Corpus Christi
Beaches, art collections, wildlife attractions and shopping opportunities are plentiful in the South Texan city of Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi’s coastline is one of its most popular features. All through the year, the shore is busy with tourists and locals, who come here to swim, jog, sunbathe and hike. Take a visit to North Beach right next to downtown and the city’s most visited stretch of coast. It is a well-maintained beach with showers, restrooms, cabanas and picnic tables.
North Beach is also home to some of Corpus Christi’s major attractions. While you are there, stroll to the nearby Texas State Aquarium to see rescued eagles and sea turtles that have been rehabilitated. The aquarium has a protected habitat for dolphins that are unable to survive in open water, and a stingray lagoon, which allows visitors to touch and hand-feed more than 30 stingrays.
Film fanatics and war buffs alike can board the USS Lexington, a World War II aircraft carrier. This vessel saw service in Pearl Harbor and was also used as part of the set for the 2001 movie of the same name. Elsewhere in the city, the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is a 180-acre (73-hectare) site with collections of flora and fauna, including an orchid house and hummingbird garden.
Visit the Art Museum of South Texas, a Corpus Christi Bay landmark. Inside, the permanent collection spotlights fine art and crafts from Texas and its surrounding states.
Hire a car and take a 30-minute drive from downtown Corpus Christi to reach the Padre Island National Seashore. The city’s subtropical climate makes it easy to enjoy swimming, fishing, camping and bird-watching along the 70-mile (113-kilometer) stretch of white sandy beach.
On the first weekend of each month, there are organized art walks and a marina market day. The city also holds a festival every April, which is a two-week fiesta of fireworks, illuminated parades and rodeo fun.