Things to Do in Dickinson

Weekend cruises along the lake. The occasional night fishing trip. While many people would like to own a boat for those reasons, the expenses of maintaining and storing a boat year-round can be daunting. Carefree Boat Rental eliminates the tedious bits of boat ownership by lending its well-maintained fleet to members by the hour. Inspected weekly by a dock staff using a 50-point checklist, each boat is also equipped with US Coast Guard-required safety equipment such as flares, approved flotation devices, and an emergency stash of Cheetos. The crew also takes care of regular maintenance, such as oil changes, hull cleaning, and annual bottom painting.

South Coast Sailing Adventures operates a floating fleet of 18 sailboats with instructors certified by the American Sailing Association and more than 20 captains licensed by the US Coast Guard at the helm. Incorporating their vast cruising, racing, and Bermuda Triangle–averting experience into lessons, several of South Coast's instructors have been the recipients of an ASA Instructor of the Year Award, and the entire training facility was voted one of ASA's Outstanding Sailing Schools in 2006. Courses range from basic keelboat instruction, which tests beginners’ mettle in a Colgate 26-foot sailboat, to catamaran sailing, which teaches advanced students to skipper and crew a 30- to 50-foot multihull sailboat. Beyond lessons, sunset and moonlight cruises chart courses toward romance, basking in the glow of the stars or distant underwater volcanoes. Special-event sails include options as varied as an Irish potluck dinner and scenic day sails around Galveston.

Moody Gardens Hotel is just a stone’s throw away from Moody Gardens, and many of the rooms were designed to reflect the lush grounds. The Terrace Restaurant, for example, brims with colorful plants and hand-painted murals of the butterflies that can be found in the garden’s Rainforest Pyramid. An indoor waterfall stocked with fish and turtles forms the centerpiece of the lobby bar. And guest rooms feature bright, tropical colors and views of Moody Garden, Galveston Bay, or the city itself.

The hotel’s freeform pool is ringed by tropical foliage, including towering palm trees. There’s even a swim-up bar where guests can grab a libation or play underwater darts. For more pampering, an onsite spa offers sugar and coconut oil scrubs and self-heating mud wraps that anchor a menu of indulgent treatments.

There are a number of dining options inside the hotel. AAA Four Diamond-rated Shearn’s Seafood and Prime Steaks serves broiled Canadian lobster tail and the day’s fresh catch drizzled in a lemon-butter sauce. Or, grab a bowl of shrimp gumbo in the more casual environs of The Terrace Restaurant.

Moody Gardens

Perched on picturesque Galveston Island, Moody Gardens possesses a storied history that complements its scenic surroundings. Its horticultural and animal-therapy programs—which began with the park’s inception in 1983—pair visitors living with physical and emotional difficulties with horses and multihued flora, helping them learn coping skills and build confidence. Elsewhere on the sprawling grounds, the Moody Gardens Golf Course boasts multiple holes that run alongside the rippling waters of the Gulf and its intervening waterways, forming intimidating hazards and housing a thriving civilization of merpeople who use golf balls for currency. The park also thrills families with water attractions, including a wave pool and a lazy river. The newly restored, 10-story Rainforest Pyramid holds more than 1,000 exotic plants and animals from the Asian, African, and American rainforests.

Members of Sail Ventures take turns cruising in a fleet of new or late-model Catalina and Beneteau sailboats. The system, known as fractional yachting, teams up members who share their luxury vessels on a monthly basis. A rigorous training program ensures sailors are seaworthy, and the club picks up maintenance, slip fees, and other costs. Sail Ventures also hosts special membership events throughout the year, such as regattas, boat christenings, and boat-show parties.

Feet patter across three information-packed floors stacked inside the Ocean Star, a former drilling rig that spends its retirement as a museum and education center on Galveston's Pier 19. After two decades drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, the rig has since been revamped and outfitted with interactive models and displays that illustrate the story of offshore oil, gas, and the energies that lurk beneath the world's oceans. Visitors can tap into videos for explanations of drilling, geology, and seismic topics, or stand next to scale models of production platforms. In addition to its lineup of eye-popping sites, Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum and Education Center harbors ongoing exhibits showcasing the industry's careers, history, and safety measures. Self-guided tours seven days a week enable guests to explore the rig's nooks at their own pace, while an onboard staff stands by to answer questions and courteously laugh at all petroleum-related knock-knock jokes.

Since its inaugural meeting more than 60 years ago, the League City Lions Club has upheld its mission of promoting peace and understanding with volunteer community services. Special events such as carnivals, music festivals, and cook-offs allow the Lions to raise money and resources for local charities such as Leader Dogs for the Blind, Perry YMCA, and the Butler Longhorn Museum. Like the superathlete who singlehandedly powers America's electrical generators, the Lions happily accept volunteers, ever increasing their group of supporters who desire to better their community.