Corpus Christi: Best of the Texas Coast
from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide

	Beach in Corpus Christi

Sometimes called the Sparkling City by the Sea, Corpus Christi, Texas, is chock full of sights, history, and recreational opportunities. It boasts a great location—being only two hours from either San Antonio or the Mexican border—and on the southeastern tip of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. The sixth largest port in the United States can also be found here. Corpus Christi is an exciting vacation getaway, with museums, stunning beaches, and scenery quite unlike that found anywhere else.

HISTORY

The area was discovered in 1519 on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi by Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda. It remained uninhabited until 1838, when Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney developed it into a trading post. This small settlement was called Kinney's Ranch, or Kinney's Trading Post.

In July of 1845, General Zachary Taylor marched US Troops to the area. They were there to set up camp in preparation for war with Mexico. The troops remained for almost an entire year, and then moved onto the Rio Grande to enforce the Texas and United States borders to the south.

Approximately one year later, the settlement was renamed Corpus Christi. On September 9, 1852, it became incorporated. In 1876 the city charter was adopted, and three years later city council put forth their first ordinance, making it against the law to let goats and hogs run loose.

	Naval Aircrafts Flying in Formation over Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi was transformed in the 1920s, when the Army Corps of Engineers dug a ship channel, which turned the bay into an international port.

Construction began on the Naval Air Station in 1938, and in May 1941, flight training began. Two years later, when the third class graduated, former US president George Bush was among them. By the end of WWII, more than 35, 000 aviators had earned their wings here. At one point, it was the largest pilot training facility in the world. The station is still operating, and an average of 400 aviators graduate each year.

Today, Corpus Christi is a great tourist destination, and with so many interesting sights and attractions, it is easy to see why.

CLIMATE

With a location on the warm Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi has a fairly pleasant climate. The average rainfall is approximately 34 inches per year (86 centimeters), and the humidity is around 61%. The average winter temperature is 58 Degrees Fahrenheit (14 Degrees Celsius), and summer is 86 Degrees Fahrenheit (39 Degrees Celsius). December and January tend to be the coldest months with the average low being about 47 Degrees Fahrenheit (8 Degrees Celsius), and July and August the hottest, with an average high of about 93 Degrees Fahrenheit (39 Degrees Celsius).

TRANSPORTATION

Corpus Christi is quite easy to get to, particularly by air. The Corpus Christi International Airport offers both international and domestic flights, and most major air carriers schedule flights here. Greyhound services the city as well, with busses arriving here from numerous destinations.

Within Corpus Christi, visitors should have few problems getting around. Local bus services run throughout the city to the major areas, and there are numerous car rental agencies here as well.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

	Stingray in the Texas State Aquarium

TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Corpus Christi is the Texas State Aquarium. Their mandate is to provide educational and inspirational exhibits while practicing and promoting environmental conservation. Among the sea life kept here and exhibited are sharks, stingrays, hermit crabs, and many others.

The entrance to the walkways features images of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as a variety of sea life, including dolphins, rays, whales, and sharks. A faux waterfall at the entrance represents a full submersion into the Gulf. Throughout the aquarium, volunteer guides are available to answer question and explain exhibits. Visitors are treated to dive shows, feeding demonstrations, and several hands-on experiences.

In keeping with the educational mandate, the Texas State Aquarium offers a variety of tours and programs for school groups and youth. Among these is the 'Zzz's Under the Seas' program. Here, students can spend the night in the aquarium, witness a dive show, and be treated to breakfast in the morning.

USS LEXINGTON FLOATING NAVAL MUSEUM

The last remaining WWII Essex Class aircraft carrier, which was still in service in the 1980s, was the USS Lexington. Keeping her afloat came with increasingly high costs, and the US Government finally decided to retire her in favor of a more modern and less costly vessel. At this point, the Corpus Christi Area Economic Development Commission launched a task force to acquire her. After gaining community support and extensive fundraising efforts, the 'Blue Ghost', as she is also known, was awarded to Corpus Christi over several other communities. In June 1991, she was towed to her final berth - the Corpus Christi beach. Approximately one year later, she was opened to the public, but in the form of a floating museum.

The USS Lexington Floating Naval Museum is full of permanent exhibits, as well as a variety of temporary ones throughout the course of the year. Visitors can tour the Hangar Deck, Flight Deck, Captains and Admirals Quarters, Engine Room, Sick Bay, Galley, and Bridge. In addition, no less than 19 vintage aircrafts are on display. Among these are an F-4A Phantom II, an F2H-2 Banshee, an A-4B Skyhawk, and an AH1G Cobra Helicopter. A flight simulator is also on location, as is a state-of-the-art large format theatre.

CORPUS CHRISTI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History aims to collect and preserve natural, cultural, and historical artifacts, with the main focus being on south Texas, and how it relates and fits into the rest of the country, and the world. The exhibits are extensive and varied, and there is something to suit any taste. There are six permanent exhibits here with more being planned. Temporary exhibits are also brought in.

Shipwreck! features ship remains and cargo items that were recovered by the State of Texas from three Spanish treasure ships. These particular ships ran aground on Padre Island in 1554.

Seeds of Change focuses on over five hundred years of encounter and exchange. The exchange of plants, animals and people is used to demonstrate this. The exhibit begins with the 15th century journey by Columbus to the new world, and continues on to present day. This particular exhibit is unique as it was developed for the Columbus Quicentenary by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. In 1995, it was acquired by the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

For the younger museum goers, there is the Children's Wharf. This area features exhibits designed for children ages three to seven, but they are all family oriented. This section is hands on and intended to be educational. Children are able to climb into a transparent house, or aboard a shrimp boat.

	Rattlesnake in South Texas

South Texas wildlife also gets its due here, at the Mitchell Campbell Wommack Reptiles of South Texas exhibit. Reptiles are some of the most successful animals residing in the region's semi-arid climate, and among these are lizards, snakes, turtles and alligators. The exhibits focus on numerous aspects of the creatures themselves, as well as the area's environment and ecosystem.

Widely considered to be one of the museum's most outstanding exhibits is Discovery Station: The World of Shells. It highlights the beaches of south Texas, and the items, creatures, and shells that can be found in the region.

With Texas being such an important part of the oil and gas industry, it's no surprise that there would be an exhibit examining the industry. At the Minnie Stevens Piper Hall of Earth Sciences, the search for oil and gas in the region is showcased. Numerous specimens and informative facts are offered regarding the many refineries and petrochemical plants in the area are located here.

The museum also houses the Making of the Selena Memorial exhibit. On Shoreline Boulevard in Corpus Christi is a memorial dedicated to the murdered Tejano music star Selena. Her memorial consists of elaborate tile murals created by her fans, as well as a statue created by local sculptor Bobby Tatum. The exhibit chronicles the creation of the memorial.

PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

Barrier islands are low lying strips of land found along the coast, and they exist from Mexico all the way to Canada. They are formed by sand and pebble deposits by sea currents, and protect the main coastline from weather and high tides. Padre Island National Seashore is one of these islands.

	Windsurfing off Padre Island National Seashore

The seashore varies in width from one to three miles, and has a separate north and south island. In 1962 the island was cut to allow ships into Laguna Madre (the inner lagoon), and this cut formed the Port Mansfield Channel. Numerous recreational activities are available on Padre Island: 4x4ing, camping, bird watching, sunbathing, swimming, windsurfing and much more.

The seashore provides a unique recreational getaway, but it is important to note that only certain areas are accessible with a 2WD vehicle. In some areas the sand can be quite wet and soft, and it is very easy for vehicles to get stuck. Visitors should bring along shovels and carpet or boards in case they get stuck. It's also a good idea to stay in the tracks that are leftover from previous drivers, as these more than likely avoid beach debris and sand traps. It is also important to note that in Texas, beaches are considered public highways, so all normal traffic laws apply.

The Padre Island National Seashore is also a nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. While chances are slim that most visitors will get the opportunity to see them, during egg-laying season park rangers do patrol the beaches searching for signs of activity. Lots of other wildlife is here as well. In the dunes, Diamondback rattlesnake, coyotes, deer, and rabbits are present, and white ghost crabs also roam freely. It is also good to know that the beaches and water can be full of jellyfish and Portuguese Man-O-War. A sting from either can be quite dangerous, so visitors should be aware.