Corpus Christi is located on the gulf coast of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. It is south of Houston and is north of Brownsville. About a 3.5 hour drive from Austin Texas Corpus Christi is a popular vacation spot in Texas. Padre Island is the main tourist attraction providing ample beaches and recreational activities for the family. On the north tip called Mustang Island is Port Aransas where one can go fishing in the gulf. If you visit anyone of the following places do mention that you saw the information on this page.
There are many hotels and condominiums on Padre Island. The one place I stay at every time I vacation there is at a condominium called Pirates Crossing 512-949-7306. It is actually a combination of several condos with convenient access to the beach. Some of the condos have balconies overlooking the intercoastal waterways but are further from the beach. The closest condos (Seahorse) are across the street from the Holiday Inn and has the easiest access to the beach.
Rates are seasonal but during peak summer season the rate is $90/day for a two bedroom/two bathroom. Offseason rates are about $75/day. You can easily house 4-6 adults. The condos are fully equipped with refrigerators, microwaves, laundry facilities, flatware, silverware, etc. Make sure to bring dish washing and laundry detergents. The nearest HEB supermarket is about a 10 minute drive away for supplies.
The Corpus Christi area is rich in things to do. For beach goers the nearby beaches at the Holiday Inn are clean and convenient. Some nice beaches are also located further down the main road at a National Park.
The replica Christopher Columbus ships are permanently docked in Corpus Christi and open to the public. You need to drive into Corpus Christi itself for this. There is also an old aircraft carrier (USS Lexington if I remember correctly) that has numerous displays, movies. The Texas State Aquarium is a small quant aquarium to visit if you are in the area.
Horseback riding on the beach is available on the road from Padre Island to Port Aransas. This horse stable also doubles as a school for students learning horse training. Prices are steep, $20 per adult for a one hour ride but well worth the experience. Try to go either during the early morning hours or towards the evening. The midday sun is extremely hot here and will make the ride uncomfortable. Mind the rules set out, no galloping the horses. They are very strict about this and you will walk back to the stables if you get out of hand. A sad way to spend the money if you violate this rule, not to mention a damn long walk depending where you get caught.
Dolphins are abundant in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. And the best dolphin watching is provided by Woody's Sportsmans Club located in Port Aransas. At 16h30 (4:30) the Jetty Boat leaves Port Aransas and you are on a one hour dolphin hunt. The skipper is a 5 year veteran dolphin watcher and his knowledge and comments about dolphin behaviour is indepth and extraordinary. Over the past few years I have gone on several dolphin watches and it seems to be seasonal. The best time of year to go seems to be from mid July to mid August presumably when the waters are at their warmest. If you travel earlier you will see dolphins, just not as many and not mating. If you do go take a video camera, you'll walk away with a National Geographic quality shoot including your skippers narration.
During certain times of the year travelling fairs can be found in the parking lots of the shopping malls in Corpus Christi.
Copyright @ 1995 Alexandre Polozoff. Last Update April 6, 1996