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10 million people are flocking to a vibrant Texas coastal city, but still fly under the radar.
Often overshadowed by the Caribbean beaches of Florida and even the neighboring Gulf Shores, Texas is often seen as having a great time in many of its inland cities.
Texas may not have a seat at the table with places like Cancun and Los Cabos, but it more than holds its own in the South.
As a born and raised Texan, I can tell you to skip the brown waters of Galveston, but Corpus Christi is a pretty cool place to visit even if you never step foot on the beach.
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Dallas, Houston and Austin lies a relaxing retreat that will delight you this summer with nearby beautiful beaches, delicious fresh seafood and a thriving arts scene.
You don’t have to visit Florida! Head to the Texas coast instead
There is no doubt about it: Florida attracts a lot of people.
From the immaculate city of Miami all the way to the Florida Panhandle, you’ll find hordes of tourists enjoying the sun and sand at some of America’s best beach locations.
When it comes to Texas, however, most of the millions of visitors are locals who are aware of Corpus Christi’s appeal.
Much of Texas is flat and nothing reminds of paradise beaches. But once you reach the southernmost points of this vast state, you’ll find a wealth of hidden gems that fly under the radar.
This region, which stretches from Corpus Christi to the Mexican border, isn’t talked about enough as a top vacation destination, especially in the summer.
Florida’s hidden gems are being revealed left and right, but it’s time to put the spotlight on Corpus and the surrounding area.
And to do that, it has to be affordable, right?
Budget-friendly beaches: Corpus Christi‘s Affordable accommodations
Unlike California, the South, including Florida, is typically seen as an affordable beach destination.
This applies to most of the South – you know, Gulf Shores, Destin, Biloxi, and yes, Corpus Christi.
Airfares can be difficult to track because so many factors change from day to day, but Corpus Christi is big enough to have its own airport.
On the other hand, hotels are much easier to keep an eye on and rates tend to stay at the same stadium unless there is a major event taking place.
In other words, if Taylor Swift isn’t touring here, you’re good!
Corpus has some great hotels to stay in overlooking the picturesque, historic bay USS Lexingtonand even spread across nearby seaside resorts.
Downtown has undergone major renovations, making it easy to explore the new thriving art scene and surprises European-style cathedrals of affordable brand hotels such as:
The main attraction of Corpus used to be the many tributes for native singer Selina, but this delightful city is undoubtedly a beach destination.
Although most agree that it is best to go outside the city limits to reach the next level in terms of quality.
Near Port Aransas, Padre Island and Mustang Islandthere are also some great offers, such as:
Fresh seafood in abundance: Enjoy the ‘catch of the day’
Everyone in Texas, or perhaps the South, knows about the cult-like following of Whataburger, which was founded right here in Corpus Christi.
But this coastal city’s foodie fame isn’t fast-food burgers; it’s fresh seafood, straight from the source.
My personal favorite is the beach restaurant Fajitavillea unique blend of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville vibes mixed with Tex-Mex dishes, but also serve shrimp cocktail and ceviche for your seafood fix.
There are too many to mention them all, but what you’ll want to do is take advantage of the airy patios as you tuck into your ‘fresh catch’.
Especially for dinner as the Texas heat subsides with epic sunset views.
According to TripAdvisorsome of the top-rated restaurants where you can do this:
- Doc’s seafood and steak restaurant
- Blackbeard is on the beach
- Snoopy’s Pier
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
