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With an arching roundabout arrival leading to a white staircase to the lavish lobby entrance, The San Luis has the style and sophistication of “The Great Gatsby” on the Texas south coast.
The San Luis Resort is a Landry’s, Inc. property, pristinely located on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston, TX. Landry’s is a food and beverage company with a knack for hospitality. Hospitality is personal for founder, Tilman Feritta, a Galveston native. The San Luis Resort and Spa is welcoming to families with children of all ages- and parents who behave like kids. But it also appeals to adults seeking a relaxing, peaceful vacation.
Room Booking
Prime season at The San Luis Resort is Spring break through August. 2022 is lining up to be the busiest leisure-travel season ever, so booking early is highly recommended, especially if you require adjoining rooms. An option that worked well for my family was booking a VIP corner suite at The San Luis Resort and Spa.
The VIP suite offers a large living room with fold-out sofa bed, dining table, balcony, and full bathroom. It connects to a room with a king bed, balcony, and full bathroom. The suite allowed our children to have their own space to play, kick, snore, and bother each other– without bothering my husband and me as we slept like rocks on the other side of the wall.
Resort Activities
A few of the kids’ activities that the San Luis provides daily are lawn games, arts & crafts, a scavenger hunt, family movie night on the lawn, and 5pm s’mores. The pool is temperature-controlled, so rain or shine; winter, spring, summer or fall- your children can splish splash in the pool. And you can watch them in the warm, relaxing hot tub or from a seat at the swim-up bar.
Beach Vibes
As mentioned, the location of The San Luis is impeccable. It’s directly across the street from the Gulf of Mexico. Sitting on your balcony, listening to the waves crash may be one of the most soothing parts of your getaway (especially if you have kids and you’re used to hearing video game cacophony). But you won’t want to just witness the beach from afar. Pack life jackets, boogie boards, sunscreen, and towels and walk across Seawall Boulevard to splash in the ocean. We got into a wet sand throwing/rubbing “mud pie” match. I considered it a free exfoliation.
Grotto
After soaking in vitamin D all day, your whole family is sure to be hungry. Being a Landry’s property, there are no shortage of restaurant options. We chose Grotto, the resort’s award-winning Italian restaurant. For one, I knew they’d have pizza. My kids may snub their noses up at every other dietary option, but never will they ever turn down pizza. For another, I stayed at the San Luis in 2019, and still remembered the warm Italian bread with herbs and high-quality olive oil that Grotto served before the meal. (This bread, alone, was part of my desire to revisit the property).
Pleasure Pier
After checkout at The San Luis Resort and Spa, you may not be ready to head back home. We weren’t. A few miles down Seawall Boulevard, Landry’s, Inc. has another property: Pleasure Pier. Pleasure Pier amusement park has rides, midway games, retail shops, and food. The Shark rollercoaster is a steel coaster with a freefall and several 360 turns. It will thrill any thrillseeker over 48” tall. There are much slower rides for children who prefer more carousel-kind-of-fun. Commemorate your Pleasure Pier experience with a caricature or family photo.
Bubba Likes It
If you need one last hoorah before braving the Houston traffic and driving home, grab a bite at Texas’s first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, located at the entrance of Pleasure Pier. They offer happy hour from 3pm-6pm Monday through Friday. After all the Family Fun in the Sun, this may be just what a parent needs most.
The San Luis Resort and Spa is located at 5222 Seawall Blvd Galveston, TX 77551. Reservations can be made at sanluisresort.com or 800-392-5937.
Pleasure Pier is located at 2501 Seawall Blvd Galveston, TX 77551.
Tickets can be purchased at pleasurepier.com.
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Cover photo courtesy Landry’s Inc.
Brook Benten Jimenez, M.Ed., is a mother and fitness professional in Austin, TX. Her blog at BrookBenten.com aims to “help other mothers lift the motherload.” See here to experience more of Brook’s fitness + family fun at The San Luis Resort. Instagram @BrookBenten