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Kemah, Texas: Where Fun Meets Adventure – Check Out The Best Things To Do And Places To Visit!

Summer is when the boardwalk and the bay both run at full tilt. The Crawfish Festival lands in spring and the boat parade closes the year. Halloween turns the whole of the boardwalk into something else for a month. The fishing and the sailing hold up in almost any month at all. You want a weekend with an event on it, whichever season you pick.

Are you planning a trip to Kemah, Texas and looking for the things to do and places to visit? Look at what follows. Kemah is a coastal town 20 miles out of Houston, and it runs activities and attractions for every age that turns up.

One of the main attractions in Kemah is the Kemah Boardwalk, a run of amusement rides, carnival games, restaurants and shopping. If the water is what you came for, Kemah has boat tours, fishing charters and paddleboarding. And if marine life interests you, take the Aquarium Restaurant and the Stingray Reef, where the stingrays and the other sea creatures are within reach.

Kemah also runs dining from fresh seafood through to Tex-Mex cuisine, alongside boutiques and souvenir shops. And if history is the interest, take the Kemah Lighthouse and the town’s maritime heritage with it. Whether the trip is outdoors, cultural or simply slow, Kemah covers it.

Key Takeaways

• Kemah, Texas offers a wide range of fun activities and attractions for visitors of all ages.
• The Kemah Boardwalk is a must-visit destination, featuring amusement rides, carnival games, restaurants, and shopping.
• From water adventures to dining and shopping, Kemah has something for everyone.

The Magic of Kemah, Texas

You’re in for a good few days if you are planning a trip to Kemah, Texas. This town stays quieter on the lists than it deserves to. Located 30 miles south of Houston, Kemah runs small-town pace and big-city noise at once.

One of the main attractions in Kemah is the Kemah Boardwalk. This 60-acre amusement park carries dozens of rides, attractions and restaurants. Whether the want is a thrill ride or a slow walk along the waterfront, the Kemah Boardwalk has it.

If you want the slower version, head to the Kemah Lighthouse District. This historic district holds the town’s shops, restaurants and galleries. Take the tree-lined streets at walking pace and let the town do the rest.

For the local culture, take the Kemah Crawfish Festival. This annual event marks the town’s Cajun heritage with live music, food and a great deal of crawfish. It’s how you meet the people who live here.

If the outdoors is the draw, Kemah has the ground for it. Take a sunset cruise on Galveston Bay, fish off the pier, or rent a kayak and work the bayou. With this much country on the water, the days fill themselves.

In short, Kemah, Texas is a place worth finding. With its small-town pace, its attractions and the water around it, the reason travelers come from everywhere is not hard to see. So what is keeping you? Come and see why Kemah is one of Texas’s quieter successes.

Kemah Boardwalk: A World of Fun

If you are in Kemah, Texas, the Kemah Boardwalk is unavoidable. It’s where a day with family and friends goes. The boardwalk is a 42-acre mega-plex over the Galveston Bay, packed with attractions and rides that put you back to being a child.

One of the busier attractions on the boardwalk is the Ferris wheel. You can ride the towering Ferris wheel and take the bay from the top of it. The Ferris wheel suits couples after a quiet moment and families wanting the view together.

If you want the adrenaline, the rollercoaster rides on the boardwalk are the ones. The rollercoasters are not for the faint of heart, and they deliver exactly what they promise. If you want something slower, take a spin on the boardwalk’s carousel.

The boardwalk also runs carnival games that will test what you have. You can win prizes and bragging rights on Whac-A-Mole, Ring Toss and Balloon Darts. If you feel lucky, the boardwalk’s arcade games are next door.

In addition to the rides and games, the Kemah Boardwalk carries restaurants and shops. You can eat well on the waterfront and work through the retail stores. The boardwalk suits a family day out or an evening for two.

Overall, the Kemah Boardwalk is a day you should not skip. It’s among the busier attractions in Bay Area Houston, and the reason is obvious. So take the family and friends and give the boardwalk the day.

Water Adventures in Kemah

If you want the sun and the water, Kemah has plenty on offer. With Galveston Bay and Clear Lake both nearby, getting out on the water is easy. Here are the ways to take Kemah’s water:

Sail Away

Why stay on land when the open water is right there? Kemah runs sailboat charters, so you get the wind and the sun the way they were meant to arrive. Whether you have sailed for years or never at all, there is a charter that fits. So hoist the main sail and get out there.

Baywatch

If you would rather stay on the sand, a day on the bay is the answer. Kemah’s bay beaches run swimming, sunbathing and sandcastles in equal measure. And the calm water makes it work for families with young children.

Reel ‘Em In

For anybody who catches their own dinner, Kemah runs some of the finer fishing in Texas. With Galveston Bay and Clear Lake nearby, the redfish, the trout and the flounder are all there. And with this many fishing charters available, one of them will fit.

Boat Ride

If you want the water without the work, take a boat ride. Kemah runs boat tours from sunset cruises through to dolphin watching. So sit back and let the bay go past.

No matter how you take Kemah’s water, the day looks after itself. So grab the swimsuit, the sunscreen and some appetite for it.

Under the Sea: Aquarium Restaurant and More

If you want a meal you will remember in Kemah, the Aquarium Restaurant is it. This underwater-themed restaurant sits inside a dining room wrapped by a 50,000-gallon tank of stingrays and other aquatic life.

As you eat, the tank puts colorful fish and marine life on every side of you. The menu runs seafood, with land-based options for anybody who wants them.

But the Aquarium Restaurant is not only about the food. There’s an aquarium area where you get close to the residents, the stingrays and other amphibians among them.

So if you want a meal that is not like the others, head to the Aquarium Restaurant in Kemah. You will not regret it.

A Taste of Kemah: Food and Drink

You’re in Kemah, Texas, and it is time to eat. Luckily, this coastal town has the options to answer whatever the craving is. From seafood to ice cream, Kemah covers the range.

Let’s start with the seafood. Kemah runs several seafood restaurants, and if you want the one worth the detour, head to T-Bone Tom’s. This local favorite is known for its crab cakes and its oysters. Plus the room is lively, with live music and a large outdoor patio.

If you want something sweet, take one of the ice cream shops in town. Kemah Boardwalk runs a few, Baskin-Robbins and Marble Slab Creamery among them. But if you want something you have not had, head to Snowflake Donuts & Cafe for their snow ice. It’s shaved ice, except creamier and with more flavor in it.

Of course, no trip to Kemah is finished without waterfront dining. Many of the restaurants in town run waterfront seating, and Landry’s Seafood House is the pick of them. Not only are the views over the marina good, the seafood holds up. Try the shrimp and grits or the blackened redfish.

If you want a night out, Kemah has the options. Check the Boardwalk Beast, a high-speed boat ride that runs a tour of the bay. Or head to Voodoo Hut for live music and tropical drinks.

But if you want to come away with a skill, take a cooking class at The Art of Food. They run classes on everything from sushi making to pasta making. Plus you eat what you make.

In Kemah, the cuisine runs from Mexican to Italian to Cajun. But one thing is certain, and it is that nobody leaves hungry. So take a beer, order the seafood, and give Kemah the evening.

Shopping Spree in Kemah

You’ve walked the Kemah Boardwalk and taken the local aquariums, and now it is time to shop. Kemah runs enough shops and stores to answer that.

First, head to Cherry’s Designs, a specialty gift shop carrying the odd and the unexpected. From handmade jewelry to vintage glasses, this store has the range. You’ll find something in there that says more about you than the label does.

If antiques or estate items are what you want, make your way to Mike’s Antiques & Estates. This store is a store of vintage finds, from furniture through accessories to collectibles. You never know what turns up in there.

Looking for something practical? Check the Kemah Walmart Supercenter for the everyday things. From groceries to electronics, this store covers whatever the stay in Kemah needs.

For the upmarket version of shopping, head to the nearby Baybrook Mall. This indoor shopping center runs over 200 stores, among them Macy’s, Sephora and Forever 21. Treat yourself to something new or spend properly on the accessories.

No matter how you shop, Kemah has it somewhere. So go ahead and spend an afternoon on it.

The morning goes on the water, either on a charter or a boat tour. The Aquarium Restaurant handles the lunch, and the tank does the rest of it. The afternoon belongs to the Kemah Boardwalk and to the Boardwalk Bullet. The Lighthouse District is where you walk the rest of it off afterwards. You finish on the waterfront at sunset, because that is the whole point.

Historic Kemah and Its Stories

You cannot talk about Kemah without the history behind it. The city was once a working fishing town, and what is left of that stands in the Kemah Lighthouse District. The district holds several historic buildings, the Old Kemah Schoolhouse and the Kemah City Jail among them.

If you read history, the stories behind these buildings are the reason to go. For example, did you know the Kemah City Jail was once tied to a daring bank robbery? In 1962, a group of robbers broke into the bank next door and took over 100,000 dollars. They were caught and sent to prison, and the jail still stands as a marker of the town’s wilder years.

Another stop in the district is the Kemah Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1898 and worked as a navigational aid for ships in Galveston Bay. Today it is where people photograph the town and pick up its maritime history.

But the district is not the only part of Kemah with a story. The Kemah Boardwalk carries its own history, running back to the early 1900s. It was once a place for fishing and slow walks, and during World War II the US Navy trained sailors on it. Today it is a working amusement park with rides and attractions on it.

So if you want the history of Kemah firsthand, walk the Lighthouse District and take the town’s past as you go. And do not leave without a photograph in front of the Kemah Lighthouse.

Outdoor Fun in Kemah

Ah, the outdoors. Kemah, Texas is where you get the sun, the pace and the activities in one place. Whether the day is on the lake, in The Cove, or on golf carts and bikes, Kemah covers it.

If you want the sun and the water, head to Clear Lake and rent a boat or a jet ski. You can also fish or simply get in. Don’t forget the sunscreen and a hat.

For the slower version, check The Cove. This waterfront area runs restaurants, bars and shops. You can also catch live music or sit still and take the view.

If the children are with you, take the Kemah Boardwalk. This one runs amusement park rides, games and plenty of food. You can also walk the boardwalk and watch the boats going past.

For a different way at Kemah, rent a golf cart or a bike. This is how you cover the town and see the whole of it. Plus you earn your dinner on the way round.

No matter what you pick, Kemah runs outdoor days for every age. So take the sunglasses and get out into the Gulf Coast sunshine.

Special Events and Festivities

Kemah, Texas is known for the events it runs right through the year. Whether you live here or are passing through, the calendar rarely goes quiet in Kemah. Here are the events and festivities worth planning around:

Halloween

If the spooky end of the year is your thing, Halloween in Kemah delivers. The Kemah Boardwalk turns into a haunted playground, with the décor, the music and the jump scares to match. You can also take the annual Boo on the Boardwalk event, which runs trick-or-treating, costume contests and a pumpkin patch.

Concerts

Kemah is a good place to catch live music. The Kemah Boardwalk runs concerts right through the year, with local and national acts on the bill. You can take country, rock or pop depending on the night. Plus the outdoor setting and the water behind the stage make it a different kind of gig.

Christmas Boat Lane Parade

Ring in the holidays with the 62nd annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade, produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The parade runs more than 60 decorated power and sailboats. You can watch from the Kemah Boardwalk or from one of the restaurants and bars along the route. It’s how the town gets into the season.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Celebrate the new year properly with the Kemah Boardwalk New Year’s Eve Fireworks. The sky over the boardwalk fills with fireworks, music and everything that goes with it. You can take the show from the boardwalk or from a boat in the marina. It’s a decent way to start a year.

Overall, Kemah runs events worth building a trip around right through the year. From Halloween to Christmas to New Year’s Eve, the calendar in Kemah keeps working.

Accommodation and Hospitality in Kemah

You’re heading to Kemah, Texas, and you need somewhere to sleep. Fear not, because Kemah runs accommodation across every budget and preference.

Whether the want is a bed and breakfast, a resort or a budget motel, Kemah has it. And the part that matters? Most of these places sit within a short walk of the main attractions.

The staff at these places know the town, they are friendly, and they will help you use the days properly. They know the city inside out and will point you at the restaurants, bars and activities that suit you.

If the trip is a group one, Kemah handles that too. From large vacation rentals to comfortable hotels, there is somewhere that fits the whole crew.

And then there is the hospitality. Kemah is known for a warm welcome, and the accommodation here is no exception. You’ll feel settled from the moment you walk in.

If the trip is a romantic one, Kemah handles that as well. From small bed and breakfasts to full resorts, there is somewhere to disappear with somebody.

And if you want to range beyond Kemah, you are well placed. The city sits a short drive from Galveston, where the accommodation and the attractions run deeper still.

So book the accommodation in Kemah and give yourself a proper stretch of days.

Unique Kemah Experiences

Kemah is a city that runs adventure and rest side by side. Whether you want the island feel or something with more edge on it, Kemah has both. Here are the experiences worth taking:

Captain Matt’s Catamaran

If you want a different way at the water off Kemah, Captain Matt’s Catamaran is it. This catamaran suits a Sunday afternoon cruise or an evening for two. With the wind up and the sun out, the mainland stops mattering.

Carriage Ride

If you want the slow way around the city, take a carriage ride. Kemah Boardwalk Marina runs carriage rides through the more scenic parts of town. It’s how you take the sights and the sounds without moving fast.

Shopping for Clothes

Kemah is known for the shopping it runs. With the boutiques and shops here, something will catch you. Whether the want is the current fashion or something more traditional, Kemah has it.

Marina Bay Dr

If you want a drive worth taking, Marina Bay Dr is the one. This road runs through the finer parts of Kemah. You’ll get the marinas and the city’s skyline the whole way along.

Houston CityPASS

If you want to save money while working the city, the Houston CityPASS is the answer. With this pass, the busier attractions come at a discounted price. It’s how you take the city properly without emptying the account.

Happiness

Last and by no means least, Kemah is known for being a happy town. The friendly locals and the slow pace make it the place to let the shoulders drop. So come and take the happiness Kemah runs on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the wildest ride at Kemah Boardwalk?

If you want the thrill, the Boardwalk Bullet is the one. This wooden coaster will have you shouting as it twists and turns at speed. Just hold on to your hat and your glasses, because this ride is not gentle.

Looking for a romantic spot in Kemah – any suggestions?

For a romantic evening, walk the Kemah Boardwalk at sunset. With Galveston Bay in front of you and the lights of the Boardwalk coming on, it is where the evening belongs.

Any tips for navigating the Kemah Boardwalk with little ones?

With this many attractions, bringing small children to the Kemah Boardwalk takes a plan. We suggest starting on the milder rides, the Ferris wheel or the train ride, and working up from there. Also take breaks and keep everybody drinking water through the day.

What are the top must-see attractions near Kemah Boardwalk?

If you want to range around the Kemah Boardwalk, the Johnson Space Center is a short drive away. You can also take a boat tour of Galveston Bay or the Armand Bayou Nature Center for the outdoor version.

Is there a secret spot for the best shopping in Kemah?

While there is nothing hidden about the shopping in Kemah, the souvenir shops and boutiques along the Kemah Boardwalk are where to start. You’re likely to come away with something worth keeping.

Can I sneak in my own snacks to Kemah Boardwalk?

While outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the Kemah Boardwalk, the dining on site covers it. From quick snacks to full sit-down meals, nobody goes hungry in there. Plus it is a decent excuse for funnel cakes and cotton candy.

Frequently asked questions about Kemah, Texas

When was the Kemah Lighthouse built and can you visit?

It dates to 1898. The lighthouse worked as a navigational aid for ships on Galveston Bay, and it now stands in the Lighthouse District alongside the old schoolhouse and the city jail. The district itself is free to walk and it takes about an hour. The photographs out of there come out better in the late afternoon. You pair it with the boardwalk, because the two of them sit close together.

Is the Christmas Boat Lane Parade worth planning a trip around?

Yes, in season. The parade runs its 62nd year with more than 60 decorated power and sailboats on the water, and you can watch from the boardwalk or from a restaurant along the route. The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce produces it each year. The New Year’s Eve fireworks follow along not long after it. You book a table early on, because the whole route fills up fast.

How far is Clear Lake from the Kemah Boardwalk?

Not far at all. Clear Lake and Galveston Bay both sit on Kemah’s doorstep, which is why the boat rentals, the jet skis and the fishing charters all work off the same water. The redfish, the trout and the flounder are all of them out there. The sunset cruise runs out of the same marina as the rest. You can do the water and the boardwalk inside the same day without rushing.

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