We finally made it down to the bay!
I had been wanting to take the girls down to Corpus Christi and Port Aransas for a some time now. So when the Omni Corpus Christi offered me two free nights at their hotel, I knew it was time to make the drive!
Corpus Christi, Texas
- Corpus Christi is about six and a half hours by car from Arlington. Your drive will take you down 35 through Waco and Austin. If you take the toll road from Austin all the way to Corpus, it will save you time but cost you quite a bit in tolls. You can also pick up 37 in San Antonio and take it straight to the Texas Coast!
- The population of Corpus Christi is about 325,000 people.
- Corpus itself is sheltered from the Gulf of Mexico by Mustang and Padre Islands. You can drive from Corpus to Port Aransas in about 45 minutes and from Corpus to South Padre Island in about 2 hours.
- The name Corpus Christi means body of Christ.
- Corpus Christi is home to the first Whatburger. Although the original burger stand is no longer around, there is a two-story Whataburger building on Shoreline Drive that opened in 1999 as a tribute to the original.
- The 2001 movie Pearl Harbor starring Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett was filmed in Corpus Christi.
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| Hanging at the beach! |
Where to Stay with Kids in Corpus Christi
We loved staying at the Omni Corpus Christi. They did give us two free nights and then we paid for an additional two nights at the property. Upon arrival, the hotel gave the girls backpacks filled with crayons and activities, which they loved working on before bedtime. The hotel features a great indoor/outdoor pool with a small splash pool outside and a hot tub inside. The hotel has a convenience store with a coffee shop in the lobby and well as a workout area and sauna on the second floor. There is also an on-site restaurant and bar. The staff is friendly and the location makes it easy for you to walk along the water in the evening and watch the boats pull into the marina. It's a short walk from the two-story Whataburger on Shoreline Drive as well as the Selena statue in Corpus. We highly recommend this fun hotel!
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| We loved staying at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi! |
What to Do with Kids in Corpus Christi
We spent three full days in Corpus and thought it was perfect! If you love time at the beach, you may want an extra day or two to spend time at Port Aransas or Mustang Island Beaches. We spent one full day at Port A and loved it!
- Head to the beach! We went to Port Aransas. You can drive up to the beach and park there! A parking permit for Port A is $12 and is good for the calendar year. You can buy it at lots of spots but we grabbed ours from a local Stripes gas station. Don't forget beach toys, an umbrella or canopy, towels and sunscreen! There are also loads of jellyfish in the water right now... My girls caught seven in about an hour. Yes- caught. They are brave! (The majority of the ones they caught were large and clear- and those actually don't sting humans! Here is more information if you are worried about jellyfish. Just steer clear of the ones that are clear with bright orange throughout their bodies. Their stings can hurt!) If you don't want to make the drive to Port A, you can always head over to North Beach in Corpus, which is located right on the bay. The sand isn't as soft as in Port A, but there are cute places to eat and shop and lots of fun to be had!
- Visit the Texas State Aquarium. (We were given free tickets to the Aquarium in exchange for promotion on my blog) Guys- this aquarium was super fabulous! We spent four hours there but easily could have spent more. There are three levels to this aquarium. You can pet sting rays, interact with turtles, pet nurse sharks and view dolphins in an underwater viewing area. There are live shows centered around turtles, dolphins and sting rays (my girls loved feeding the sting rays!). The dolphin show was so entertaining and definitely a must-see. There is a 4D theater sponsored by Whataburger that plays two different shows on the half hour. There's a cafe, a coffee shop and gift shop. There's also a huge splash pad outside- so don't forget the kids' suits! The aquarium is situated right on the bay, less than 10 minutes by car from the Omni. Parking is $5. Don't skip this spot when you go to Corpus!
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| Cheesing for the camera at the Texas State Aquarium! |
- Tour the USS Lexington. I honestly wasn't expecting to love this "Museum on the Bay" even half as much as I did! The USS Lexington served in Pearl Harbor during World War II and was home to about 3,000 servicemen. The Japanese thought they sunk this ship at least four different times- and then it would pop back up on radar! That's how it got its nickname the "Blue Ghost." This ship was used as the setting for 2001's Pearl Harbor movie (love that movie). You can head to the top of the carrier and come up close and personal with lots of air crafts. We spent about three hours at the ship. There is a cantina on site. There is lots of walking up and down steep stairways. Overall I think this is a must-see in Corpus. Even my kids loved it!
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| Smiling after our tour of the USS Lexington "Museum on the Bay" in Corpus Christi! |
Places to Eat with Kids in Corpus Christi
If you have a Whataburger fan in your life, you should grab a burger from the two-story "Whataburger on the bay," just to say that you have!
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| Smiling outside the two-story Whataburger on the Bay in Corpus Christi, Texas! |
Otherwise, we recommend the following spots:
Brewster St. Ice House- The downtown location is huge and super kid-friendly! There is indoor and outdoor seating, with bars inside and outside. The outside has a stage for live music as well as a large playground for kids. Drinks are reasonably priced and the menu isn't huge but definitely features something for everyone! Highly, highly recommend heading here with kids.
Railroad Seafood Station & Brewing Company- This local brewery had slightly fancier (and pricier!) fare, but man was it good! The Brussels sprouts appetizer was yum! There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as a decent kids menu. The place is open and clean and has a decorative motorcycle on the patio that my girls loved sitting on while waiting for our food.
Blackbeard's on the Beach- We loved the crab cakes here- soo good! This place is no frills and reasonably priced with a fun pirate theme. The girls loved reading the ghost stories on the restaurant's website while we waited for our food.
Bien Merite Cafe- This French bakery has delicious breakfasts and Insta-worthy drinks! My youngest loved her pancakes and my Matcha Latte was perfect. After you finish eating, stroll over to the next block and shop at Made in Corpus Christi, a great spot for locally-made souvenirs from your trip.
Moby Dick's (at Port Aransas)- After a long day in the sun, we loved having dinner at this ocean-themed restaurant at Port Aransas. There's an attached gift shop with lots of trinkets and treasures so the kids can shop while you wait for a table plus lots of on-theme decor for kids to enjoy. The kids menu has lots of tasty picks for kids, too. When you're finished eating, wander next door to Winton's Candy Shop and indulge in some sugar-y treats. Lots of throwback candy plus delicious fudge. Just bring cash- this spot doesn't take cards. Then stroll two more blocks down and snap a pic in front of the Port Aransas mural for a fun souvenir from your trip!
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| Shopping for souvenirs at Moby Dick's in Port Aransas, Texas. |
We really enjoyed our trip to the coast! We hit Buc cee's in Temple on our way back for some treats and had fun soaking up south Texas. What are your favorite things to do in Corpus Christi?
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