gavleston.......san Antonio?

Don't get me wrong, I love Galveston and have made the trip many times with friends. That being said to me the clear choice is San Antonio! Galveston beach is ok but it will be SO hot in July your baby will be miserable. At the age of 1 he will not fully be able to appreciate and play in the sand and surf. He may just hate it altogether. The sand will be HOT and the salt water will be sticky and might give him diahrea. That's not to mention the prep and clean up. We went when my brother was 1 and my mom ended up spending the whole time in the room with him.
San Antonio has the wonderful river walk you can stroll down. He will enjoy the river boat, The zoo and Sea World not to mention the hotel pool.
I think if you had an older child I would choose the beach but I personally I would not take a 1 year old to the beach just yet.

We have always loved the Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio. It is just a beautiful setting, and we love the lazy river. They have a little sand beach area, and chaise lounges, and intertubes to float the circuit. It is right across the street from Sea World, which is convenient and fun. And then you can go down and do the river walk one afternoon and eat a meal. You will want to keep your one-year-old in an umbrella stroller on the river walk. There are no railings and the walkways are not that wide when crowded....but as long as your child is strapped in and not toddling then you are good.

I grew up in Galveston, and the beach is no Cancun. But kids really love the beach no matter which one your at. You can rent a house on the beach and just enjoy the breeze and the waves crashing, then take a walk on the beach, swim and build sand castles. The sand is brown, and the water warm in July. Shallow enough for a one year old to just sit and play at the shore line. The city has Beautiful old victorian homes everywhere. And a nice shopping area on the wharf, with cafes and entertainment.
We've been to the Hyatt Hill country too, with our twins who were 2. It is really nice, but crowded! And has a small beach, I mean small like twenty feet of water line. Everyone floats around in tubes, you could hold the baby and float. But my kid really didn't like it. For older kids it is great, has a day camp with crafts so you can have a break, movies at night, carriage rides, smores at night.
I would go to Galveston, even now when our kids are 4, they would enjoy the beach more. And I think it is a lot more relaxing.
There are lots of nice hotels, Pick one that is on the beach so you don't have to walk across the seawall. We stayed at the Hilton, it was nice but you have to cross a busy street to get to the beach.
If you want to rent a house. It is reasonably priced. Try Swedes real estate
it is in Crystal Beach, not so crowded over there. Have fun hope this helps

the galveston beach is not so beautiful but it is fun especially since there are not many beaches in texas! san antonio is very pretty and scenic with the river walk and the alamo. depends on whether u really want to swim in the beach--maybe wait until your child is old enough to enjoy the beach and go to SA instead this year ? have fun!

I've heard that if you go to the southern end of Galveston it's actually pretty nice. I heard this even after Hurricane Ike hit. San Antonio in July is VERY hot and humid.