So, you’ve finally booked your trip to the Gulf Coast (what a great choice!) and you're looking for things to do in Corpus Christi. Check out this guide below to find out everything a first-timer needs to know so you won’t miss a thing. Cover the basics: “what to do”, “where to eat” and “where to stay” to make your trip to Corpus Christi carefree and one you’ll always remember!

What to do and where to go:

Museums & Aquariums

Texas State Aquarium

Texas State Aquarium

If museums and aquariums are on your to-do list (highly recommended if you have little ones!) you’re going to want to head Downtown and North Beach and visit the Corpus Christi Museum of Science & HistoryArt Museum of South TexasUSS Lexington Museum on the Bay or Texas State Aquarium.

Shopping

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Downtown Farmer's Market

Want to shop till ya drop? Head to Central Corpus Christi and check out La Palmera. For some local shopping, stay in Central Corpus Christi and check out  Benjamin's Surf and Skate and other small, specialty stores. If you head to Downtown Corpus Christi and still want to shop, the Downtown Farmer’s Market every Wednesday evening is a must-see!

Outdoor Activities

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Do you love spending time by the water or in the fresh air? You’ll want to add outdoor activities to your to-do list! Participate in water or wind sports at any of the beaches, or you can go boating, fishing or biking! There are also plenty of running or biking trails to check out including Grasslands Nature Trail or Hazel Bazemore Park.

Beach

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If you’re craving sand and sunshine, head to Mustang IslandPadre Island or Big Shell Beach. Really, there are so many beautiful beaches in Corpus Christi, you can’t go wrong visiting any of them!

Sports

Depending on the time of year you visit the Coastal Bend, you can catch a Hooks baseball game at Whataburger Field or an IceRays game at American Bank Center.

Relaxation

If the beach isn’t relaxing enough, you can find ultimate relaxation and pampering at one of Corpus Christi’s spas, and the Central Corpus Christi neighborhood is where to go! Here you’ll find local favorites like June’s Day Spa and Anthony’s Aveda Concept Salon & Day Spa.

What to eat:

andy's country kitchen

Andy's Country Kitchen

You really can’t go wrong with food in South Texas. No matter what type of food you’re craving—TexMex, BBQ, Vietnamese, Steak, Seafood, Thai, Italian—you’ll be able to find tons of options in Corpus Christi!

Some of the local favorites are Andy’s Country Kitchen in Southside and La Playa By the Bay Downtown.

Where to stay:

You can find the best hotels all over Corpus Christi, so it’s really up to you to pick where you want to stay! If you’re looking to be near attractions like museums, you’ll probably want to stay Downtown. But if you want the beach, Padre Island is a great choice!

Hotels aren’t your thing? No problem! You can rent a condo for a more “homey” feel. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also camp in the Coastal Bend. Most of the campsites are found in North Corpus Christi at Greyhound RV Park or in Port Aransas at the Surfside RV & Resort.

Getting around: 

With easy-going traffic, getting around Corpus Christi is easy! Any way you choose, travel shouldn’t be a problem during your visit. Hop on a bus, taxi, trolley or shuttle. If you’re celebrating, rent a limo!

Your trip will not be complete without visiting the Corpus Christi Visitor Information Center. Here you can get all the info you’d want, along with coupons and “insider’s” tips to make your trip to Corpus Christi the best yet. Enjoy your stay!