Stroll along Corpus Christi beach, which is located downtown near many of Corpus Christi city's finest hotels. Or, try McGee beach. It's on the north side of the Harbor Bridge near several other sites you might want to see. Or, take the short drive to Mustang Island over the JFK Causeway. There, you can spend the day enjoying family time burying each other in the sand, building sandcastles, feeding the seagulls, jumping the waves, swimming, boogie boarding or even deep-sea fishing. Pack yourself a cooler full of goodies for lunch or dine out in one of the local, casual-style eateries. Just don't forget to slather yourself in sunscreen to protect yourself from the hot Texas sun. Oh, and watch out for stinging jellyfish.
Speaking of jellyfish, if your visit to the beach gives you the urge to learn more about Texas' marine life, visit the Texas State Aquarium just under the Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi city. You'll see those dastardly jellyfish (They are actually very beautiful!), otters, alligators, and there is even an exhibit where you can get up close and personal by petting some manta rays. The most spectacular sight, however, has to be the dolphins that you can watch from an underwater viewing room. If you get hungry during your explorations at the aquarium, a Subway sandwich shop is on premises, and they even serve Texas' own Bluebell ice cream. The aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find out more at www.texasstateaquarium.org.
While at the aquarium, which is right on the beach, you'll no doubt get a great view of the USS Lexington, another great tourist stop. The Lexington, also called "The Blue Ghost," is a World War II aircraft carrier that has been parked in Corpus Christi city harbor for several years and now functions as the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay. Highlights include an onboard theater, flight simulator and beautiful views of the bay from the flight deck. Many youth groups have made overnight camping trips aboard the Lexington. It's a great history lesson for kids and adults alike. The museum is open seven days per week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ticket office closes at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.usslexington.com for details.
If you (or your husband) would rather be taken out to a ballgame, visit the Corpus Christi Hooks' brand-new stadium, Whataburger Field, also located right under the Harbor Bridge. The Hooks are a Double-A minor league team that moved to Corpus Christi city from Round Rock, Texas, in 2005 under the ownership of Reid Ryan, son of major league baseball legend Nolan Ryan. Just as with all minor league baseball clubs, the Corpus Christi Hooks are affiliated with a major league team (in this case, the Houston Astros), and they work hard to keep you entertained with crowd-pleasing games and contests. The kiddies will want to have their pictures taken with the teams' mascots, Rusty Hook and Sammy Seagull. The season runs from April to September, and tickets are a steal. Visit www.cchooks.com for more information.