Corpus Christi OR South Padre Island
 

Looking for recommendations on a trip to southern Texas in the spring. No, I am not going on "spring break" so I am not looking for juvenile hangouts.

I am interested in a walkable beach vacation. Would like to walk to the beach; walk to restaurants; walk to shopping/ nightlife/ other attractions if there are any.

Looks like Corpus Christi has an aquarium and the USS Lexington.

Looks like South Padre Island has Sea Turtle, Inc and easy access to Mexico.

Anyone been to both and can make a general comparison? Are the beaches markedly better in one over the other? Anyone have any specific recommendations for hotel or restaurant or other?

I recommend Belize, TX.

No clue about most of your questions, but in case it's of any interest, SPI is right next to SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site, which would be kind of neat. You'd have to get pretty lucky to catch a launch, but you can drive right by the place and see the pads and rockets just standing there.

GeorgeZimZam lives in the area and could be a resource with any specific questions.

South Padre is nicer. I recommend Port Aransas in the Corpus Area. You can always drive to the Lexington and Aquarium from there.

During spring break (which is varied for schools so most of March/early April) all of South Padre is a juvenile hangout.

Been to Corpus Christi a few times when I was in my early teens as a summer vacation with my parents. All I really remember is the USS Lexington aircraft carrier museum which is awesome and fishing in Port Aransas.

Padre Island national seashore was a pretty close drive too iirc, it might be a little more chill than south padre around the time you go, but I have no idea for sure.

I will be going the last days of April and the first few days of May. Hopefully the throngs of college kids are sobered up and gone home by then.

I agree with going to Port Aransas and you can do a day trip to Corpus, but it’s not where I’d stay. If you’re not set on Texas I’d recommend the panhandle of Florida (30A area).

I've never been to either of those places, but I did a study once about tourism in Galveston. As part of the project, I went to Galveston and was a tourist for a few days and came away very impressed. There was a lot of stuff to do there. I didn't check out the beach, but I think there was one. At least, I know there were beach houses.

Probably limited to Texas this time around, although it doesn't have to be CC or SPI. The overall plan is to attend the Fiesta Days in San Antonio and then a quick visit to the beach. So I would prefer something relatively close to San Antonio.

I will have a car by the way. I would like to stay somewhere walkable but I will be driving to get there.

Definitely south padre

Been to Corpus Christi a few times… the highlight of the trip is always when it’s time to leave.

You should have asked Charles Barkley about the Galveston beach.

Care to elaborate a little?

Have you been there? If yes, where did you stay (north or south) and what did you like?

Ok, why? Was it boring? Ugly? Dangerous? Was there nothing to like?