Recapture your youth and engage in the type of fun that only a boardwalk fairground can offer. A roller coaster, Ferris wheel, carousel... there's all this and more in Kemah, Texas. Take the kids or just go with a friend, and book a great Kemah vacation rental with FlipKey.

About Kemah

Sitting in Galveston County and on the Gulf Coast of Texas, Kemah is a popular seaside tourist resort. Its boardwalk is littered with amusement rides for adults and children alike, as well as restaurants and various fun attractions such as an aquarium and speedboat cruiser. Families and tourists from around the state and beyond visit here most of the year round.

The city has always been a tourist attraction in one form or another. From the 1920s to 1950s, for instance, the boardwalk operated as a casino and general gambling venue. In the 1970s, people visiting the Johnson Space Center on nearby Clear Lake popped over to Kemah, re-establishing the town's tourist status. The boardwalk expanded again in the 1990s to the extent it was voted top tourism spot in the Greater Houston area.

The name Kemah is actually a Karankawa Indian word which translates as 'wind in my face' so expect it to be a bit blowy!

What to do

Embrace your inner child on the rides and attractions on the Kemah Boardwalk. Highlights include the 50 mph and 96-foot-tall roller coaster together with a 65-foot Ferris wheel. You'll also get an embracing sea wind and smell. Just remember to hide your food from the gulls overhead.

Experience what a stingray feels like at the Stingray Reef where you'll be allowed to stroke them as they sail past. You can also meet them face-to-face by hand-feeding your new flat-faced friends shrimp.

Get soaking wet on the speedboat cruiser Boardwalk Beast. There's onboard entertainment in the form of dancing girls.

Take a catamaran charter out into the sea to spot some dolphins and just generally enjoy the ocean and its delights. Fishing charters are also available for those who fancy a bit of marine sport, and the area is famous for its shoals of red drum, flounder, trout and croaker.

Top Kemah travel tips

Parking near the Kemah Boardwalk can prove difficult so best to go by foot or get there early. If you do take the car, parking in the garage makes better sense as the car will be shaded from the sun.

There's no public transport in the city. Most folks get around in golf carts, cycles or taxis. There's also a shuttle bus at peak times.

You can reach Kemah by car, but a fun way is via boat; docking services are just $1 per foot.

Kemah gets incredibly busy at weekends from spring to fall. Go mid-week for a quieter spell.

Kemah provides the type of vacation you probably loved as a child. Well, you can still appreciate it as an adult! Hire a Kemah vacation rental with us here at FlipKey and enjoy!