Attractions

Corpus Christi is located on the west side of Corpus Christi Bay, a large (200 mi² / 500 km²) estuary adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. More than 490 species of birds and 234 species of fish are found in the Corpus Christi Bay system (source: GulfBase). The average wind speed for Corpus Christi Bay varies between 10 and 14 mph, making it an ideal location for wind surfing and kite boarding.

Downtown Corpus Christi contains several museums including the historic USS Lexington, the Texas State Aquarium, the Art Museum of South Texas and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History (Downtown Corpus Christi website). The USS Lexington is a World War II aircraft carrier that is permanently docked in Corpus Christi Bay. In addition to the onboard museum, the ‘Lex’ has a MEGA Theater and flight simulator.

USS Lexington                                                                                Mission-Aransas NERR   

Downtown Corpus Christi is approximately 30 minutes from the nearest Gulf of Mexico beach. Within 40 minutes south of downtown Corpus Christi is the Padre Island National Seashore, a U.S. national recreational area that boasts the longest remaining undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world.

Less than 1 ˝ hours drive northeast of Corpus Christi is another national recreational area, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is home to the largest wild flock of the federally endangered Whooping Crane each winter (October to March). Other interesting native species that live in the Refuge include alligator, roseate spoonbill, javelina, white-tailed deer, armadillo, and wildflowers. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is included in the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Corpus Christi is 141 miles from the Mexico border and within a few hundred miles of several major Texas cities; 144 miles from San Antonio, 215 miles from Houston, and 218 miles from Austin.