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Eateries

Pier 99 Restaurant

Just north of the shipping channel right on Corpus Christi Bay this casual, beachy restaurant and bar sits in the shadow of the USS Lexington. Featuring: good burgers, great seafood, tasty drink specials, laid-back atmosphere and most nights they have live music. Fun and filling without breaking the bank!

Phone: (361) 887-0764
Address: 2822 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi TX 78402

Adventures

USS Lexington

The Blue Ghost as it is well worth a visit but plan on spending all day touring the huge ship. There are several different self-guided tours of the ship from the flight deck to the poop deck to the mess hall and bunk rooms. Our favorite part was listening to the many volunteers throughout the ship as they answered questions. Most of them served during WWII and a few of them even served aboard the Lexington. They supply the human element of the huge hunk of metal. Be careful though there are numerous tight, narrow staircases that can challenge even the most able-bodied.

Phone: 361-888-4873
Address: 2914 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi TX 78403

Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

Our main draw to the museum were the full-sized replicas of Columbus’s ships the Pinta and the Santa Maria. The ships were gifts from Spain to the U.S. and they were sailed over to commemorate the 500th anniversary of that fateful “discovery of the New World”. The museum offers guided tours of the ships which are smaller than I had envisioned. Sadly, the ships are drydocked outside with no protection and they are starting to crumble but the museum is working on a plan to cover and restore them. There are excellent exhibits inside the museum which focus on the importance of the Texas coastal waters and the impact of foreign cultures on the native peoples.

Phone: (361) 826-4667
Address: 1900 N Chaparral St, Corpus Christi TX 78401

Padre Island National Seashore

Thankfully this park protects the north part of the island from the massive development seen on the south end. The park stretches across the island so a variety of habitats from deep ocean to shallow bay to freshwater are included. It is an excellent place for bird watching with over 380 species sighted. We took advantage of several of the guided walks and talks offered and came away quite a bit more knowledgeable, plus they were entertaining. There is a downside, when the park was formed the government could not afford to buy the mineral rights to the land. So currently there are a few oil and natural gas wells operating within the park. The large trucks and drilling are so incongruous but there is nothing the park can do to prevent them, they can only regulate.

Phone: (361) 949-8068
Address: Malaquite Visitor Center, 20402 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi TX 78418

Roosts

Padre Balli County Park

This county park is all about location, there are dry camping opportunities down the beach and water and electric hook-ups just behind the dunes from the beach. The park also has a large fishing pier, a casual restaurant, laundry facilities and a small shop stocked with the basic sundries. It isn’t far to nearby restaurants and stores and Corpus Christi is only 30 minutes away. We loved the natural setting yet it was also nice to know that the necessities weren’t far away.

Phone: (361) 949-8121
Address: 15820 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi TX 78418

Puerto del Sol Rv Park

Quiet park at north end of North Beach right on Corpus Christi Bay, across the shipping channel from the actual city. Great fishing from shore and also from the fishing piers. Easy access to Corpus Christi by car, trolley or ferry (seasonal). Several casual restaurants, curio shops and the USS Lexington are at the south end of the beach which is a walkable distance. The amenities were simple but clean: laundry, bath house and rec room with tv, books and puzzles. The office staff were helpful and they sell discount tickets to area attractions.

Phone: (361) 882-5373
Address: 5100 Timon Blvd, Corpus Christi TX 78402