Who doesn’t love Corpus Christi? And for those of you yet to visit, you’ll be glad to know that this stunning coastal city offers a wealth of fun things to see, do, and explore.
So much so that we’ve gone ahead and rounded up 25 exciting things to do in Corpus Christi that you need to add to your itinerary!
From museums and famous landmarks to dining hotspots and beautiful beaches, Corpus Christi TX offers no shortage of excitement and exploration.
There’s simply something for everyone here, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for thrills, relaxation, or even a bit of both.
So with that said and out of the way, here’s everything that you need to check off your list the moment you arrive in Corpus Christi, Texas’ Sparkling City by the Sea!
The USS Lexington Museum is easily one of the best (and most popular) things to do in Corpus Christi, so it easily gets the first mention on this list.
This museum is, in fact, a massive vessel bayed at Corpus Christi Beach, so it has to be said that it’s not your average museum!
So hit two birds with one stone: chill on Corpus Christi Beach and explore the USS Lexington. The museum itself offers an interesting tour throughout the boat and it’s open seven days a week, all year round.
Yep, Corpus Christi is home to the Texas State Aquarium, and it’s easily one of the best aquariums you’ll find in this corner of the US.
Boasting sea life from the Gulf of Mexico itself, plus the Caribbean Sea, there’s a lot to see here for both kids and adults alike, offering a day out that’s sure to be memorable.
Just a few of the sea animals this aquarium offers include blue crabs, poison dart frogs, Atlantic sea nettles, lionfish, nurse sharks, great barracudas, hawksbill sea turtles, and lots, lots more!
Corpus Christi has a host of museums (and yes, all of them are on this list!) but The Art Museum of South Texas is arguably the city’s most popular museum attraction.
It’s been going strong for over five decades, offering incredible art pieces to view in an open space that’s relaxing to walk around.
Perhaps the best thing is that it’s cheap to enter (children twelve and under can enter for free), open every day of the week except for Mondays.
Whataburger Field is the home of the Corpus Christi Hooks. So if you’re a baseball fan, what better way to spend your time than catching the local team and soaking up the atmosphere of its home stadium?
Provided your visit lines up with one of their home games, a visit to Whataburger Field is guaranteed to be a memorable experience, especially since the atmosphere here never fails to disappoint.
The stadium is also right around the corner from the Art Museum of South Texas, making for an awesome day out if you can put the two attractions together.
Fun fact: Harbor Bridge can actually be seen from inside Whataburger Field (which is another top reason to catch a Corpus Christi Hooks game!).
But if you’re not interested in baseball, this iconic landmark is still well worth visiting – especially if you’re all about sightseeing when visiting new places.
Harbor Bridge opened in 1959 and has since been one of Corpus Christi’s most recognizable structures. And no matter whether you visit it in the day or during the evening, it’s a sight worth snapping a picture of (or next to)!
This list wouldn’t be complete without giving a special mention to one of Corpus Christi’s best restaurants.
And that restaurant just so happens to be the famous Snoopy’s Restaurant, which is perfectly located on the pier at South Padre Island.
Alongside great food—sandwiches, seafood baskets, fresh salads, and lots more—Snoopy’s Restaurant also offers stunning waterfront views – perfect if you’re someone who loves dining with a view.
It’s got something for every palate, above all, so it’s the ideal spot to kick back and tuck in for both couples and families with young kids.
Love great views and open spaces? The Downtown Corpus Christi Seawall is another city landmark that’s perfect for sightseeing, strolling, jogging, and simply relaxing.
There’s a lot to see and do here too, from exploring the local Farmer’s Market to hopping on a motorized scooter – a fun way to zip along the coast!
Above all, it’s the beautiful waterfront views here that make the Corpus Christi Downtown Seawall such a popular tourist spot.
So the perfect change of pace in Corpus Christi, we definitely recommend checking it out.
If you’re hunting for something unique to do in Corpus Christi, a visit to Lazy Beach Brewing and Cafe is a nice way to mix things up (literally).
This brewery is as much a tourist location as it is a cafe, offering fun events, tours, and, of course, lots of craft beers to sample and savor!
You’ll find it on Bichon Drive next to Bill Witt City Park, and it’s just a stone’s throw away from the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center – another must-visit Corpus Christi attraction (but more on that below!).
Ah, Laguna Madre. This beautiful location is as relaxing as it sounds, boasting lots to do in a scenic setting on none other than Padre Island.
So what does Laguna Madre have to offer? Head to this eye-catching lagoon for kayaking, canoeing, swimming, birdwatching, fishing, windsurfing – you name it.
It’s also a top location for picnics and strolls, making it a great place to sightsee, wind down, and stir up some romance.
Are there famous monuments in Corpus Christi? You bet. And the one you need to see is the Mirador de la Flor located on North Shoreline Boulevard, which commemorates Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who, if you don’t know her, was a genre-defining Tejano musician until she was sadly killed in 1995.
“Viewpoint of the Flower” is what Mirador de la Flor translates to in English, and it’s a monument that pulls in tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Needless to say, it’s definitely worth putting on your travel itinerary no matter whether you’re a fan of Selena or not.
For die-hard fans of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, Selena Museum on Leopard Street is the next stop after (or even before) visiting Mirador de la Flor.
It’s packed to the brim with memorabilia celebrating Selena’s incredible life and career, including her costumes, childhood possessions, awards, and car (a flashy red Porsche!)
Selena Museum is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, so there’s plenty of time to visit it while exploring everything else Corpus Christi has to offer.
It’s also lots of fun for the kids too, so rest assured they won’t get bored if they’re tagging along with you.
Malaquite Beach is one of many beautiful beaches that Corpus Christi offers just off its coast. It’s got golden sun-kissed sand, boardwalks, and rolling waves that make it a top spot to unwind and enjoy the ocean. In other words, it’s perfect for nature lovers!
What’s worth mentioning about Malaquite Beach is that the water is clean and clear, so it’s perfect for swimming and cooling off.
It’s also nice and quiet, thanks to its relatively secluded location on Padre Island, which can be accessed by car via Park Road 22.
Fan of hiking? Or perhaps biking? Whichever it is (maybe both), the Corpus Christi Bay Trail is the place to go.
This scenic nine-mile trail is a waterfront attraction that’s perfect for sightseers, and the fact that it’s close to the Art Museum of South Texas makes it a great way to enjoy two attractions in one day.
You can rent a bike at Corpus Christi Bay Trail or simply stroll the waterfront route to take it all in. If you like jogging, on the other hand, then there’s also no better location to work up a sweat while taking in the views!
If you consider yourself a history lover, then the Britton-Evans Centennial House on North Upper Broadway is an attraction that shouldn’t be missed.
It’s the oldest house in Corpus Christi (built in 1849), offering tours within the mansion itself along with gorgeous views across Mann’s Wharf.
The best thing here is that the Britton-Evans Centennial House is completely free to visit. So if you’re looking for a cost-free Corpus Christi attraction to check out, then this one’s a no-brainer!
We’ve mentioned that Corpus Christi is a hub of must-visit museums, so here’s another one: the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
And alongside The Art Museum of South Texas, it’s one of the most popular museums in the city, thanks to its fascinating exhibits that include historical artifacts, interactive kids’ activities, and prehistoric creatures!
It’s cheap enough to enter and you’re sure to get your money’s worth with everything this museum has to offer. Just make sure not to visit on a Monday, as that’s the only day it’s closed.
Padre Island is situated on North Padre Island, and it’s a little more laid-back than its southern counterpart, South Padre Island.
It’s a nature lover’s dream, to put it simply, boasting over 130,000 acres of pristine coast, rolling dunes, white beaches, grasslands, and chilled-out camping spots.
So if you have a few days spare in Corpus Christi, camping at Padre Island National Seashore is highly recommended – especially if you want to take in its abundance of natural beauty.
And for everything this natural attraction has to offer, the admission is next to nothing, to be honest.
Like Padre Island National Seashore, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is another must-visit Corpus Christi destination if you’re all about nature and wildlife.
There’s a bucket load of fun things to do here too, some of which include fishing, biking, bird watching, picnicking, and hiking!
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge spans over 115,000 acres in total, and it’s all protected. So if getting closer to nature is one of the things you want to do in Corpus Christi, this natural attraction is not to be passed on.
As if everything else on this wasn’t enough, you can even do horseback riding on the beach in Corpus Christi.
It’s a popular tourist experience that’s suitable for all ages too, so it’s well worth doing if you happen to visit any of the beaches on South Padre Island.
The best thing is that horseback riding on the beach is available from morning until evening, so you can either enjoy it first thing in the morning or during the evening for the perfect activity to finish off an eventful day at the beach. Just don’t forget your camera!
Botanical gardens always offer a peaceful way to spend a morning or afternoon! And the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is Corpus Christi’s very own botanical garden in the city with plenty to see and do as you stroll around its lush floral gardens, ponds, and pathways.
Just some of the things to explore at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center include the iguana house, orchid conservatory, wetland boardwalk, and climb birding tower. It’s even open daily, from 9am to 6pm.
Mustang Island State Park is situated south of Port Aransas, and like Padre Island National Seashore, it’s another stunning natural attraction that’s great for camping.
It’s smaller at just under 4000 acres, but there’s still no shortage of exciting things to see and do, from beach hopping and swimming to picnicking, fishing, kayaking, surfing, and parasailing!
Admission is cheap and it’s also nice and peaceful if you happen to find yourself craving a bit of nature and solitude in Corpus Christi.
All in all, it’s a nature lover’s dream with some thrills to offer if you’re also something of an adventurer.
There’s an abundance of breathtaking beaches in Corpus Christi but Whitecap Beach is another one worth mentioning on this list for its pristine white sands, laid-back atmosphere, and easygoing swimming waters.
It’s also one of many beaches in Corpus Christi where you can enjoy oceanfront horseback riding!
What makes Whitecap Beach particularly stand out is its surfing lessons. Beginner surfers can easily learn the ropes here, thanks to the calm waves, which are also perfect for seasoned surfers who know what they’re doing.
All in all, a must-visit beach that’s not hard to reach in Corpus Christi.
Does Corpus Christi offer good entertainment? You bet, and the best place to check out the local scene is at the Harbor Playhouse Community Theatre on North Chaparral Street.
This theater is as much a historical tourist attraction as it is an events space, having hosted some of the most iconic shows in the city for over a hundred years.
The Harbor Playhouse Community Theatre offers a regular schedule of musical theater shows and plays, so it’s well worth checking what’s on while you’re in Corpus Christi. After all, there’s no better way to change up the pace than with a night out at the theater!
Cole Park is a waterfront Corpus Christi park that sets the scene for picnics, yoga, and simply kicking back to enjoy the waterfront views.
But what really makes this public park stand out is its skatepark, which is a hotspot for skaters of all different backgrounds – ideal if you like skateboarding or just want to be amazed by the local talent while you kick back and enjoy the atmosphere.
There’s also a kids’ playground at Cole Park, so it’s the ideal spot to unwind while the kids burn off some energy.
Just don’t forget to bring a picnic as there’s nothing better than tucking into some snacks while looking out into the scenic Corpus Christi Bay.
Last but not least: North Beach! North Beach is another one of Corpus Christ’s must-visit beaches, and it’s not far from the USS Lexington Museum (mentioned above), making it another Corpus Christi attraction that you can check off your list in one day.
The beach itself measures 1.5 miles, offering clean golden sand and clean ocean waters with plenty of spots to throw down a picnic blanket.
Fishing is another activity you can enjoy here, alongside strolling along the beach and checking out the local beachfront restaurants.
Even if you’re not the biggest fan of beaches, the fact that North Beach is close to the USS Lexington Museum makes it a beach that any first-time visitor in Corpus Christi needs to check out.
Final Thoughts
And that wraps up our list of 25 exciting things to do in Corpus Christi, TX.
You probably won’t be able to fit all of these in your itinerary (unless you’re lucky enough to be a local), but we definitely recommend trying to check off as many of these as possible.
So if Corpus Christi happens to be on your list of places to visit, make sure to save this page for future reference. Hey – if Corpus Christi wasn’t on your travel list before, we bet that it is now!
Hi, my name is Alex Kallen and I love to travel. Ever since I could afford the ticket, I hopped on a plane and never looked back. I’ve made a living writing travel guides and blogging my experience all over the world.
I want to encourage and inspire others to travel around the US like I am. There’s no need to go on vacation overseas when there is an amazing land of opportunity right on your doorstep. Enjoy my website, I hope to see you out here one day.
