Get the thrills with sky-high experiences
Many Houston-area residents associate a visit to Galveston with trips to Moody Gardens or lying out in the sun on the beach. But for those who are thrill seekers, or simply enjoy views from up above, the island offers adventure in the form of skydiving jumps and helicopter rides.
Skydive Galveston offers tandem jumps to adults ages 18 or older who weigh 240 pounds or less. Jumps are by appointment only and reservations are encouraged at least two weeks out (four in the summer peak season).
Jumpers meet at and return to Tin Cups Caddy Shack, 9020 Stewart Road, in Galveston.
Skydiving Galveston draws visitors from all across Texas, as well as all over the country, due to the fact that it’s the only place in the U.S. where skydivers can land on the beach for every jump.
The company always monitors the weather and takes appropriate precautions, allowing scheduled jumpers to reach them as early as 5 a.m. on the day of their jump and reschedule if conditions are deemed unsafe. Each of its tandem instructors goes on a maximum of 12 jumps per day.
“Our main priority and concern is our customers’ experience,” said Tammy Walton, co-owner, Skydive Galveston. “The fact that we’re by appointment only decreases waiting time while still allowing customers at least one hour to talk to their instructor before going up to jump.”
According to Walton, more than 99 percent of the company’s customers are firsttime jumpers. For those who are curious about skydiving and want an accurate depiction of what it’s like, she advises watching actor Will Smith’s YouTube posting about his first jump, as it’s something that’s otherwise pretty difficult to explain.
“For most people, it really isn’t about overcoming a fear of jumping out of a plane, but rather a fear of what you don’t know,” she said. “Many people who skydive regularly actually claim to otherwise be afraid of heights.”
The company draws everyone from cancer and car accident survivors to people wanting to propose to their significant others.
“Many people say it’s a life-changing experience that can serve as a spiritual, calming and peaceful way to get away from everything going on in your world,” Walton said. “In addition to our large population of first-timers, we’ve also got a bit of a ‘cult following’ that comes back every year, and we enjoy getting to know our customers and their stories.”
Skydive Galveston is currently offering a two-person special that includes the jump, videos and photos for $599, including taxes. Reservations require a $50 per person deposit, which is subtracted from their balance due on the day of their jump.
For more information, call 409-420-6231, email jump@skydivegalveston.com, or visit www.skydivegalveston.com.
Bird’s-eye view
As an alternative to skydiving, Galveston visitors can also take the opportunity to see a bird’s-eye view of the island via a helicopter ride. Galveston Helicopters offers visitors five sightseeing tours to choose from, all leaving from its Stewart Beach location at 201 Seawall Blvd.
These include the Beach Tour, which takes visitors over the Pleasure Pier and along the seawall to East Beach; the Ships and Shore Tour, which goes along the seawall to East Beach and then to Galveston Harbor to see ships in port; the Sea Life Tour, which covers nearly 20 miles of the Galveston Island waterfront; the Around the Island Tour, which highlights the island’s scenery, including Pelican Island and Sea Wolf Park; and the Sunset Tour, which covers 20 miles of Galveston Island’s waterfront and allows visitors to see much of the area’s wildlife, including dolphins, sting rays, turtles and more.
According to the information posted on their website, Galveston Helicopters’ tours range in length from 10 to 30 minutes. They are available Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to sunset, and by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Hours are subject to change by season. For additional information about Galveston Helicopters, call 409-750-1699 or visit www.galveston.com/galveston-helicopters/.