Every city has its own individual characteristics that make it stand out from every other city out there. New York has the Empire State Building. Los Angeles has the Hollywood sign. Chicago is known for the brisk winds that blow in off Lake Michigan and Austin touts itself as the “Live Music Capital of Texas.”
So what is it that makes Corpus Christi so special? What can you find here that you can’t find anywhere else, or, at least, that you can’t find in most other cities you visit?
What’s in a Name?
You can start with the name, for one. You’ll find only one city on the entire planet that goes by the name Corpus Christi, which is Latin for “Body of Christ.” The name comes from the bay of the same name, which is said to have been discovered by Alonzo Álvarez de Piñeda on the Roman Catholic feast day of Corpus Christi.
Aquatics and more...
The Texas State Aquarium is another uniquely Corpus Christi experience. The official aquarium of Texas is one of the top 10 aquariums in the nation and specializes in chronicling the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Texas State Aquarium is dedicated to the study of flora and fauna of the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent coastline. It features a 132,000-gallon aquarium with a reproduction of an offshore oil rig, a smaller, more colorful aquarium with a reproduction of a coral reef and numerous other tanks and exhibits featuring sea turtles, Texas river otters and birds of prey.
Corpus Christi Beach is also home to another popular Texas tourist attraction. The USS Lexington, a World War II-era decommissioned aircraft carrier, is moored just off the beach a short walk north of the aquarium. A concrete ramp leads visitors up to the hangar deck, where they begin their tour of one of the most decorated aircraft carriers in U.S. Navy history. Several air-conditioned, self-guided tours lead visitors through the captain’s quarters, admiral’s quarters, navigation and flag bridge, sick bay and engine room. A large-screen movie theatre, gift shop, food court and flight simulator add to the enjoyment. But the main draw is the flight deck, where vintage aircraft from the World War II era and onward stand on static display.
Ocean Drive...
The city’s Ocean Drive offers a driving experience not enjoyed by most cities. This popular avenue runs along Corpus Christi Bay and features several fine homes. The city’s favorite park – Cole Park – is located on Ocean Drive overlooking the bay. KidsPlace is a huge wooden play area in the park with stairs, ramps, ladders and lots of cool tunnels.
The opportunity to commune with nature is among the main reasons people visit Corpus Christi. The endangered whooping cranes spend their winters at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge north of Corpus Christi, and each summer scads of endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings are released into the wild.
While on your nature jaunt, you don’t want to miss the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center which has become one of the region’s top nature tourism destinations showcasing colorful, exotic floral exhibits blended with vast conserved areas of native habitat and natural wetlands. The 180-acre site is an integral part of the city’s growing Oso Creek Greenbelt system and is a part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
Water Sports...
Corpus Christi is a perfect setting for water sports enthusiasts. Not only is the area teeming with water, it’s also one of the windiest spots in the nation, which means sailors, windsurfers and kitesurfers will never find themselves longing for a good breeze.
Water sports include sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, riding personal watercraft, motor-boating, parasailing and paddleboating.
Sailing has long been a popular sport in the Corpus Christi area. The Corpus Christi marina is evidence of that, with boats packing the slips and the bayfront dotted with billowing white sails many evenings and almost every weekend.
Wednesday nights are good times to experience Corpus Christi sailing for the first time, whether as a spectator or a participant. The Wednesday night regatta attracts amateur – and not so amateur – sailors competing in various divisions over a course laid out over Corpus Christi Bay. Show up around 5 p.m. and you might even get the chance to serve as a crew member on one of the boats.
Sailboats are available for rent along the bayfront. Contact the city’s marina office at (361) 882-7333 for information on how to charter a boat or to find an experienced sailor to take you out for the day or evening.
Windsurfing...
Corpus Christi has been home to one of the top windsurfing competitions in the world for several years. Kitesurfing and other extreme sports have been added in recent years. The four-day event now includes skateboarding and bicycle stunt performances at the annual Velocity Games/U.S. Open Windsurfing & Kiteboarding Championships.
One of the best spots in the world to windsurf can be found at Bird Island Basin at Padre Island National Seashore. The water is shallow and the winds steady at this popular spot, which attracts people from all over the world.
Surfing, too...
Surfing is popular along the Texas coast as well. Surfers can be found near the piers and jetties on Padre and Mustang islands. Popular spots include the beaches of Port Aransas, J.P. Luby Surf Park and Bob Hall Pier in the Corpus Christi section of Padre Island.
Kayaking
Kayaking has become a popular water sport in recent years. Kayaks are for sale or rent at spots all along the Texas coast, including Corpus Christi, Port Aransas and Rockport. Kayaking guide services will rent you a kayak and take you to popular kayaking spots for exploring and fishing and will pick you up when you’re done.
Personal watercraft are available for rent at city marinas, beaches and roadways along area waterways. Scuba diving in Corpus Christi will take you to offshore oil and gas platforms, or to destinations outside the area.
Finally, the kids will enjoy renting a paddleboat and cruising around the sheltered waters of the marina.
Take Me Out to the Ballpark
The Corpus Christi Hooks, owned in part by Hall-of-Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The field is within the shadow of the Harbor Bridge and overlooks the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, where barges and tankers provide a monumental backdrop to the games.
Contact Us...
Call the Corpus Christi Padre Island CVB at 800-766-2322 or visit www.corpuschristicvb.com.