Texas is a large state, and down south by the Gulf of Mexico is the city of Corpus Christi – the sparkling city by the sea also known as the windy city (it’s the 4th windiest city in the US). It’s surrounded by the warm waters of the Corpus Christi Bay, Padre Island, Mustang Island, and many other beaches. You’ll need a beach sticker to enjoy the beaches on Padre Island and can get one at the gas stations in the area for about $12. Corpus Christi is a great place to travel if you’re on a budget. It’s a slower paced city where you can enjoy water views while listening to the sounds of the local seagulls. Here are some fun things to do while visiting Corpus Christi, Texas.
The USS Lexington found its permanent home at Corpus Christi beach in 1992 and is a great place to visit for you and your family. The USS Lexington is an American Aircraft Carrier used in World War II. In 1944, the US Lexington joined the Fifth Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese reported the USS Lexington sinking numerous times, which led to her nickname of the “The Blue Ghost”. The USS Lexington was also used in the filming of the movie Pearl Harbor with Ben Afleck and Kate Beckinsale. Come and explore the flight deck, the 3D Mega Theater, flight simulator, the Pearl Harbor exhibit, and more. You can do a self-guided tour or book a guided tour like the Hard Hat Tour, Flight Operations Tour, or Ghost Tour. The USS Lexington is reported to be haunted. Parts of the USS Lexington are wheelchair accessible like the flight deck and the hangar deck. Parking is $5 and entry prices to the ship ranges from $14.95 to $20.95 per person.
Next door to the USS Lexington is the Texas State Aquarium. This aquarium is my favorite. It is indoor and outdoor, right on the waters of the Corpus Christi Bay. There are so many animals and sea life to see and too many exhibits to list. You can explore all the exhibits and witness the beauty of the stingrays, dolphins, see the sharks, the cute sea otters, turtles, and ocelots. You can explore the coral reef exhibit, or explore the areas of the jungle exhibit with exotic birds and flamingos. This is truly a place that will bring a smile to your face. There is a splash play area for the kids and a courtyard to grab snacks. The Aquarium is full ADA compliant and accessible. Prices range from $34.99 to $44.99 per person. Parking is $5.
3. Whataburger Stadium – The Corpus Christi Hooks Minor League Baseball Team
Across the Harbor Bridge from the Texas State Aquarium is the Whataburger Stadium, home to the Corpus Christi Hooks. They are a Double A Minor League baseball team and associated with the Houston Astros. If you visit Corpus Christi during baseball season, you’ll want to stop by and enjoy a Hooks game! Check out their schedule for special events, like Dollar Day – dollar hot dogs, dollar sodas, etc., fireworks after the game, kid’s day, and special giveaways. You can sign up for the kids’ club, Silver Sluggers (must be 55 and older), Hooks baseball camp, and come to see their mascots, Rusty and Sammy. You can shop their store for team merchandise.
4. The Selena Quintanilla Tribute Statue
Selena Quintanilla is a celebrated Tejano super star from Corpus Christi, Texas. Her memorial statue – Mirador de la Flor (overlook of the flower), is located in downtown Corpus Christi at 600 N. Shoreline at the seawall by the T-Heads. The memorial was erected in 1997 to pay tribute to her life, her contribution to music and to the city. As a born and raised Corpus Christian, I remember growing up hearing her music and many girls I knew dreamed about hiring Selena to perform at their quinceniera (I was in high school at the time). The day Selena was killed was a dark day for our community. A couple of years after, a movie about her life, Selena, was filmed here starring Jennifer Lopez. You can visit the Selena Museum where you can view her awards and learn more about her life as a music legend.
5. The T-Heads
Downtown Corpus Christi on Shoreline is the downtown waterfront and Lawrence Street T-Heads. Watch the water and private boats. You can also watch sailboats race on Wednesday nights. Driving down the T-heads you can get a view of the Harbor Bridge. You can have dinner on the Landry’s boat restaurant. If you walk a bit up the streets, you can see the Farrah Faucet Mural (she was born and raised in Corpus Christi).
6. Two-Story Whataburger
Downtown located at 121 N. Shoreline Blvd. is the only two-story Whataburger! Whataburger was founded in Corpus Christi and is known for its burgers. They are open 24 hours and only closed on Christmas Day. They start serving breakfast at 11pm through 11 am. I had a temp job at their corporate office while it was in Corpus Christi (they’ve since moved their corporate offices to San Antonio). We would get 50% off of food which was great! My grandfather was a carpenter and built many Whataburgers around Texas. (For those with Celiacs or a gluten-allergy, there may not be many allergy-free options to eat at Whataburger, but you can visit and enjoy a soft drink or plain shake while watching the bay views from the second floor – just look out for seagulls). Please also order at your own risk, as there is always a risk of cross-contamination if you have a food allergy. Always talk to your server first before ordering.
7. Birdwatching
Corpus Christi also has the nickname Birdiest City in America. Corpus Christi and its neighboring cities like Rockport, are known for being home to exotic seabirds and birds year-round. People from around the world come for birdwatching. To catch a glimpse, you can visit Bird Island or Padre Island National Seashores, but honestly I’ve seen exotic birds just in the parking lot of Wal-Mart so you don’t have to go very far!
8. Activities
There are many fun things to do here, even if you’re on a budget. The Art Museum has free nights open to the public the third Thursday of the month. The Science and History Museum is open and has an entry free, but you can attend their monthly lectures for free (although a donation is encouraged). There is a fun new shop you must visit called Sew Bonita. On top of the fun merch they sell, they also have creative classes like sewing and cookie decorating. Downtown, you can visit Retro to enjoy a retro arcade and bar/pizza experience. Visit the Harbor Playhouse to enjoy the latest play. If you’re outdoorsy, you can stop by the Botanical Gardens Nature Center.