Best beach to recommend in the houston area? (Galveston, Kemah: condos, hotels)

[jerzstyle00]

Looking to go on a mini-vacation to galveston beach with my family(me,wifey,and 3 yr old).From what i hear there's places in galveston better then others.Here's what Im looking for:

-clean area(not to many bugs flying around) and clean swimming water
-not to much of a crowd
-nice hotel with view of beach
-fun area for the kid

Also please recommend if this is a good time to go or is it to chilly to swim? Any other suggestions during this trip would be nice.Thanks.

[bettylu]

Just FYI, Galveston has dark brown hard packed sand and dark brownish blue water. If you are from anywhere but Texas you will think it's gross. I can say that because I grew up here and that was the only beach I'd ever experienced until I was 16 -- and I was SHOCKED, to say the least, at how beautiful and clean beaches could be. Kemah, outside of Galveston is kind of a campy beachy town on the gulf. Most, if not all of the hotels/condos in Galveston are not beachfront - they sit across the street/seawall. I'd go in late June -- not that hot/humid yet and no risk of evacuation for hurricane.

[WillysB]

Heading into Galveston the road ends at the seawall. You'll know when you get there. Make a right turn and head west til you find a beach you want to play on. This will be along the seawall. At some point the seawall ends and the road keeps going then there'll be places to turn in to for parking and walk to the beach. Zoom in on a google map with satellite image.

Although the beach water temp hits the 80's in mid summer, it's going to be kind of cool right now. You're not going to find what you might call 'clean water', as bettylu described.