The Scoop: Since the 1980s, Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston, Texas, has distinguished itself as a place of relaxation, romance, and discovery. This breathtaking vacation spot has what couples need to enjoy a romantic getaway. You can recharge your batteries at the spa, explore the aquarium, splash around at the water park, savor fine dining, take a boat on the Gulf of Mexico, and make tons of great memories at Moody Gardens.
My mom likes to plan long vacations because it usually takes my dad at least three days to forget about work and enjoy himself. Once the cloud of stress moves away from him, he becomes the fun-loving goofball my mom fell for more than 40 years ago. My mom spends the entire year looking forward to the one week where she has my dad all to herself and can plan lovey-dovey date nights away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
A luxurious vacation destination, like Moody Gardens Hotel, can help visitors relax, unwind, and appreciate their loved ones. This top-rated hotel offers an escape from the everyday. From the spacious rooms to the immersive spa, the hotel’s amenities and attractions give couples plenty to do (or not to do) as they while away their time together.
Many couples head to the Galveston coast in Texas looking for a romantic getaway, and the Moody Gardens Hotel’s award-winning service can wow them the moment they check in.
“Our ambiance is elegant, bringing the outdoors inside,” said Miranda Landsman, the Public Relations Manager of Moody Gardens. “Our staff is friendly, unobtrusive, and professional. Our pool is relaxing, heated, and open year round. Our spa is very tranquil.”
Moody Gardens offers a tropical paradise and an adventure land for couples and families on vacation.
Moody Gardens has a renowned spa that offers many couples treatments as well as an aquarium, a museum, a water park, rope course, golf course, award-winning restaurant, and IMAX movie theaters. You don’t even have to leave the property to have an amazingly fun time.
What’s more, Moody Gardens has committed to being an eco-friendly destination that supports and protects the wildlife showcased in its attractions.
“At Moody Gardens Hotel, you’re staying on an island, and your money is going to save the environment,” Miranda added. “The heart of Moody Gardens is rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research, so you can indulge in a luxurious vacation without any guilt.”
Unforgettable Experiences at the Aquarium Pyramid
Moody Gardens features an awarding-winning hotel, spa, and convention center on Galveston Island just outside Houston. The hotel has over 418 rooms as well as three glass pyramids that house an aquarium, a living rainforest, and a museum.
“Moody Gardens is a one-of-the-kind property,” said Vlada Washington, Weddings and Catering Manager at the hotel. “Couples can start their getaway by diving into our Aquarium pyramid. They meet the penguins, learn about many marine life species, and even pet stingrays.”
Next, couples can head to the Rainforest Pyramid where they can have up-close encounters with endangered plants and animals, including the Giant Amazon River Otters and the Corpse Flower. You can walk through this tropical paradise while colorful rainforest birds twitter overhead.
Couples can also explore the bay via the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, or they can have a traditional dinner-and-a-movie date at the IMAX 3D theater and on-site restaurants.
Every Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer, Moody Gardens brings in live entertainment to get people in a partying mood. You can go out on the white sandy beaches to listen to an outdoor concert and watch fireworks light up the sky. It can be a romantic way to cap off an evening.
“Our guests are people looking to refresh and regroup,” Miranda said. “Our guests love good food, wine and spirits, massages, working out, and enjoying their downtime.”
After a full day, couples can savor a low-key dinner at Shearn’s restaurant. This fine dining establishment is known for its outstanding service, fresh cuisine, and breathtaking views of the coast. You can watch the sunset while enjoying a five-star meal alongside that special someone.
The white tablecloths and indulgent menu make this a go-to date spot for many couples. Shearn’s Restaurant has even been counted among OpenTable’s 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America. Couples should make a reservation ahead of time to ensure they’ll be seated quickly during the dinner rush.
The Executive Chef, Felipe Gonzalez, has a reputation for creating delicious seafood dishes using ingredients sourced next door from the Gulf of Mexico. His lobster bisque and shrimp dejong are among his most popular signature dishes.
“Shearn’s Restaurant has great food, professional staff, and an unbeatable ambiance,” Miranda said. “Our seafood is local, fresh, and sustainable. We put the environment first in our purchasing and everyday practices.”
Luxury Suites Invite Couples to Relax in Style
Guests of all ages can find a respite at Moody Gardens. Some are honeymooners just starting their relationship, while others are retirees enjoying their golden years together. The relaxing destination has a variety of amenities to cater to vacationers of all types. Whether you enjoy being active and having adventures or laying back and detoxing at the spa, you can unwind in the way that makes you most comfortable.
“We have suites that make you feel like royalty,” Miranda boasted. “The spa tub in the Presidential Suite is fabulous.”
The hotel’s accommodations range from 500-square-feet guest rooms to 900-square-feet suites with a parlor and dining area. Its rooms all provide panoramic views of the water.
The Presidential Suite at Moody Gardens Hotel gives couples plenty of room to relax.
The Spa and Fitness Center also does a great job providing relaxation for two. The Couples Suite with its hydrating tub is perfect for a romantic day of pampering. You can get a Swedish couples massage, mud back treatment, hydrotherapy bubble bath, chocolate-covered strawberries, and two glasses of champagne as part of the Romantic Retreat package. The spa offers pedicures, manicures, body wraps, facials, hair services, and waxing as well.
Moody Gardens is constantly improving its guest experience and expanding its services and attractions. Whether team members are putting on a festival of lights or landscaping the gardens, they do their best to create a remarkable environment where memories are made.
The Moody Gardens Festival of Lights enchants visitors every holiday season.
Speaking of memories, Moody Gardens can be a lovely wedding venue or honeymoon destination for Texan couples. The Rooftop Terrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico has dazzled many seeking an unforgettable moment. Couples can contact the staff for help arranging a private romantic event. The Moody Gardens team is willing to do what it takes to facilitate an extraordinary experience for guests from around the world.
“Moody Gardens is a family,” Miranda told us. “As individuals, our team is smart, strong, funny, and creative. Together, we are an unbeatable force that makes magic happen every day.”
Many Positive Testimonials Paint a Serene Picture
Moody Gardens has a 4.4-star rating on Google, and over half of its 7,100+ reviews give the hotel five stars.
Chad Hargroder said in his review that he’s been coming to Moody Gardens since he was 10 years old. “It’s still as fun and interesting as it was 15 years ago,” he said. “Great for family trips or a nice day trip date. The staff is very knowledgeable.”
The Moody Gardens staff dials up the romance during Valentine’s Day.
A Houston resident named Jessica said her husband surprised her with a penguin encounter at Moody Gardens on Valentine’s Day 2019. “Our tour guide was great. We got to meet Mo, a 34-year-old chinstrap penguin,” she wrote in a TripAdvisor review. “I finally got to mark this off my bucket list.”
Ed and Marsha couldn’t say enough good things about Moody Gardens, which had the honor of hosting them during their 61st anniversary in 2018. They had high expectations for their special celebration and said “Moody Gardens passed with flying colors.” The couple stayed in a luxury suite on the ninth floor and said staff members were both cordial and efficient throughout their stay.
“The staff at Moody Gardens treated us like family,” said Caitlin M. on the Knot. She recommended Moody Gardens as a beautiful and tranquil wedding destination. “They went above and beyond to make sure our day was stress-free and exactly how we had envisioned it,” she said. “Our wedding day was truly the best day ever, and I honestly believe that is attributed to the staff at Moody Gardens.”
“Our reception was held in the Viewfinders Terrace and Shearn’s lounge on the top floor of the hotel,” said a recently married couple. They had 118 people at their wedding reception, and Moody Gardens accommodated them in style. “The view was beautiful, especially at sunset. The service provided by the wait and cooking staff was top-notch.”
Throughout its history, Moody Gardens has set the stage for many memorable moments, including wedding days, anniversaries, family trips, and marriage proposals.
One couple wrote to the staff to say they had gotten engaged after a romantic dinner at Shearn’s restaurant. “We loved having the gardens to walk through afterward with the shoreline twinkling in the distance and the soft lights of the pyramid as a backdrop — very romantic indeed!”
Make the Most of Your Galveston Getaway at Moody Gardens
Vacations are important to my family, and to many families like mine, because they’re our chance to spend time together without letting our daily responsibilities and worries get in the way of having fun. Such moments of laughter and levity don’t come around every day, and that makes them precious.
Moody Gardens Hotel has set the scene for countless romantic getaways, family vacations, and memorable experiences in Galveston. This vacation spot helps couples relax and savor the moment with tons of family-friendly attractions and luxurious amenities. Whether you’re treating yourselves to a spa day or exploring underwater wildlife together, you can revel in a one-of-a-kind destination with a caring staff to act as your wingman.
“Our staff is the epitome of love,” Miranda said. “We always go above and beyond to take care of our guests, showing kindness and compassion.”
