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For decades, the tiny coastal town of Kemah, located between Galveston and Houston, drew thousands of people annually to its "restaurant row" -- a string of waterfront restaurants along the western shore of Galveston Bay, near the entrance to Clear Lake. However, a fire in the late 1990s burned much of restaurant row, temporarily shutting down Kemah's main tourism stream. Following the fire, a 60-acre plot which had historically contained "restaurant row" and the surrounding properties was acquired by Landry's, Inc.

In 1999, the new and improved Kemah Boardwalk was opened the public. Like the old property, the Kemah Boardwalk features plenty of fine dining. But, unlike the previous incarnation, the modern Kemah Boardwalk also features a wide variety of entertainment options and accommodations.

Restaurants are still at the center of the Kemah Boardwalk. Today, the "restaurant row" includes a dozen popular restaurants such as Landry's Seafood, Aquarium Restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, The Flying Dutchman, and Saltgrass Steakhouse. Diners at these bayside restaurants are able to watch sailboats maneuvering through the channel and into Galveston Bay -- or look out at the rows of boats sitting serenely in the 400-slip marina. An evening dinner at any of these establishments is reason enough to make a trip to Kemah. However, the Kemah Boardwalk offers plenty more to see and do.

To keep visitors entertained, the Kemah Boardwalk features 15 carnival-style rides. A partial list of rides found at the Boardwalk include the Boardwalk Bullet Roller Coaster, The Aviator swing ride, a double-decker carousel, the free-fall ride Drop Zone, a 65-foot tall ferris wheel, and the Iron Eagle zip line.

During the warm weather months, visitors can also take a ride aboard the Boardwalk Beast, a 70-foot speedboat that cruises across Galveston Bay.

There are a number of other attractions to keep visitors busy at the Kemah Boardwalk as well. In addition to the midway games and aforementioned marina, visitors can tour Stingray Reef, an exhibit that allows guests to touch and feed stingrays, or the Rainforest Exhibit, which features snakes, turtles and a variety of marine life. Visitors also have the option of taking a dinner cruise aboard the 133-passenger charter yacht, the Boardwalk Fantasea. Shopping is also a popular pastime for visitors, as the Kemah Boardwalk features a myriad of retail stores and kiosks. Among the more popular shopping stops on the Boardwalk are Treasure Chest Gift Shop, Surfs Up Beach Wear, Boardwalk Fun Shirts, Christmas at Kemah, The Toy Crossing, Blayne's Boardwalk Fashions, Thomas Kinkade Gallery, Kandy at Kemah, Saltgrass Junction, Violets are Blue, and the Kemah Country Store among others.

Throughout the year, the Kemah Boardwalk also plays host to a number of events. Live music concerts are a regular happening on the boardwalk, as are holiday celebrations and ride promotions. But, the Boardwalk is also the site to several annual events such as its popular New Year's Eve Celebration, Crawfish and Zydeco Celebration, Memorial Hermann Triathlon, International Beer Festival, Toughest 10K, Boo on the Boardwalk and Jingle on the Boardwalk. Fireworks are held every Friday night through the summer months as well.

Those wishing to stay overnight in Kemah can book a room 56-room Boardwalk Inn, which is located right in the middle of the Kemah Boardwalk. Each room at the Boardwalk Inn features a view of both the Boardwalk and Galveston Bay. Visitors wanting to just visit for the day are just a short 30-mile drive from Houston or a 25-mile drive from Galveston. But, whether visitors stay for a day, a weekend or even longer, every visit to Kemah and the Kemah Boardwalk leaves a lasting impression.