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Census-designated place in Texas, United States
Photo: Jim Evans, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bolivar Peninsula is a narrow strip of sand, 28 mi long, separating Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico just east of Galveston, Texas. In places, the peninsula is as little as 1,000 meters in width. The peninsula is sparsely populated with three very small but not insignificant towns, Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, and High Island. About 2,800 people (2020) live on the Bolivar Peninsula.
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Seaside park with a long history as a military post to protect the channel into Galveston Bay. First built by the Mexican Army in 1816 as earthen ramparts, the modern Fort Travis was built in 1898-1899 with concrete bunkers and two batteries (Davis and Ernst) with disappearing gun emplacements. Battery Kimble was built following World War I and had 12-inch guns with a 17-mile range. During World War II 2500 troops were stationed at the fort and another shore battery (Battery 236) was built with 6-inch guns. The troops kept watch for the constant threat of German U-boats to American oil supplies shipping out of the ports of Galveston and Houston. Today, tourists can walk around the concrete bunkers and enjoy the grassy fields overlooking the Gulf shores.
Local Mexican restaurant with good food and friendly service. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is good.
Waterfront seafood restaurant facing the East Bay, variety of frozen margarita flavors, steaks available. Gets busy, especially on weekends.
Fresh seafood prepared as you like, but the house specialty is fresh oysters on the half shell.
Friendly, casual place with burgers, steak sandwiches, fries, etc. Gets busy on weekends and service can get slow.
Lively place with seafood and Mexican dishes. Seafood is usually fried and a bit greasy but otherwise good. Gumbo is recommended and kids like the alligator bites (hmm, tastes like chicken).
Vintage motor hotel with outdoor pool and modernized rooms. Clean and comfortable.
Comfortable, moderate hotel close to the beach and restaurants.
Small RV park in quiet area, half mile from beach. Offers 6 pull through sites and 18 back-in sites. Tent sites and RV rentals available. Minimum stays required seasonally.
Small RV park right next to the gulf. Limited amenities.
Rent a fully equipped RV near the beach, kayaks and bikes available to use.
Clean, well-maintained RV camp with swimming pool and path to the beach.
Modern RV camp with full hookups, fire pits, covered picnic table. Dog friendly and easy walk to beach.
Nice, quiet, well-maintained park with many long-term residents.
Free camping is permitted on the beach.
By car
From Houston, head east on Interstate 10 to Winnie, take exit 828 (Texas state highway 73), then turn right on Texas state highway 124 towards High Island / Bolivar Peninsula.
You'll want your own car to get around the Bolivar Peninsula, either that or you're going to be stuck within a few blocks of the Port Bolivar ferry landing.
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Houston · International · HOU
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