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Home » 14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas: Top-Rated Attractions 2022

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas: Top-Rated Attractions 2022

Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas: Top-Rated Attractions 2022

On the shores of its bay on the Gulf Coast of southern Texas, the city of Corpus Christi began life as a humble outpost in the middle of no man’s land between the continental United States and Mexico to the south. 

Battles were fought and won on its fringes, while Corpus grew to become one of the largest ports in the United States, shipping reams of agricultural products and oil into the waterways of the Gulf of Mexico.

Today, the place is famous for its pristine beaches and Padre Island reserves (the largest of its kind on the planet). At the same time, a genuinely multi-cultural atmosphere means all Hispanics who eat tex -mex to long-haired surfers are found between the craft beers and coastal shrimp.

Add to that some incredible museums, like the Texan Aquarium and the USS Lexington, pirate history, and the plethora of wildlife parks, and Corpus Christi becomes a top choice for travelers coming to the Lone Star State!

1. Enjoy the delights of the Padre Island National Seashore

Seashore Arching its way from the shores of the city of Corpus Christi to the border areas with Mexico in the south, the Padre Island National Seashore stretches for 70 miles along the Gulf, making it one of the enormous swaths of an untouched barrier island in the world!

Complete with rolling dunes of grassy sand, pristine beaches, and shifting hills of sandbars, the protected area rarely stops panting.

Not only is it located on the central flyway for migratory birds, playing host to everything from brown pelicans to plovers, but it’s also one of the best places to help with conservation efforts to save the Kemp’s sea turtle.

On the shores of its bay on the Gulf Coast of southern Texas, the city of Corpus Christi began life as a humble outpost in the middle of no man’s land between the continental United States and Mexico to the south.

Battles were fought and won on its fringes, while Corpus grew to become one of the largest ports in the United States, shipping reams of agricultural products and oil into the waterways of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Today, the place is famous for its pristine beaches and Padre Island reserves (the largest of its kind on the planet). At the same time, a genuinely multi-cultural atmosphere means all Hispanics who eat tex -mex to long-haired surfers are found between the craft beers and coastal shrimp.

Add to that some incredible museums, like the Texan Aquarium and the USS Lexington, pirate history, and the plethora of wildlife parks, and Corpus Christi becomes a top choice for travelers coming to the Lone Star State!

2. Break windsurfing in the waters of the Laguna Madre

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas
14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

Bounded to the west by the undeveloped wilderness of Padre Island National Island, this colossal hypersaline lagoon stretches for more than 100 miles along the Texas coast. 

The waters of the Laguna Madre, famous for its prosperous shrimp industries and the constant trade winds that blow from the Caribbean and Sargassum seas, have become an actual magnet for lovers of windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Scores of service providers are now based in Corpus Christi itself. In contrast, others are based on the shores of Padre Island, offering lessons and rentals to travelers eager to conquer the white lagoons of the shallow lagoon.

3. Discover the biodiversity of the Gulf at the Texas State Aquarium

State Aquarium The Texas State Aquarium is teeming with marine life and underwater animals that reflect the sheer biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico.

The non-profit institution itself takes pride in place of honor in Corpus Harbor Christi, sits in the shadow of the great Harbor Bridge, and boasts a whopping six acres of exhibit space.

Highlights of a TSA tour include the colossal tanks of Dolphin Bay, home to two posh Atlantic bottling, the bewildering spectacle of floating Phantoms, complete with jellyfish and stingers pulled from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and Stingray Lagoon, where visitors are invited to touch the ray pods as they weave beneath the seas.

4. Tour the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas
14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

This steel through-arch bridge is brimming with authentic southern styles by spanning the harbor waters that connect the Port of Corpus Christi to the City of Corpus Christi.

Built-in the late 1950s Like the great bridges on the Mississippi, the phenomenal feat of engineering currently carries up to 30,000 cars a day.

However, people don’t come here to gawk at the joints and welding. They come to see the famous LED light shows that bloom on the structure every night.

Made of more than 10,000 individual light-emitting diodes, the performance sees the bridge go from red to blue to green. It’s particularly fantastic on the 4th of July when the port glows in America red, white, and blue.

5. Aircraft, weapons, and military records on the USS Lexington

The great warrior of the Pacific Theater and a ship that has nothing legendary in the annals of United States military history, The Blue Ghost, as this colossal aircraft carrier docked in the waters of the Bay of Corpus Christi is affectionately known, it is now one of the most recognizable National Historic Landmarks.

Converted into a massive military museum after retiring as a training ship in 1991, the behemoth now draws a host of visitors to its decks and bridges, the interior fighting rooms, and barracks.

The tours are truly immersive experiences, offering everything from high-definition movies about Lexington’s impressive fighting life to hands-on games and journeys through the depths of the engine to boot!

6. Gnarly at the Texas Surf Museum

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

Woe to the traveler who thinks surfing is America’s only West Coast province! The Eastern Seaboard, from Long Island to Central Texas, also boasts big swells, all foamy and robust thanks to trade winds from the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.

Check out the Texas Surf Museum, just a couple of blocks away. Streets of the waters of Corpus Christi Bay. Here, people are dedicated to chronicling the history of waves in the Lone Star State.

Visitors can watch a surf movie while reclining on homemade surfboard seats, view loads of surf photography, and learn all about protecting and preserving local beaches and sands.

7. See local Texan artists at the Art Museum of South Texas

South Texas Art Museum Located right on the water’s edge, right in the heart of downtown Corpus Christi, this cutting-edge art museum houses an extensive permanent collection of more than 1,500 works of art and sculpture.

The overall focus is on creative output from Texas, the American South, and Mexico. At the same time, there are also significant exhibits dedicated to the Dorothy Hood of the Lone Star State, a modernist famous for her mythical portraiture and Munch-style sketches.

The traveling exhibits are varied and eclectic, showcasing the Texas Impressionist style and maritime photography.

8. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge: Cranes and Wonderful Nature

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas
14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

A little over an hour’s drive north of Corpus Christi, downtown is where travelers will discover the vast and uncharted wilderness of the Aransas National Refuge.

A land of rivers. Brackish and hypersaline lagoon waters, rolling swamps, and endless marshes, this protected stretch of South Texas is home to scores of migratory birds.

And among the flocks of herons and spoonbills, there are also gators and bobcats to admire, all hiding in the dense thickets of oak branches and hammocks.

There’s also a visitor center open to the public during the summer, offering information about the winding trails and the wildlife that abound in the surrounding area.

9. Discover plenty of curiosities at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

Another of the must-see institutions along the harbor district in downtown Corpus Christi, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, has been displaying some of the weirdest and most beautiful artifacts in Texas for more than 50 years.

The various aspects of the permanent collection are suitably eclectic, living up to the dual focus of the space as a whole.

The scientific side is rounded out by Nanoverse explorations (small stuff), paleontology, and farming. In contrast, the historical side finds its zenith with the restored San Esteban shipwreck, a gold-laden Spanish ship from the world. New World that washed up on the edge of Padre Island in the 16th century.

10. Enjoy the jumps of the sea at Lazy Beach Brewing

A Lazy Beach Brewing is the premier place for craft beers in Corpus Christi, a no-frills local brewery without any of the corporate perks or fancy shops.

While its tipples can be found in craft shops and bars throughout the city, the best place to sample is definitely at the Bichon Drive Tapestry Room.

Here, beers like the much-loved Beach in Wheat rub shoulders with German-style Bocks and the namesake Corpus Christi, while a mix of food trucks outside provide the culinary accompaniment to a night out on the pint.

There are also occasional seasonal beers on the menu and regular collaborations with other Texas craft beers.

11. Catch a game at Whataburger Field

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

Field Whataburger Field can be heard roaring with the giant bronze statue of a baseball player anywhere in the United States (a virtually uncontested effigy known as For the Love of the Game, which can see in front of the stadium).

The chants of more than 5,000 local baseball fans. They come to watch the city’s minor league baseball masters, the Corpus Christi Hooks, hit home runs and fast deliveries.

There are also beautiful views from the stadium, which is It is in a prime location on the edge of Corpus Christi Harbor, commanding views of the city’s iconic bridge and the USS Lexington.

12. Taste authentic Gulf seafood at Snoopy’s Pier

Snoopy’s Pier Homegrown, grassroots Snoopy’s Pier was born in the 1980s when local Corpus Christi fisherman Ernie Butler decided to switch from catching seafood from the Gulf to cooking for the hungry locals and travelers.

The menu was forged by family and fishing friends, which shines through in its earthy simplicity and appeal.

There are extensive platters of fried oysters and fried Texas shrimp, boiled shrimp, and classic fish and chips, to name just a few of the staples.

Patrons can also look forward to fantastic panoramic views of the afternoon sun setting over the Laguna Madre for tear!

13. Discover your inner pirate at Blackbeard’s On the Beach

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas
14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

Shake those timbers and prepare to face the ghosts of Corpus Christi’s pirate past with a trip to Blackbeard’s On the Beach.

Hailed as one of the city’s hottest restaurants, this old-fashioned dive on the edge of North Beach shakes up American fare in an immersive setting and indelibly fun.

With buffalo wings and seashell salads, peeled shrimp and seared tuna, Mexican-inspired cheeses, popcorn shrimp, and blackened chicken all come together on the menu, while Czech beers and homebrews from the US.

Oh, and there’s also a rock bar next door where classic Eagles paraphernalia mixes with vintage Clapton as the backing track!

14. Stroll through the South Texas Botanical Gardens

14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas
14 Best Things To Do In Corpus Christi, Texas

Botanic Gardens The South Texas Botanic Garden can be found on 180 acres of land on the south side of Corpus Christi. A mix of colorful hibiscus and hummingbirds, the site is dotted with the pretty outlines of decades-old pavilions.

Several indoor greenhouses and flora exhibits, ranging from the arid gardens showcasing spiky cacti from Texas and abroad to the winding nature trail of bushes, leading into mesquite forests where wild deer share the woods with bobcats.

Bottom line: this is a good place for a relaxing stroll away from the city or the salt-washed Texan coast.

Is Corpus Christi worth visiting?

If all you want from your vacation is access to miles and miles of unspoiled, beautiful beaches, Corpus Christi is ideal. Base yourself in Downtown Corpus Christi, and you can be on Padre or Mustang Island in minutes, where the water is warm, and the soft sands are always inviting.

Which beach is better, Corpus Christi or South Padre Island?

Some tips: South Padre Island IS the best of the two. It has better beaches, accommodations, better restaurants and, in my opinion, friendlier people. However, I love both towns! Corpus is closer to the major cities and has more things to do, but SPI….it’s just in the smack middle of nowhere.

Does Corpus Christi have a boardwalk?

Then take a scroll on the boardwalk, and you’ll have your choice of places to eat and fun souvenir shops to browse. North Beach is within walking distance to two top attractions in Corpus Christi: the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay and the Texas State Aquarium.

How far is Corpus Christi from the beach?

There are 150.53 miles from Corpus Christi to Surfside Beach in the northeast direction and 185 miles (297.73 kilometres) by car, following the TX 35 route. Corpus Christi and Surfside Beach are 4 hours and 29 mins apart if you drive non-stop. This is the fastest route from Corpus Christi, TX, to Surfside Beach, TX.

Is Corpus Christi nice?

Corpus Christi is a great size for those looking to get away from big city life. With a permanent population of just over 326,000 and a laid back atmosphere, it’s a perfect place to slow down.

What is Corpus Christi like in December?

Daily high temperatures decrease by 6°F, from 72°F to 67°F, rarely falling below 52°F or exceeding 82°F. Daily low temperatures decrease by 5°F, from 56°F to 50°F, rarely falling below 37°F or exceeding 69°F.

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