Corpus Christi International Airport is in a Texas resort community where Padre Island beaches draw thousands of visitors every year. Padre Island is the longest non-commercial barrier island in the world. The Airport is served by three major airlines, three cargo carriers, several regional commuters and air taxis. Two inexpensive area transportation lines are the Harbor Ferry and Bayfront Express. The airlines attract just under 400,000 passengers each year. Shuttles, limousine service, buses, taxis and numerous rental companies are nearby.
The draw card is paradise. Corpus Christi has more oceanfront golf greens than Pebble Beach, Mustang Island offers year-around family beaches, it is America’s largest natural bird habitat city year after year with the huge Spoonbill population and at the Texas State Aquarium is a sanctuary for Tortuga Cay sea turtles. Corpus Christi also ties up the USS Lexington, over 900-feet of heavy duty naval action.
Corpus Christi can be considered a cultural melting pot. Downtown at the Bayfront Science Park is the Asian Cultures Museum and Educational Center. Founded in the 70’s by Billie Trimble Chandler, a Corpus resident who taught in Japan, the Center showcases artifacts collected in China, Japan, the Philippines and Korea including Kabuki dolls and elegant Kimonos.
Another cultural attraction is the Art Center of Corpus Christi. It was built to preserve and display the Texas Coastal Bend’s own special art. On display are water color paintings, local sculptor pieces, studios and classrooms.
Visitor evening entertainment should include a night on the town at Captain Clark’s Flagship. This paddlewheel boat has been churning local waterways since the 80’s. 400 passengers can go sightseeing on one excursion, which on special occasions features live entertainment.
If you want to get out of the City for a nice drive, about an hour from downtown Corpus is Port Aransas. It is on the North tip of Mustang Island, an island named after the wild horses which used to run free there in the 1900’s. The Port is a small gulf port town rich with quaint shops, bird watching, cycling, fishing, beaches, boat cruises, great restaurants and a free ferry. It’s called the Port Aransas Ferry, and it runs from the town to the mainland all year. The best way to get around is with a rental car. Getting a car rental is fairly easy when you get it direct from the airport. Having a car rental from Thrifty, Alamo, Dollar, or Budget will allow you to have a nice flexible schedule when seeing the attractions you want. There is also a public transit system and taxis for alternative transportation.