This post has been sponsored by Corpus Christi Visitors Bureau to bring you this experience. All opinions are 100% our own.
As the school year comes to a close, you may be starting to think about your family’s summer vacation. One destination that tops a lot of people’s lists is the beach. It’s the perfect way to relax and a great option for kids of all ages. We’re really fortunate to live just a half-day’s road trip away from one of the great beach options here in Texas, Corpus Christi!
My family recently decided we needed a little getaway and made a road trip to Corpus Christi for the weekend.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Downtown Marina and really enjoyed it. The rooms and beds were really comfortable, and the service was great the entire stay. Our girls (3 & 6 years old) were with us, so a quiet hotel is at the top of my priority list when sleeping kids are involved. Our girls slept great both nights and woke up ready to enjoy the day! Also worth noting was the breakfast buffet—excellent options for both children and adults! We all left breakfast full, and the adults left fully caffeinated.
KID-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO
We were so pleased with the various kid-friendly experiences Corpus Christi has to offer. Given our children’s ages, we decided to visit the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington. I cannot recommend the Texas State Aquarium enough, as it exceeded all of my expectations. There is so much to see and do there, including some hands-on animal experiences. We spent half a day there and honestly could have stayed longer. We all really enjoyed our time!
The USS Lexington is really neat to visit as well. It’s interesting to see a part of history and get to see the ship and planes up close and personal. I don’t know how much my girls understood, but my 6-year-old thought everything was really interesting.
GOOD BEACHES FOR KIDS IN CORPUS CHRISTI
Of course, we were all MOST excited for a little beach time. We ended up spending time at two different beaches that had different things to offer. The first day, we went to McGee Beach which was within walking distance from our downtown Corpus Christi hotel. Right off the main road, McGee Beach was the perfect place to let the kids blow off some steam and get a little taste of the beach for about an hour. It was definitely less crowded than most beaches we’ve visited, so that was a nice bonus!
The other beach we visited was North Beach, and this one is more along the lines of what you’ll want if you’re going to make a day of it. Unless you’re staying at one of the local motels in North Beach, this will most likely be about a 5-minute drive. There was a little more beach to lounge on and plenty of kids running around having a great time! Also worth mentioning is the fabulous water park called Hurricane Alley. Our kiddos aren’t quite old enough for this excursion, but for those with older children this park sounds like a blast!
WHERE TO EAT
Finally, food recommendations! If you’re a native Texan, you’ll feel right at home at the Whataburger by the Bay. Fun fact: Corpus is home to the original Whataburger! On our first night, we were in the mood for a nicer meal. We stumbled upon Bleu Bistro right in the heart of downtown and decided to try it out. We were very pleased with our decision as they had something everyone in our family enjoyed very much! Their homemade ice cream received rave reviews from all of us! Keep in mind this might be more of a special occasion option, as it is a little pricey compared to some of the other local restaurants. [2022 UPDATE: Bleu Bistro is sadly closed, but Visit Corpus Christi has an amazing Restaurant Guide you can filter to find exactly what you’re looking for, food-wise.]
On the second day of our visit, we stopped at Fajitaville in North Beach for lunch. Fajitaville is right on the beach and had a great atmosphere for kids. They even had a mascot, Pancho the Pelican, who came out to take pictures with the kids. For dinner we ended up at the Executive Surf Club. It was within walking distance of our hotel, very casual, and kid-friendly! This was a “come as you are” kind of atmosphere, so a perfect option after a day on the beach.
Although South Texas got hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, I was so happy to see this city still has so much to offer tourists! They’ve done a great job rebuilding affected areas, and the beaches are still beautifully intact. My family and I enjoyed our visit to Corpus Christi very much and will definitely be back. At only 6 hours from home, the drive overall is pretty painless…even with two little ones in tow.
Thank you to the Corpus Christi visitor’s bureau for hosting us for such a wonderful weekend! I would highly recommend a visit to Corpus to anyone looking for a road trip to the beach this summer! For more information on everything Corpus has to offer check out Visit Corpus Christi.
