Corpus Christi

A World War II aircraft carrier is permanently moored here, right next to one of the largest aquariums in the U.S. If you're planning a trip to Corpus Christi on the Texas Gulf Coast, you'll find a port city with a bayfront promenade, long sandy beaches, and a strong Mexican American culture.

A Port City with Faith in Its Name

The name goes back to the Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda, who is said to have reached the bay in 1519 on the feast of Corpus Christi, Latin for "Body of Christ." The city itself, however, was not founded until 1839, as a trading post. It later grew thanks to oil, gas, chemicals, and one of the largest ports in the U.S. by tonnage handled. The Navy has a presence through Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. The city became known worldwide through the Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, who lived here and died in 1995; along the waterfront, the Mirador de la Flor, with a bronze statue, commemorates her.

Sights in Corpus Christi

On North Beach lies the USS Lexington, an aircraft carrier that you can now tour as a museum, with its flight deck, hangars, and crew bunks. Next door, the Texas State Aquarium showcases the wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico, from dolphins to sea turtles. Shoreline Boulevard, with its seawall and the Mirador pavilions, invites you to take a stroll, as does the Art Museum of South Texas, housed in a striking white building. The Selena Museum displays the singer's stage costumes. For beach days, head to Padre Island and Mustang Island; Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world.

Eating in Corpus Christi

The cuisine combines Gulf Coast seafood with Tex-Mex. Shrimp, oysters, red snapper, and blue crab come fresh off the boats, often grilled or served as fish tacos. For breakfast, there are breakfast tacos with egg, chorizo, and beans, a staple in South Texas. In the evening, people gather in the downtown bars near the water or in restaurants overlooking the bay. If you want to buy fresh fish, you'll find it at the docks.

Water Sports and Nature on the Coast

The steady wind over the Laguna Madre and Oso Bay makes Corpus Christi one of the best spots in the U.S. for windsurfers and kitesurfers. Anglers head out into the Gulf on chartered boats or cast their lines in the lagoons. In the salt marshes, you can watch roseate spoonbills, pelicans, and herons. At Padre Island National Seashore, Kemp's ridley sea turtles hatch in summer, one of the rarest sea turtles in the world; the hatchling releases are open to the public. Kayak tours through the seagrass meadows are also popular.

Getting Around Corpus Christi and the Best Time to Visit

Corpus Christi International Airport has connections to Houston and Dallas; San Antonio, with its larger airport, is a good two hours away by car. Regional Transportation Authority buses also serve the beaches, but a rental car is more convenient. The best times to visit are spring and fall; summer is hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. In winter, many retirees come down from the north. Excursions take you to Port Aransas by ferry, to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where rare whooping cranes spend the winter, and to Rockport with its artists' studios.