Share the article
When a city welcomes her first new flight in decades, we can say with certainty that travelers aren’t exactly knocking on the door.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t a worthwhile destination; it means that vacationers are late to the party.
That includes me, a born-and-raised Texan who traveled here during what is now a haze of my youth, then revisited later when I could actually enjoy margaritas without borrowing an older friend’s driver’s license.
To be honest, I didn’t do it right away. But this time?
I finally perfected it while reliving my family’s favorite vacation spot.
You see, Corpus Christi is similar in some ways to my current hometown of San Diego, with hidden gems downtown. But its charm and beauty go much deeper than the vibrant cityscape seemingly painted with more murals than a hipster coffee shop bathroom.
Somehow, Corpus has been saddled with a misunderstood reputation: a seaside resort for poor people, if you will.
I have to say: I don’t get it…
While certain aspects of downtown reminded me of San Diego with its bayside bliss, scenic boardwalks, and towering hotels, this underrated city feels more like a the “Tampa” of Texas.
And you know what that means: a lot of beaches are really beautiful, unlike Galveston, where I can still audibly hear the squishing of the dirty diaper I stepped on at the boardwalk.
Now that is a dirty beach.
Not Corpus.
With a lifetime of visits under her belt and a recent pirate themed trip Buc Days Festival that still makes me screech like a parrot singing the praises of Corpus, I’m here to tell you that this isn’t just the unsung vacation destination of the Gulf – whether you call it the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America or whatever name we’re apparently using this week – it is the most underrated summer destination in the South.
Why Corpus Christi is the ‘Tampa’ of Texas
Tampa draws me back every year for warmer waters and an excuse to be on a boat.
The “Sparkling City by the Sea” has the same draw.
The last time I visited Corpus – about twelve years ago or so – I did it all wrong. I didn’t venture outside the center, so I understood its reputation for gray sand and tea-stained water.
This time I cashed in my mulligan and couldn’t have been more impressed.
Although downtown is definitely worth exploring as it is home to some of the city’s most notable hotels, world-class attractions, and amazing restaurants and breweries. If you pack your rental car with a cooler, beach chairs and, of course, sunscreen, you’ll quickly discover that Corpus is no concrete jungle.
If you’re driving down the highway, you won’t mind the speed limits being lowered from 60 mph due to the endless construction projects in Texas. That just means there’s more time to enjoy the views of the vast intracoastal wetlands.
And guess what…
You can enjoy “gin-clear water‘, like my fishing guide Hunter Ramos I said proudly after telling him about my disdain for Galveston.
I can’t recommend it enough for a fun day out on the waters of Corpus, away from any city noise, where it’s just you, a fishing rod, friendly passers-by and maybe a pelican or two watching your catch.
Better yet, I finally got to fulfill one of my bucket list items: a catch-and-cook experience.
As it sounds, you can take your catch with you Doc’s seafood and steakswhere they clean and cook it in minutes.
Mine grilled redfish couldn’t have tasted fresher, and somehow they made breaking the dairy and seafood rule taste genius – the shrimp queso was a phenomenal start to an unforgettable meal.
Yes, Corpus has beautiful beaches
There is some rivalry between Corpus Christi and neighboring Port Aransas, which has a much better reputation for its 18 miles of pristine coastline.
That said, a short drive away in the Corpus zip code are Mustang Island State Park and Padre Island further along, which share the same beautiful coastline as “Port A,” as the locals call it.
I happily paid the $7 admission to visit the first one, and man, was I impressed – even for someone who lives in California.
The truth is that Corpus’s city beaches on the edge of the center aren’t the best, unless you’re just looking for a place to relax in the sun, close to your hotel.
But the half-hour adventure to Mustang proves the naysayers wrong, just as if people visited downtown San Diego and thought Seaport Village looked like the rest of the city, or visited Tampa and thought Ben T. Davis Beach was the crown jewel.
In this case, Port Aransas could be the “Siesta Key” of Corpus, neighboring Mustang could be “St. Pete”, nearby Rockport could be “Clearwater”, and Padre would be “Fort de Soto” – wilder, quieter and with fewer footprints.
What makes Corpus beaches even more fun is that parking nightmares will never be an issue. On certain routes you can drive and park directly on the coast, as long as you have a beach permit.
And I meant it when I said it on Instagram: I will never visit Corpus Christi again without it rent a Mokea striking electric ‘beach buggy’ that made me feel like I’d unlocked the cheat code for a perfect beach day.
San Diego, take note.
It was so fun to visit Whitecap Beach and one of the coolest beach bars I’ve ever been to. Sandbox.
Margaritaville, who?! Fajitaville should be in every coastal town
If you thought “frozen concoctions to help you hang on” was an unbeatable concept, my friend, you haven’t been there yet Fajitaville.
Located on the blissful shores of North Beach, just outside of downtown and across the street from the scenic New Harbor Bridge, Fajitaville serves up cheap, ice-cold beer and sizzling fajitas cakes with beautiful beach views.
There’s nothing better than the atmosphere and the food, not to mention the service was perfect from Giulia. Be sure to ask about her section.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: North Beach isn’t the crown jewel of Corpus, but it is home to some of the city’s most famous attractions, not including the Selena sights, like the USS Lexington And Texas State Aquariumboth within walking distance of each other.
Tip: park for free on the street 2 blocks away. 🤫
After a day of exploring both popular places, Fajitaville was the perfect ending – and perhaps the highlight of my trip, if only for the atmosphere – especially during Happy Hour, where I had to do a double take when I saw that beer was only $3.
Surprises in the city center: Cowboys, Pirates and Barbecue, Oh My!
Despite being a relatively small city, Corpus Christi is full of surprises, especially its packed year-round events calendar.
Like I said, I came to the “Gulf Coast Capital” for Buc daysand I hope this isn’t the last time.
Among the events held at the Hilliard Center downtown was PBR’s Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour Finals, soon to host country music’s newest superstar, Ella Langley, on August 14.
You know the saying “this isn’t my first rodeo”? Well, this one was – and I didn’t feel neutral about it before walking in, but realized it was just as exciting, if not more so, than an MMA fight or playoff game.
My first rodeo won’t be my last.
Buc Days can best be described as Corpus Christi’s signature springtime outburst, where PBR bull riding, live music, carnival rides, parades and pirate-themed fun all come together in 11 days of fun on the Texas coast.
In other words, “X marks the spot” – and it leads straight to Corpus.
Since this event takes up 11 of the 365 days, I can tell you from a distance that the Corpus Christi skyline may not draw you in, but it is teeming with hidden gems, especially for foodies.
I grew up in Texas and think I have a high standard when it comes to barbecue. But Full barbeque – a beat-up school bus turned smokehouse hidden in plain sight in downtown Corpus – had no problem passing the test.
It could be the best barbecue I’ve hadand I don’t say that lightly. No wonder they don’t have official opening hours, knowing they will definitely sell out.
The second best meal I had was… Oyster bar Water Street. After living by the beach for more than a decade, I’d like to think I know a good sea booger when I slurp one—and this local favorite comes with fresh oysters, plenty of variety, and a Happy Hour tab of just $33 for 18 oysters and an all-but-obligatory Shiner.
Corpus was a blast in more ways than one and I can’t wait to visit again!
