To travel from Galveston Island to the Port Bolivar peninsula – or to simply see the sights along the way, which is what most visitors seem to do – the ferry is the way to go. One of the greatest things about the ferry, which is operated by the Texas Department of Transportation, is that it's free. 

Recent visitors said the less than 30-minute trip is a great activity, as well as mode of transportation, since along the way you might spot dolphins in the water and sea gulls in the sky. Others say that the ferry is prone to long waits in the summer, but they recommend persevering even still. 

The ferry carries both cars and passengers and operates all year, except in unsafe conditions of high winds or tides. For more information, visit Texas's DOT website.