The Tours in Texas

by Norma Crosby

From the Editor: Norma Crosby is on top of things. She and her affiliate are well organized and ready for us to come to Texas. Here is what she says about tours, and more of what is promised for next month:

The 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind is almost here, and boy are we getting excited in Texas. We are making plans to host the biggest and best Federation family reunion ever. As I told you in the February issue, Houston has lots to offer, and we are planning to make it possible for you to take advantage of some great opportunities while you are in town. Let me tell you what we have in store for you.

Space Center Houston is a fun and educational place for people of all ages, and we are working with the accessibility team to develop tours while we are in town for the 2020 convention. Tour prices will be all inclusive, except for food and drinks or souvenirs purchased on-site. The tour will include a tactile artifact room, a STEM activity, a touch tour of Starship Gallery, and a tram tour that will include an opportunity to get up close and personal with NASA rockets. Tours will be available on the morning or afternoon of July 15 and on the afternoon of July 16.

Galveston Island is Houston’s playground. In just about an hour, you can leave the city behind and experience a day at the beach. During our convention, we are planning to make it possible for members who want to get away to spend some time visiting the beach, the historic Strand District, Moody Gardens, and the Pleasure Pier. Moody Gardens is a great space for families to visit. Attractions include a ropes course and zip line, amusement rides, and Galveston’s only white sand beach. We’ll provide transportation and a day pass that will entitle visitors to access the beach and the seven major attractions. There will be a separate charge for zip line and ropes course tickets.

The Strand Historic District is primarily a shopping and dining destination, but there is also a railroad museum located within the district as well. The Pleasure Pier is a dining and amusement area on Seawall Boulevard, and our visitors can purchase tickets for the pier as part of the tour package we will offer.

Galveston is not a large island. So if you choose this tour, you will be able to have more than one sightseeing experience simply by taking a short rideshare or taxi trip. Our tour package will include the cost of roundtrip transportation to the island and the cost of tickets to Moody Gardens and/or the Pleasure Pier. A visit to the Strand Historic District is free except for the food, drinks, and merchandise you may elect to purchase.

If you just want to have a day at the beach, we can drop you off at Stewart Beach for a day of family fun. This beach has amenities that include a playground, concessions, chair and umbrella rentals, a pavilion, a beach volleyball court, and more. Alcohol is not allowed at Stewart Beach.
Specific times for the tour have not been set as of this writing, but we plan to offer an opportunity to tour Galveston on July 15 and 16. We will provide information about drop-off and pickup points prior to the convention.

The Kemah Boardwalk is a little closer to town than Galveston. Families may choose to spend a few hours there if they are looking for some fun and food. The boardwalk is on Galveston Bay, approximately twenty miles from downtown Houston. It includes amusement rides, retail shops, and dining. We will offer a tour on the afternoon of July 16. Ticket prices will include roundtrip transportation and admission fees.

Specific information about tours will be posted on our affiliate’s website no later than April 15. Tickets will be sold online and by telephone only. Tickets are first come first served and will be available from April 15 to July 1 or until the tours sell out. To purchase tickets online, go to https://nfbtx.org or give us a call at 281-968-7733. Our office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tickets will not be sold by telephone outside of regular business hours. Ticket purchases are nonrefundable. See you in Houston!