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?

[God of Thunder]

Just do a cruise out of Galveston.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by el borracho

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

Corpus Christi is low rent/seedy.

If you are going for beaches… Galveston or South Padre have much nicer tourist accommodations.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by FloridaMan88

Corpus Christi is low rent/seedy.

If you are going for beaches… Galveston or South Padre have much nicer tourist accommodations.

Agreed. But Port Aransas/Mustang Island/North Padre is ok which is about 30 minutes from downtown Corpus.

[DCTwister]

I am old now but back in college I went to Padre twice for spring break. Unless you want to be surrounded by loud drunken 18-22 year-olds, I would highly recommend avoiding anywhere in a 10-mile radius of Padre Island during the spring break season. I lived in Houston for a time but don’t remember about CC. I’d think about going somewhere else for spring break.

[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.

[Hoover]

If that’s what you are looking for I’d go somewhere besides Texas.

I’d go to Destin Florida or something similar

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by el borracho

Care to elaborate a little?

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

Yes been to both my uncle was in the navy. While the folks in corpus are very nice and the breakfast burrittos are fire the city itself is kind of a dump.

As far as south or north padre depends what you're looking for. North is more quiet but I think their beaches are a bit nicer. South is more resort vibe.

[RollChiefsRoll]

30A, Florida.

[KCJake]

Originally Posted by ThrobProng

I recommend Belize, TX.

This shit never gets old LOL

[AustinChief]

South Padre has far nicer beaches but it adds 2+ hours to your drive from San Antonio. Mexico is right there but it's shitty border town Mexico. Not sure why you'd want to go there.

Corpus is a dump but Port Aransas is nearby and decent.

I will second the recommendation to skip the coast and hit the lakes or other hill country sites.

[big nasty kcnut]

go to flour bluff outside of corpus christi to enjoy the beach and restaurants. For food go to taco rico in corpus for great fish go to bandas also alteno taqueria is good food then check out the selena statue, columbus shipsthe uss Lexington

[TEX]

Between Corpus Christi and South Padre island, the better place is South Padre. Especially if you're looking for the best beach experience. Far cleaner beaches, and the whole place is just cleaner. However, if you want seclued and very clean, go all the way down to Port Isabell. Best kept secret, in Texas for a get-away. Absolutely go there if any type of surfing will be involved.

Also, check out Port Aransas.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

Just do a cruise out of Galveston.

Just did one. It was awesome. But man is the Gulf choppy this time of year. Bring your dramamine.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

South Padre has far nicer beaches but it adds 2+ hours to your drive from San Antonio. Mexico is right there but it's shitty border town Mexico. Not sure why you'd want to go there.

Corpus is a dump but Port Aransas is nearby and decent.

I will second the recommendation to skip the coast and hit the lakes or other hill country sites.

Very high (possibly number 1) on the list of "dumb shit I did as a teenager" was to get piss drunk at a club in Matamoros and wander the streets while fading in and out of a black out. Woke up in a hotel room on the right side of the border with some people that were friendly and that I kinda knew from my part of Dallas but definitely not anyone from my group. Thankful to this day my bones did not end up as some jewelry or some shit.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Hoover

If that’s what you are looking for I’d go somewhere besides Texas.

I’d go to Destin Florida or something similar

Originally Posted by RollChiefsRoll

30A, Florida.

This