Salt water in every direction means the to-do list never ends. Cast a line, catch a wave, chase a bird, or just drive until the road runs out of island.
Best fishing
Fall & spring runs of redfish and trout
Best surf
Summer south swells at Bob Hall Pier
Best birding
Winter migration & whooping cranes
Turtle releases
Summer mornings at Malaquite
From the marquee experiences to the quiet local favorites — pick a few and string them together.
The world's longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island
Seventy miles of protected Gulf coastline begin just south of town. Drive right onto the sand, camp under the stars, and watch endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings released at Malaquite Beach on summer mornings.
Redfish, trout & bull reds in the Laguna Madre
The shallow, hypersaline Laguna Madre is a legendary flats fishery for redfish and speckled trout. Wade, kayak, or pole a skiff — or run offshore out of Port Aransas for kingfish, snapper, and the occasional billfish.
Gulf swell at Bob Hall Pier & Packery Channel
It's not Hawaii, but a good south swell at Bob Hall Pier or the Packery Channel jetties brings a friendly, beginner-welcome lineup. Calm bay water and the Laguna are perfect for stand-up paddleboarding any day.
Bird Island Basin — one of the best wind spots in the U.S.
Steady Gulf breezes and waist-deep flat water make Bird Island Basin a nationally ranked spot for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Lessons and rentals are right on the water inside the National Seashore.
500+ species on the way to a Big Year
The Coastal Bend sits squarely on the Central Flyway. Spot roseate spoonbills and herons at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, hike Hans & Pat Suter Refuge, or chase wintering whooping cranes near Aransas.
Drive-on sand, shelling & sunrise swims
Whitecap and North Padre beaches let you park right on the sand. Hunt for sand dollars and whelks after a storm, fly a kite in the constant breeze, and catch a sunrise over the Gulf that's worth the early alarm.
Sharks, rescued dolphins & a WWII aircraft carrier
On North Beach, the Texas State Aquarium dives into Gulf and Caribbean ecosystems, while the USS Lexington — 'The Blue Ghost' — lets you walk the flight deck of a real WWII carrier. An easy, all-weather day for families.
Wild bottlenose dolphins in the ship channel
Bottlenose dolphins follow the boats through the Port Aransas ship channel year-round. Hop a dolphin-watch cruise, a sunset sail on Corpus Christi Bay, or a ferry ride to Mustang Island for the price of patience.
Mirador de la Flor and the Queen of Tejano
Corpus Christi is Selena's hometown. Pay respects at the Mirador de la Flor on the bayfront, visit the Selena Museum, and feel the Tejano roots in the music, the murals, and the best Tex-Mex you'll ever eat.
The crown jewel: 70 miles of protected coast, the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. Drive on the beach, camp under a galaxy of stars, launch a kayak, and witness the Kemp's ridley sea turtle recovery up close.
70
miles of wild Gulf coast
Pair these activities with beaches, eats, and a place to stay, and you've got a getaway worth bragging about.
See the visitor's guide