Galveston - Bolivar Ferry

One of the funnest things to do in Galveston is also one of the free-est. Follow Ferry Street north, away from the beach, but stay in the right lane, bypassing the line of idling cars, and pull into the free parking at the road's end. From there you simply walk on to the ferry (wait until you are told to proceed) and up on to the observation deck. The sailing from Galveston Island to Bolivar Peninsula takes about 20 minutes and takes you up close to waiting tankers, shrimp trawlers, and jumping dolphins, as well as Sea Wolf Park, where two old war ships are anchored. There's not much you can do on foot on the Bolivar side, so wait while the cars and trucks off load and then the boat makes its way back to the island.