If you’ve been thinking about a beachy Texas getaway that doesn’t require a full-blown road trip or a flight, let me put you on to Corpus Christi. It’s only a few hours from Austin, packed with seafood, culture, and coastal charm, and just easy. This is everything we got into during our two-day stay.
Saturday
We got into town around 11 a.m. and headed straight to the Visitor Info Center (309 N Water St D, Corpus Christi, TX 78401). The Visit Corpus Christi team left two passes for Hurricane Alley Waterpark for me to pick up to help spread the word. They even included a handwritten postcard and some Corpus Christi stickers, which I loved. I’ve been needing a new one to add to my laptop collection.
We walked around Water Street, checked out the street art, and enjoyed the breeze. I needed some caffeine, so we stopped by Grind Coffee (615 N Upper Broadway #140, Corpus Christi, TX 78401), where I had the best iced brown sugar and cinnamon latte for $6.
Then we headed over to Frazier Lighthouse for a quick view before going next door to Aquabite for lunch. Aquabite is hands down one of the most unique dining experiences I’ve had; it’s the bubble by the bay for me! Each dome felt super intimate, with curtains you can pull if you’re not in the mood to be on display. And the fact that every bubble had its own A/C unit? Baby, it was working overtime that day. I had spicy garlic butter crawfish with corn and potatoes, shared an oyster plate, and had a bottled Seagram’s drink. Everything hit, though the inside of the crawfish could have had more flavor; most of it was on the shell. The staff were friendly, and if you go on the weekend, expect a wait. The restaurant also has tanks with live crab and lobster and even a pier connected for fishing and sightseeing.
📍 5151 W Causeway Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78402
We made a quick stop at Ocean Treasures next. It’s your classic beach shop with overpriced swimsuits and some low-quality items, but I came for the mermaid statue out front and she did not disappoint.
📍 14049 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
After that, we headed to Whitecap Beach. It requires a $12 parking permit that’s good for the full calendar year. You get a windshield sticker so returning is easy. The beach had plenty of space even when it was busy. There are porta potties at the entrance, but don’t expect them to be in great condition. The only thing missing was seashells. I literally didn’t see any good ones, and I love a little seashell hunt.
📍 14802 Whitecap Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
We checked in at The Texan Hotel. I know it’s not a luxury stay, but this was a last-minute trip and the inside was way better than the outside looked. The room was clean, had everything we needed, and late checkout was only $20, which gave us extra time to explore the next day. I booked through Booking.com, which I’ve used for years. I rarely pay upfront when I book, I always choose the pay-at-check-in option. Loyalty perks have even gotten me discounts and upgrades.
📍 5525 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, TX 78408
Dinner was at The Mariner upstairs at Harrison’s Landing. I loved the nautical theme. It was packed, but for good reason. I had an espresso martini for $14, which is a steal compared to Austin prices. We ordered Braised Short Rib ($24) and Mediterranean Octopus ($16). Both were so good, especially the short rib rub.
📍 108 Peoples St T-Head, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
After dinner, we walked along the seawall and looked at docked boats. We also visited the Selena Memorial Statue. “Como La Flor” was playing, which made the moment even more emotional. If you’re a Native Texan, you know this feeling. This should be on everyone’s Corpus list.
📍 600 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Sunday
We started the day with breakfast at the Flagship Whataburger (121 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401). It’s two stories, which is cool, and it was cleaner than most I’ve been to. The biscuits and gravy were just okay, but it was still worth visiting the original.
Then we went back to Whitecap Beach for a second round because we loved it that much.
After checking out of the hotel, we headed to Hurricane Alley (702 E Port Ave, Corpus Christi, TX 78401). I want to reiterate that I received free general admission passes to the water park but my opinion of my experience is my own and was not swayed by being gifted tickets. Rest assured, I’m not holding back! General admission is $20, and parking is $5 cash only. It’s smaller than big waterparks like Schlitterbahn, but it was honestly perfect for a chill day. We rented a jumbo locker for $15. There’s a wave pool, lazy river, water slides, food stand, swim-up bar, surfing simulator, and cabanas. The water slides gave me the lil rush I needed and it was so nice to float the lazy river and not have to worry about sand for the rest of the day because lets face it, after a while, having sand in every nook and cranny gets a little old. I got a foot-long corn dog and two waters for $13. My boyfriend paid for the drinks so I don’t know exact pricing, but he didn’t flinch so it couldn’t have been outrageous. The piña colada hit, and the bartender was great. Bathrooms were large, and there were showers in the back to rinse off. I highly recommend bringing a waterproof phone pouch. It helped me get content without worrying about my stuff getting wet.
We wrapped up the trip at Water Street Oyster Bar (309 N Water St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401), which connects to Water Street Sushi Room. If you sit on the oyster side, you can also order sushi. I started with a Water St. Wave cocktail ($12) and got hype when I saw they had half-price sushi and oysters from 3–6 p.m. We had calamari tossed with jalapeños, local, fresh oysters from Clear Water Oysters ($17.50 per dozen on happy hour), and two rolls: the Tidal Wave Roll (shrimp, salmon, escolar, cream cheese, mango, avocado, spicy mayo, and crunchies) and the Spider Roll (soft shell crab, carrot, green leaf, cucumber, avocado, eel sauce). Everything was fresh and flavorful. I usually don’t love fruit in sushi, but the mango worked. This spot is tied with The Mariner for me.
Before heading out, we stopped by Cole Park and the pier. It was peaceful and had everything you’d expect from a coastal park, playground, restrooms, long fishing pier, and paths for walking or scooters. Watching everyone fish made me want to learn.
📍 2600 Ocean Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Next time, we’re planning to visit the USS Lexington and the Aquarium. We had so much fun that my boyfriend suggested we make this a regular weekend trip. With Corpus being only 3.5 hours from Round Rock, it’s way more doable than the 7+ hour drive to South Padre.
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