The Lone Star Half Ironman in Galveston Texas is a great half Ironman. The race headquarters is at Moody Gardens, which has a resort hotel, a white sand beach, an aquarium, a rain forest pyramid, and several other attractions.
The swim is in salt water, but in the protected bay, not the open ocean, so waves shouldn't be a problem.
The bike and the run are both flat. The bike goes all the way down Galveston Island and crosses the bridge at San Luis Pass, goes another six miles, and then turns around. The run is four loops in and around Moody Gardens - good for spectators.
