Like many people in Katy, I pack up the family and go to Galveston in the summertime … park on the Seawall, lug chairs, cooler, kites, pails, you-name-it’s, down all the steps and pick a “good spot” to shake out the blanket and hang out for the day. But when the weather gets cooler like this, the Galveston Seawall calls to me.

I know, I know, beach = summer, sun, swimming. But for me the beach is even better when there’s a chilly breeze and you need a hooded sweatshirt! One of my favorite things to do is grab a girlfriend and sit on the Seawall and enjoy a few hours of precious girl talk.

This is a no-men / no-kids atmosphere in my book, and I highly recommend all the ladies give it a try. Here’s what you do: Leave the hubby home watching football (trust me, he won’t mind), drop the kids off at a friend’s house for a play date, and go pick up your best girlfriend. Take I-45 south until you hit water (stop slightly prior to getting wet). Drive along the Seawall until you see that perfect, uninhabited spot – park.

Here’s what you’ll need: A couple of really warm, hooded sweatshirts, a quick stop at the nearest coffee shop (you’ll want something hot, and get the Grande), and some snacks (optional).

Sit side-by-side on the Seawall with your legs dangling (this is required – it’s very therapeutic to sit there kicking your legs softly). Keep the cup of hot coffee in your hands to keep them warm. Then start the girl talk. Continue this for at least two hours. When you combine girlfriend-bonding with the cool breezy air, the smell of the ocean, the relaxation... it is pure beach-bliss.

So give it a try. And if when you get there, you see two women sitting with their legs dangling, yell, “Hi Jen!” because chances are it’s me and my girlfriend!