Corpus Christi Texas

Sparkling City By The Sea

Experience Corpus Christi and you will encounter a rich blend of nature, culture, history and unique entertainment. Texas’ largest coastal city, Corpus Christi is a vast wonderland of sea, sun and fun! The tranquil beauty of Corpus Christi’s waterfront, bay and beaches is a persistent lure for visitors as well as locals. And on any given sunny afternoon, the marina is host to an array of colorful sails moving in, out and about Corpus Christi Bay. Pack a lunch, find a sunny spot, and enjoy the view. Or show up for the  Wednesday night sailboat races and join in onthe fun.

Gateway to Padre Island

Located on the central Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi is the gateway to one of the world’s natural wonders, the Padre Island National Seashore. Just a 30-minute drive from downtown, Padre Island is one of only a few nesting grounds for the endangered Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles. Padre Island beaches stretch out along more than 130 miles of the Gulf. As popular year-around attractions, area beaches, bays and inland waterways offer some of the world’s best conditions for water sport such as kiteboarding, windsurfing, jet skiing, kayaking and sport fishing.

USS Lexington Museum

The most famous aircraft carrier in the history of naval aviation, the mighty USS Lexington, is docked at Corpus Christi Beach just over the Harbor Bridge. Walk her deck and corridors and discover the significant role the “Blue Ghost” and her sailors played in our nation’s defense for nearly 50 years. Her World War II record is second to none, and she remains a memorial to the Americans who served her, served her country, and who died defending freedom.

Texas State Aquarium
Want to take home a real big fish story? Dive into the discovery of tiny seahorses or big sharks. Come face-to-fin with a sand tiger, angelfish, and barracuda. Or discover the world of sea otters, sea turtles or
the friendliest of bottlenose dolphins.

Island of Steel, a replica of an offshore oil and gas platform found in the Gulf, is a huge 132,000-gallon
exhibit that gives the visitors the illusion of being submerged more than 50 feet under water.

he Aquarium’s Flower Gardens Coral Reef habitat is a reproduction of the coral reef found off the coast of Galveston.

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

Enjoy serene beauty and a “walk on the wild side,” with stunning floral gardens almost shouting color and quiet trails through identified native habitat. Whether it’s decorative water features, vast natural wetlands, the majestic Rose Pavilion, or the thatched hut on Gator Lake (perfect for bird watchers), the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is an unforgettable study in contrasts.

More than 2000 orchids, 100 fragrant plumeria with viewing platform, and 300 breathtaking roses are gift
wrapped in expansive vistas of wetlands and shady mesquite forest. Open only 12 years, this 180-acre showcase also includes a quaint Hummingbird Garden, maginative Sensory Garden with fascinating “artscape,” Butterfly Garden, Arid Garden and colorful Earth Kind Demonstration Trial Gardens. Bromeliad Conservatory and screened Butterfly House opening in 2009.

The Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is a Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail site. Visitors learn about native vegetation and wildlife through creative signage and animal tracks along the Wetland Awareness Boardwalk and Bird & Butterfly Nature Trail! Remember to save some time for the Visitors Center Garden Shoppe!
361.852.2100

Shopping

Corpus Christi is home to many wonderful retailers with all you could ever want. La Palmera Mall is your one
stop shopping destination for clothing and accessories for the whole family, fine gifts, food and more.

There are over 100 retailers under one roof. Find something for yourself or the perfect gift to take home to someone special. Find fun and all you need under the palms – at La Palmera.

Relax

With all there is to do in Corpus Christi, you need and deserve time to rejuvenate. To make the most of your visit, the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel offers luxury rooms, restaurants, superior service, impeccable amenities, and attention paid to the smallest detail. Visit the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel each time you’re in Corpus Christi.

If staying on the beach is your style, Corpus Christi Beach Hotels are calling you. Walk out the door, onto the warm sand for a stroll on the beach. The Radisson Beach Hotel or the Quality Inn on Corpus Christi Beach offer the plush amenities you want and need to relax.

Museums & Ships

If art is your thing, the South Texas Institute for the Arts/Arts Museum’s permanent collection of more than 1100 pieces spans diverse style and medium. The museum’s emphasis has been placed on artists associated with the state of Texas.

From western to Mexican-American to abstract contemporary, a variety of art styles shape this comprehensive collection.

The Asian Cultures Museum and Educational Center, has an extensive collection of Asian arts and crafts and
many artifacts and commissioned works from Japan, other Pacific Rim nations and the Indian subcontinent.

Are you a history buff? If so, then the Corpus Christ Museum of Science and History is a must see. Explore the remains of three Spanish treasure ships that ran aground on Padre Island in 1554. Visit the Columbus
Quincentenary exhibit, and learn about the beginning of Columbus’ 15th century voyage to the New World.

Watch the kids’ imaginations come alive in the interactive Children’s Wharf exhibit.

One of the area’s newest and popular attractions is the Selena Museum. To please fans from around
the world who were showing up at the door of the family business, Abraham Quintanilla decided to build a
museum honoring his daughter’s memory. The museum displays outfits and dresses worn by Selena at concerts and award shows, each her own design, plus her red Porche and other personal memorabilia.

Tune In

Music is everywhere in Corpus Christi. Live music can be found in the downtown nightclubs, restaurants,
performing centers and outdoor amphitheaters. Treat yourself to some of Corpus Christi’s most popular and
unique musical festivals such as Texas Jazz Festival in October or visit the Art Center the second Sunday of every month for the Jazz Brunch & Art Mart.

The Sporting Life

For some fast-paced action, try the Corpus Christi Greyhound Track offering races every evening from Tuesday through Saturday. The Texas Treasure Casino Cruise Ship has two cruises daily leaving for sails out to international waters.

One of the city’s newest attractions is baseball, with the city’s own Corpus Christi Hooks reeling in the crowds regularly from April through September in the new Whataburger Field. And while the Hooks create home run fever during their season, the Corpus Christi Rayz are thrilling the crowds during hockey season.

Call the Corpus Christi Conventional & Visitors Bureau
at 800-766-2322 or visit www.corpuschristicvb.com