This bungalow is in an amazing location! Hear the Waves! It is very close to the beach on a quiet alley without a beach view, but just over 1 block walk to the Seawall! We offer free daily beach setup with 2 chairs and an umbrella at Porretto Beach (6th-10th street-with free parking, 14th-16th street just-2 blocks from the bungalow, or 26-27th, during the Summer every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day 8:00 AM -5:00 PM, weather permitting). The Seawall runs along the beach in Galveston and we are lucky enough to have a crosswalk with a traffic light at the beach-front of our street! There is only access across to the beach every 6-10 blocks, so this is quite a luxury to cross immediately without having to walk 5 or more blocks down to a crosswalk. Additionally, this same intersection is a designated pick-up for the Galveston Island Trolley that rides all over the island and is only $1 per person! This Carriage House is your perfect 2 bedroom 2 bathroom alleyway bungalow only steps from the Gulf waters, beach store shopping, restaurants, bars and still close to everything like; the Strand historical district, the Pleasure Pier, and Moody Gardens. It is a sister property to the very successful and highly renowned Beach house called the Blue Crab Bungalow. We own both properties and in the Fall of 2015 decided to make the Blue Crab Bungalow our permanent home, so this means we will be close (in the front house) if you need anything at all during your stay. We pride ourselves on making your vacation special! We enjoy being near our guests and able to respond quickly to any of their needs, since our vacationers are in the house just behind us with their own private fenced-in yard, patio, grill, and outdoor hose. It has a paved alley entrance and with its own 2 single car driveways, one paved and the other is a crushed red granite parking spot beside the bungalow. To learn more about the history behind Galveston's amazing Alley Houses please read "The Alleys and Back Buildings of Galveston: An Architectural and Social History." We also have a copy of this book in the house for you to peruse during your stay. In the off-season (late 2014 early 2015) this bungalow was brought back to life and was finished just in time for Spring break and to start the vacation season! This house was originally a carriage house in the early 1900s before there were cars. The carriages for the front property on the lot would be parked underneath this secondary structure and there would be living quarters above that. We fully restored the bungalow but were able to leave the charm of the small staircase from the early 1900s. The staircase is small, but the personality of this bungalow is enormous! It is decorated in a tropical theme with vibrant colors and never lets you forget how close you are to the beach. The backyard is filled with tropical plants and palms. Use the grill and table with 4 outdoor chairs for a cook-out or just enjoy the sea breezes and listen to the waves. Whatever you decide to do this BeachSide Bungalow will make for an amazing stay on Galveston Island! The bungalow is also close to wonderful restaurants in Galveston; Mosquito Cafe (14th) Sunflower Cafe (14th) and Shy Katz (16th) Pirate Island Bar and Grill (9th) Hotel Lucine Rooftop Bar (10th). You should check them out if you get a chance. It is also just over 1 block to Benno's on the Seawall for wonderful seafood as well! I recommend you bring your bikes to the Island because anything you would want to do is all within cycling distance from the Beach-Side Bungalow! You can also rent bicycles just 3 blocks from the house in either direction. Try Pedego Bike Rentals first and the Island Cycle. There are so many fun things to do on Galveston that are all within steps to just a few miles away. Many great beaches, entertainment, shopping, and miles of Gulf Coast beaches. Galveston’s festivals, special events, and attractions are enjoyable for all! Check the Galveston Island website to see what's happening during your stay. There is always at least one festival per month on the Island and ArtWalk downtown on Postoffice St happens every 6 weeks. Galveston has many enjoyable activities for single and family lives. Explore the downtown Strand area and ride horse-drawn carriages. Also don't forget to visit the Elissa (a historic sailboat from 1877) or the oil rig museum, both near the Strand on Pier 21. See a movie, bowling or enjoy many of Galveston's shops & art studios. You can rent bicycles, scooters, golf carts & Segways to enjoy the Seawall during all parts of the day or just walk the beach, which is only a few steps across the way. The stretch of Seawall located just out from the house also offers Jet ski rentals in the Summer as well as chair and umbrella rental which is included free with the bungalow booking (including 1 umbrella and 2 chairs, but can add additional chairs and shade at a discounted rate) directly from Porretto Beach! Many people also come to fish on one of Galveston's many piers (2 of which are just a couple blocks from the house) or charter a boat for more exciting catches. There are plenty of hidden coves and waterways to explore for your next fishing trip. Take the kids to Schlitterbahn, Galveston Island's amazing water park, or the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (only 10 blocks away) which hosts many rides, games, and activities for all to enjoy as well as food at Bubba Gump's restaurant. Live Bands play on the end of the pier during the summer night weekends. Galveston has much to offer and explore and our home is right in the middle of all you could dream to do... it just needs you :) We also offer free wifi and Direct TV. Remember, we are always close if you have any questions or issues during your stay. Feel free to contact us at any time! We look forward to sharing this amazing home with you and your friends and family!