Fort Travis Seashore Park
Port Bolivar, TX
Fort Travis Seashore Park sits right where the Bolivar ferry lands, a free 60 acre county park built around turn of the century military batteries constructed in 1898 and 1899. Locals come here for the history and the view of the ship channel more than for swimming, walking the grounds between the old gun emplacements and picnicking on the grassy fields.
A genuinely worthwhile, free history stop right off the ferry, though it's a walking and picnicking spot rather than a beach day.
How we score beachesTime a visit around the ferry schedule. It's an easy stop right as you roll off the boat from Galveston, before continuing down the peninsula to Crystal Beach.
Parking is free, with the park open eight in the morning until eight at night and the gates closing automatically.
Flat, open grounds connect the picnic areas and historic batteries, an easy walk from the parking area.
Cooler months make the walking and history more comfortable, while summer heat with little shade can make the grounds feel exposed. Hurricane season runs June through November.
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