Corpus Christi, TX Road Trips

Before there was a Corpus Christi, there was settlement in the area by the local Karankawa tribe, and it was a trading site for native people throughout the area. Early French and Spanish explorers came to the area in the 17th century, and by the early 19th-century smugglers used the future site of Corpus Christi as a staging point for moving contraband into Mexico. Corpus Christi is south of the Nueces River, and so it was in disputed territory during the Mexican-American War. General Zachary Taylor camped in Corpus Christi for nine months as they established the Rio Grande as the southern border of the United States. During the American Civil War, the city was bombarded by Federal gunboats. Visitors hoping to see remnants of Old Corpus Christi in their original locations might be a little disappointed, as much of the city was destroyed by the 1919 hurricane; however, some restored historical buildings survive in downtown. While weather is an attraction in Corpus Christi, it can be very hot. Storms and cold fronts frequently miss the city entirely, leaving Corpus Christi hot, humid, and occasionally oppressive. Winters are very mild, with freezing temperatures exceedingly rare. During the summer, it is usually possible to cool down a few degrees by heading closer to the water - but it will still be hot and humid. The average heat index in the summer months is 103 °F (39 °C) during the day, and 82 °F (28 °C) at night. Extreme heat and humidity can raise heat indices further to 113 °F (45 °C) or higher, and not go below 88 °F (31 °C) at night.

1 Art Center of Corpus Christi, 101 North Shoreline Dr (Downtown), ☏ +1 361 884-6406. Has a collection of art from local and largely unknown artists. Water garden in front. 2 Artesian Park. Corpus Christi has many small parks, such as Artesian Park, scattered throughout the city. For those into the paranormal, Artesian Park is another reportedly haunted Corpus Christi locale. The Bayfront. The downtown area along Shoreline drive, which is formed of concrete steps leading down to the water's edge. It is essentially the heart of Corpus Christi and is a terrific area for family evening strolls or running alone in the early morning. It extends over two miles from Magee Beach along the Marina and T-heads, past the American Bank Center (stadium/coliseum) to the Art Museum of South Texas and the port area. Vendors may occasionally be found here selling cotton candy or renting pedicabs or pediboats. Festivals such as Buccaneer Days ("Buc Days" by the locals) and the Fourth of July celebrations are held here with fireworks being fired out over the water. Some of Corpus Christi's best known restaurants are located only a block away on Water Street. 3 Corpus Christi Cathedral, 505 N Upper Broadway, ☏ +1 361-883-4213, [email protected]. Corpus Christi also has numerous churches, perhaps the best known of which is the Corpus Christi Cathedral on the bluff overlooking the downtown area. It was built in the 1940s, but the congregation has existed since soon after the founding of the city in the 1840s.

Most visitors to Corpus Christi come for the water. The Corpus Christi area has miles of warm sandy beaches, which are easily accessible, if crowded. Water ranges in temperature from the mid 50s (°F) during the winter to the mid 80s during the summer. Beach access is usually free. Corpus Christi Beach (North Beach) (across the Harbor Bridge from downtown). While small, it is usually not terrifically crowded, and is convenient to other tourist attractions like the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington. Cole Park, Ocean Drive (just south of downtown). Barrier islands. Most popular of all are the barrier islands located just off the coast. Mustang Island and Padre Island are less than 30 minutes from town, and provide plenty of recreation for visitors and locals. Sailboat races. Every Wednesday. Windsurfing at Bird Island Basin (Padre Island National Seashore). One of the top spots in the nation for windsurfing! Birdwatching. Located on the central flyway, a major bird migration route, Corpus Christi is a terrfic spot for birdwatching. Almost 45% of all North American species have been spotted on Padre Island National Seashore alone. Magee Beach (downtown on Shoreline Drive near the Marina). Hurricane Alley, 702 East Port Ave. 11AM-6PM. Hurricane Alley is a small waterpark on North Beach. $25 for adults, $20 for kids under 4 feet and seniors, $15 after 3:30PM. Corpus Christi Hooks. AA-level minor league baseball from March through September.

Corpus Christi is a good place to get gulf seafood -- especially shrimp and oysters. In addition to the local places mentioned (and the hundreds of others not mentioned), there is a large variety of the usual nationally-known chains, usually to be found on S.P.I.D. or on Saratoga: Outback, Cracker Barrel, T.G.I. Friday's. Golden Corral, P.F. Chang's, Macaroni Grill, Johnny Carino's, Olive Garden, etc. plus all the usual fast-food and pizza delivery chains. Corpus Christi is the birthplace of Whataburger, a fast-food chain, and Whatabugers can be usually found within five minutes, regardless of where you are in Corpus. They are also renowned for the unusually high (for a fast food chain) quality for their burgers. Though there are some excellent seafood restaurants locally, don't forget other options, like buying your own seafood from one of the many small, local seafood markets which buy their seafood from local fishermen, oystermen, and crabbers, and prepare it yourself. Not all the restaurants buy their supplies locally. You can also buy shrimp directly off the back of the shrimp boats as they come in with the morning's catch around 11AM at the t-heads downtown on the bayfront. Aka Sushi, 415 N Water St, ☏ +1 361 882-8885. Good sushi. Good atmosphere. Sister location Koi Sushi & Hibachi at 5301 Everhart Rd. Blackbeard's (in North Beach near the U.S.S. Lexington). Well-known locally for its burgers. Family atmosphere. Good food. Local legends say the restaurant is haunted. B&J's Pizza. At two locations: the original on SPID and the new one on Staples.

Many of the following clubs have websites or are listed in the phone book. Katz 21 Steak & Spirits, 5702 Spohn Dr. A large club with terrific bands usually playing light or classic rock, Latin music, blues or jazz. Classy. Upscale. Dewey's. Serves beer, has a pool table, the TVs are usually on ultimate fighting and a rugby field is being built out back next to their patio for the local rugby team. D'Lounge. Classy. Upscale. Wonderful place to relax. Olaf, one of the bartenders, won the local 2007 competition for the best martini in town. Rockit's Whiskey Bar & Saloon, 709 N Chaparral St (Downtown on Chaparral near Starr). Great blues and rock bands in a bluesy atmosphere. Good bar. The Keg Room. A nice, neighborhood bar that has been around forever on the corner of Alameda and Airline. 1 Murdy's. A sports bar with a few dozen TV screens and several pool tables. (updated Jun 2018) The Executive Surf Club (corner of William and Chaparral). A Corpus Christi classic with well-known south Texas bands playing on an enclosed patio. Excellent food such as burgers and shrimp poor-boys and a great selection of beers on tap in a relaxing atmosphere. The Pelican Lounge, Park Road 22 (on Padre Island). Good food and bands. Texas hold'em tournaments every week. Good local bands. Pool tables and shuffle board available.

1 Best Western Marina Grand Hotel, 300 North Shoreline Blvd., ☏ +1 361 883-5111, fax: +1 361 883-7702. This 12-story tower on the marina is out-of-the-ordinary for the Best Western chain. Nice views up and down the coast from most rooms, easy access to CC downtown. Free breakfast in roof restaurant. $80-150, seasonal. 2 Hawthorn Suites Corpus Christi, 1442 South Padre Island Dr, ☏ +1 361 854-3400. Las Brisas Condominiums, 4000 Surfside Blvd, ☏ +1 361 883-4371. Right on the beach, with a breath-taking view of the bay and the city. Tennis courts, a swimming pool. Close to downtown and the marina, next to the South Texas Aquarium and the Lexington Aircraft Carrier. One-, two-, and three-bedroom condos for a lease of at least three months. 3 Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, 900 North Shoreline Blvd. (Downtown Marina District), toll-free: +1-888-444-6664. The AAA Four-Diamond hotel offers sweeping views of the bay, award-winning dining at the Republic of Texas Bar and Grill and complimentary high speed wireless Internet access. 4 Sea Shell Inn Motel, 202 Kleberg Pl (Exit Harbor Bridge, seen on the right.), ☏ +1 361 888-5391. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Motel located on Corpus Christi Beach (updated Jun 2015)

1 Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP IATA) (located within city limits). Served by American Eagle, United Express, and Southwest Airlines, with nonstop flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, and Houston Hobby respectively. Flying into the local airport may be slightly more expensive than flying into cities with larger airports. Some visitors (and many locals) choose to use San Antonio International Airport (SAT IATA) which is about two and a half hours from Corpus Christi, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS IATA), which is about four hours by car, or George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH IATA), also about four hours by car. Frequent flights to many destinations make these convenient airports, even given the additional travel time from Corpus Christi. Greyhound, 702 N Chaparral St, ☏ +1 361 882-2516. 9AM - 11:30PM. America's ever-present Greyhound bus service offers transportation to Corpus Christi. There are two bus stations in Corpus Christi. With few exceptions, tourists will want the main Corpus Christi station, and not the Corpus Christi West station, which serves western suburbs containing few attractions for visitors. Service from San Antonio takes roughly three hours and costs around $35. There is no passenger train service into Corpus Christi. You can take a train to San Antonio or San Marcos, and bus or rental car service will get you from those cities to Corpus Christi. By far, most visitors to Corpus Christi drive.

While Corpus Christi is ostensibly laid out in a classic city-block style, the adaptation of that system to the local geography can make navigation a little confusing. Nevertheless, there are several main roads that traverse nearly the entire city, and these can be used to orient yourself if you find yourself lost. The Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau has some up-to-date visitor information on the area such as maps, bus routes and accommodations as well as activities ranging from attractions, museums and performing arts to nature and outdoors. Most visitors and locals travel around Corpus Christi in cars. Most likely, a rental or personal car is the best way for you to see the city. The main routes for getting around efficiently in Corpus Christi are I-37, South Padre Island Drive (TX-358), the Crosstown Expressway (TX-286), and Ocean Drive/Shoreline Boulevard (Ocean Drive is an extension of Shoreline Blvd. for about 7 miles along Corpus Christi Bay). I-37 brings you into town from the west and ends on Shoreline Drive downtown on the Bayfront. Shoreline Blvd. is a section of about 4 miles in downtown Corpus Christi along the bay. It begins in the area of the Art Museum of South Texas and leads south, becoming Ocean Drive. Following Ocean Drive takes one through the most scenic part of the city and to its end at the Naval Air Station and Texas A&M. South Padre Island Drive does not go to South Padre Island (a frequent mistake made by visitors), but is the southern section of Padre Island Drive.