Tell me about Corpus Christi

[Garbo]

I will be driving there this summer for several days, . What's the best route and what advice do you have about staying there?

Thanks!

[Friscenstein]

Prepare your expectations for lots of seaweed on the beach and in the water.

[ashwi]

We saw Foghat there 20 years ago. I got an autograph from the drummer

[ThisCharmingMan]

Depending upon when you are driving, you can either take 35 to San Antonio and then 37 to Corpus or you can take a shorter, more scenic route out of Waco on 77 all the way down. It allows you to avoid the Austin traffic nightmare.

CC has the USS Lexington, a neat downtown, the Hooks baseball and an aquarium? Beach is serviceable, not great but it works. Other than that, its Mexico.

[comfortable]

Where to stay depends on your reason for the trip and who is going with you.

Corpus Christi is perched on the southern coast of Texas, rimming the Gulf of Mexico with some of the region's most popular beaches. The main metropolitan area is home to the lively Corpus Christi public beach, while Padre Island to the south expands the options for fun in the sun. Many midrange hotel chains offer lodging in Corpus Christi, but visitors can also enjoy a few full-service resorts along the coastline. Local attractions such as Texas State Aquarium and USS Lexington Museum are within easy driving distance of the resorts.

Corpus Christi Beach

In heart of metropolitan Corpus Christi, the oceanfront Radisson Hotel (radisson.com) on Surfside Boulevard is next door to the USS Lexington Museum and directly on the beach. On-site amenities include a freshwater pool connecting to the beach, hot tub, 24-hour fitness center and full-service business center. Beach equipment rentals are available at the hotel, and the city trolley stops in the front parking lot for transportation to attractions. Guestrooms have private balconies, microwaves and refrigerators; deluxe options include whirlpool and oceanfront rooms. A swim-up cabana bar is open seasonally. The third-floor Calypso Bar has a dance floor, pool table and darts.


Marina District

Omni Bayfront Tower (omnihotels.com) in Corpus Christi occupies a prime spot on Shoreline Boulevard in the Marina District, overlooking Corpus Christi Bay. Amenities include three restaurants, two heated pools, fully equipped health club, sauna, whirlpool, salon and massage services, with golf and tennis facilities nearby. Accommodations are upscale, with original artwork, cherry furniture and private balconies. Suites are available with over 1,600 square feet. The renowned on-site Republic of Texas Bar and Grill on the top floor serves steak and seafood in the evenings, with sweeping views of the bay and city skyline; two additional restaurants are open for daytime dining. The resort provides free airport shuttle service for guests.


North Padre Island

Holiday Inn (holidayinn.com) operates Corpus Christi Beach Hotel, a full-service resort on the north end of Padre Island. It is on the sand, with views of the ocean from guestrooms, as well as from two outdoor pools, hot tub, gazebo and sun deck. The Sand Bar serves cocktails with nightly entertainment, while Beachside Grill and Lounge provides full meals, burgers and snacks until late at night. Handpainted aquatic murals create a tropical environment for relaxing, but business can also be taken care of in a 21,000-square-foot meeting room with audiovisual equipment and catering.


If you want to stay on the beach, you can go out to Mustang Island.

This place is popular with families:
http://port-royal.com/our-resort/photo-gallery/

Here is the last place we stayed on Mustang Island:
http://www.themayanprincess.com/

It's more like a condo on the beach.

[Whats up]

We lived there for two years. Not a bad place to spend a week in the summer, horrible place to live...

Check out Mustang Island if you want to stay on the beach. There are some pretty solid rentals out there. We stayed at the Mayan Princess last time we visited.

For food, check out Blackbeards by the USS Lexington. Cheap fried seafood and burgers, but pretty good and they have live music on the patio in the evening.

Water Street downtown has pretty solid seafood as well. You'll run out of good places to eat after a couple of days though.

[CaddyWompus]

Things to see/Do
- USS Lexington
- TX State Aquarium
- Sea wall downtown (has Selina memorial)
- beach
- fishing

Places to eat
- Snoopy's Pier (http://www.snoopyspier.com/) BRING CASH!!!!

ETA:
If we're going with the intention of going to the beach we stay here: http://www.elconstante.com/ Looks more run down than other placeson the outside, but the inside is usually good and it's not as crowded. Plus it's at the end of the street so nothing north of you except the Packery Channel.

[Tooleman]

blah..

[J.R.]

We take 77 from Waco and always pulling a boat, hate going through or around Austin. Love Mustang Island as you can drive on the beaches.....much more redneck than Destin which is why I love it so much !!

[lholton2]

I lived there over 20 yrs. My choice would be Mustang Island, Port Aransas. Port Royal is a beautiful place, Huge pools, swim up bars, boardwalk over the dunes down to the beach. Much less commercial than being in the city. Good places to eat in Port A. Ride the Ferry to the mainland the CC is about 30 to 45 minutes away. Or you can go to Rockport, its pretty..