VISITOR INFO CENTER

LOCATION:

Visitor Info Center 309 N. Water St. Suite D Corpus Christi, TX 78401

CONTACT:

361.561.2000 visitcorpuschristi.com

There are two types of people in this world: Texans and everyone else. From the city to the beach, the coast is more than our part of the state. Coasting is our state of mind. We take our time and take what's ours. We know who we are and what we stand for. We do things differently and celebrate what makes us the same.

This way of life is bigger than our beaches. We’re the Gulf Coast Capital. Casually Charming. Collectively Cool. Creatively Curious. For lifelong Texans and Texans at heart. Or anyone who would rather spend time coasting their own way.

The Bayfront Seawall, one of Corpus Christi’s top tourist attractions, was constructed in 1928 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who later became famous for sculpting the iconic Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. A unique feature of the seawall is that it was made by mixing local saltwater from the bay rather than using the routine freshwater. Bonus for the kids: Along the mile-and-a-half stretch, gaze into the galaxy through the exhibition, “Journey Through Our Solar System.”

The Texas State Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. Known as the “Original Aquarium of Texas,” the aquarium is dedicated to promoting environmental conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico. Its first exhibition opened to the public on July 6, 1990, and it’s been welcoming visitors to interactive marine and coastal wildlife experiences ever since.

The Laguna Madre is one of only six hypersaline lagoons in the world. That means the water is saltier than the oceans, which makes it easier to float! Just don’t forget a life vest if you plan on boating or kayaking. Also of interest, there are areas in the Laguna Madre measuring more than five feet deep. (The largest hypersaline lagoons in the world average only 3.3 feet deep.)

The USS Lexington Museum on the Bay is as tall as a 19-story building and as long as three New York City blocks. It’s so large, you could play three football games at the same time on its flight deck! Drawing quite the buzz, the USS Lexington caught the attention of Hollywood director Michael Bay, who filmed all aircraft take-offs on the Lexington for his 2001 movie Pearl Harbor, starring Ben Affleck and Alec Baldwin. It also features the F-14 Tomcat used in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun Visit the iconic ship and marvel at its glory!

The Art Museum of South Texas showcases – and is – fine art in the city. The majestic buildings feature floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, and many architectural touches that play off the South Texas sun and sparkling Corpus Christi Bay. The building is an art piece itself, but perhaps the most iconic exterior feature is the pink wall. People come from near and far to capture selfies on the wall for fun visual memories.

Whataburger Field is home to the Corpus Christi Hooks –a Minor League Baseball team and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. In fact, 12 of the 25 legendary Astros players who won the 2017 World Series were once Hooks players. Visit the ballpark – which is located on what used to be old cotton warehouses on the city’s waterfront – and enjoy a game with the whole family!

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The Corpus Christi Bay is the deep-sea-fishing headquarters, with fishing tours where visitors can charter a boat to catch their own dinner. While on vacation, you may not want to cook. No problem – bring your pre-cleaned fish to participating “cookyour-catch” restaurants like Doc’s Seafood and Steaks. (Insider Tip: Most chartering companies will prepare and clean your fresh catch for you!)

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NASCAR Hall of Famers

the Labonte brothers were born and raised in Corpus Christi. They developed their racing skills in the parking lot of Corpus Christi’s Yeager Elementary School. Bobby and Terry Labonte were the first pair of brothers to win premier series championships. What’s more, the brothers are also the only Texans to be inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

After being named “America’s Birdiest City” for over a decade, Corpus Christi is home to the annual festival, Birdiest Festival in America. Bird Enthusiasts can expect to see over 200 species of birds during spring migration in Corpus Christi.

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The South Texas Music Walk of Fame was established in Corpus Christi in 2004 to honor South Texas musical artists. Honorees represent diverse musical traditions, including Tejano, rock and roll, country, and jazz. “The Walk” is located in Water Street Market just steps away from the Visit Corpus Christi headquarters. Each star was handcrafted by local ceramists at Aloe Tile Works. Visitors love to view “The Walk” and take memorable photos of stars such as Selena, George Strait, and Kris Kristofferson.