, white limestone and red sandstone. The home holds many other architectural prizes as well (take special note of the dining room chandelier), so keep your eyes open.

At the Galveston Railroad Museum, guests both young and old will love roaming through a variety of train cars, including dining, mail and private cars. The museum also contains a wonderful display of model trains plus the largest railroad dining china exhibit in the country.

At the Texas Seaport Museum, visitors hear about the devastation of the 1900 hurricane that ravaged Galveston in “The Great Storm,” a haunting documentary that eerily echoes the more recent stories of Hurricane Katrina. The museum also is home to an immigration database, which contains information on more than 133,000 immigrants who entered the United States via Galveston.

A not-to-miss stop at the museum is the ELISSA, a three-masted, iron-hulled merchant barque built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland. During a tour of the vessel, visitors can try their hand at tying basic sailing knots, peruse some of ELISSA’s log books and even check out the officers’ quarters, which are amazingly small! The ship definitely stirs the imagination of all who board her.

Guests at the Ocean Star Drilling Rig & Museum get a first-hand look at a real drilling rig and learn how oil and gas are harvested from the sea. The museum includes interesting and informative exhibits, interactive displays and videos that appeal to all ages.

Yes, Galveston offers families quite a lot to explore, especially given this city is self-contained on an island. Of course, everything does seem bigger in Texas!

For more information or to plan your trip, visit www.galveston.com.