Corpus Christi OR South Padre Island

[el borracho]

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?

[ThrobProng]

I recommend Belize, TX.

[KCJake]

Originally Posted by ThrobProng

I recommend Belize, TX.

This shit never gets old LOL

[DaFace]

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.

[Deberg_1990]

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

[Why Not?]

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

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

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

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.

[sondevil]

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).

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by sondevil

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).

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.

[ChiefAshhole1056]

Originally Posted by el borracho

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.

I get wanting to go to the beach if you’re coming from NM, but as someone who grew up in the Galveston area and have had experience throughout the coast of Texas, I’d suggest pivoting and enjoying the Texas hill country around San Antonio and Austin if you’re already out there. You’d have to switch out beach with lakes and rivers, but overall I’d suspect that you’d have a more enjoyable time hitting up Wimberley, Fredricksburg, Canyon Lake, Lake Travis, New Braunfels, etc.

I suppose it also depends on what you’re looking to get into but in my experiences with SPI and CC you’re going to run out of stuff to do once you get tired of walking on the brown sand and not getting in the murky water of the gulf.

[George Liquor]

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.

[Rain Man]

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.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

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.

You should have asked Charles Barkley about the Galveston beach.

[Titty Meat]

Definitely south padre

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Definitely south padre

Care to elaborate a little?

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