Updated: Mar 7, 2020
Heading to Houston? Then you need to head to the Kemah Boardwalk, located just 30 minutes outside of Houston. This is not your typical, boring boardwalk. This place has a large selection of: amusement park rides, live entertainment, 9 waterfront restaurants to dine at, plenty of shopping, and the list goes on and on.
I have partnered with Kemah Boardwalk for this post. The best part for me, is they had zero restrictions when it came to my blog post.
Insiders Note: I worked at the Kemah Boardwalk’s Crab House restaurant as a waitress in high school. My husband worked as a waiter at Landry’s Seafood House while in high school, as well. My daughter worked as a waitress at Laundry’s Seafood House while in high school too. Also, she worked as a manager at the amusement park on the Boardwalk before becoming a waitress there. It seems like it’s becoming a family tradition to work at the Kemah Boardwalk in high school. The best part is, if you work for Laundry’s you get 50% off all the Landry’s restaurants. This list of restaurants is HUGE. They even own the Rainforest Cafe! In this blog I’m going to give you some of our insiders tips.
Where to stay
Boardwalk Inn
You can stay on the Kemah Boardwalk at the Boardwalk Inn. This hotel is right in the middle of everything.
Hotel prices start as low as $99.00 a night.
You can even find package deals such as.
Just for Two Packages: includes 2 All Day Ride Passes & Hotel stay for $143 a night. Click link below to find the right package for your family.
Parking
On site parking lots and parking garage start at $9.00.
Bring cash for parking, unless you are staying at the hotel then it’s free parking in the garage.
Free Parking
Insider tip: If you drive straight to the front by the rides there is a small lot that has free parking. Also, the first lane up front by the restaurants is free. If you are lucky, you may score a spot. We usually check out those two areas before we decide on parking.
If you are looking for a large parking lot with free parking then stay on Texas Avenue and drive to the very end. Once parked you will need to stand in line for the free Boardwalk shuttle boat, aka Pontoon, that will take you across the water. The lines are long on a busy day but it will save you $9, plus you get a free boat ride. Score!
Food
One of the main reason people come to the Boardwalk is for the food! They have so many choices, it’s almost impossible to pick which one you want.
Here are my favorite top 3 favorite restaurants on the Boardwalk:
Best Eats
Saltgrass Steakhouse– Why? The food is delicious and the potato soup is to die for. We would eat here all the time when my daughter had her 50% off employee discount. Yum Yum!
The Onion Strings appetizer is our favorite. It’s crunchy, salty, and so good.
Look at their sandwiches and they’re all under $14.00.
Nashville Hot Sandwich
Texas Cheese-steak Sandwich
Best View
Aquarium– The food is OK. However, the view while eating is amazing. You are surrounded by a 50,000-gallon aquarium with 100 species of tropical fish.
Insider tip: Exploring the Aquarium is free. You do not have to eat at the Aquarium to go inside and explore. Just let the hostess know you want to see the aquarium.
Best Seafood
Laundry’s Seafood House– This is my parents and grandparents “go to” birthday restaurant. We love this place!
Insider Tip: You can ask to have a special menu created for your special occasion. The last time we went our menu said “Happy Birthday Evelyn”, since we were celebrating our grandmother’s birthday. How cool is that? Just call the restaurant for more details.
Insider waitress tip: Everyone returns the calamari appetizer. I suggest you pick something else.
We all seem to come together for food. We love to eat.
If you are not in the mood for seafood or steak, then you are in luck. They have something for everyone. They have a pizza restaurant, Mexican food restaurant, and even now have a hamburger restaurant.
Rides & Amusement Park
All Day Pass
I suggest getting an all-day pass. Keep in mind, there are No refunds.
$18.99 (under 48″)
$24.99 (48″ and up)
Military and Veteran $2 discounts available on All Day All Ride Passes with valid active military ID or VA ID card – valid up to four passes.
(Iron Eagle is not included with the all-day pass)
Insider tip: Make sure the weather is nice and the rides you love are opened. The ladies at the ticket booth are supposed to tell you which rides are closed for the day before you purchase your tickets. However, when it’s busy, I suggest you ask them because there are No Refunds.
The train is included with your all day pass. This train will take you all around the Boardwalk. Fun Fun!
Shhhhh! Sometimes us adults even sneak out of the house and go to the Boardwalk without our kids. Yes, I said sneak, because our kids LOVE the Boardwalk.
You are allowed to walk around the Boardwalk with your alcoholic beverages. They have outside bars all over the Boardwalk.
They even have an arcade area on the Boardwalk, for when you had a few beers and think you can win any challenge.
Stingray Reef
Tickets
$5.25 (entry)
$6.99 (entry and fish food)
This is where you can touch and feed the stingrays.
Fun Fat: This is where my husband and I had our first date.
Also, you can explore the rain forest exhibit which is included with your ticket.
Boardwalk Beast
Looking for date ideas? After dinner, head over to the Boardwalk Beast because it will take cruising to a whole new level with speeds up to 40mph. Now that’s a fun and exciting date.
Tickets & Boarding
Adults: $20.00
Children: $15.00 (12 & Under)
Feed the fish
We love to walk up and down the Boardwalk. We usually stop to feed the fish. It’s only 25 cents and it makes the kids happy.
There is so much to do and you can spend the entire day at the Kemah Boardwalk. I only scratched the surface. If you love to shop then this place is for you too. They have plenty of stores to keep you satisfied. If you love to hang out and relax, they even have live bands on the weekends so check out the website for more details.
Summer-Time on the Kemah Boardwalk
Every summer we take the kids to play at the water fountain area on the Boardwalk. It’s free and the kids have a blast. We get to drink a few beers and listen to live bands, while the kids play in the water. Talk about a win win!
When our kids were younger we would take our wagon. There is a lot of walking. After playing in the water, we usually stop for some ice cream. Yes, they even have an ice cream shop.
When it comes to the Boardwalk they have thought of everything, This is why the locals spend so much time here. If you are heading to Houston then plan to spend at least one day at the Kemah Boardwalk.
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