Where to stay

With access to about 100 miles of coastline on the Texas Gulf, visitors to Corpus Christi enjoy some of America's finest beaches. Book a hotel in Port Aransas to enjoy the five-mile-long beach at Mustang Island State Park, a prime spot for day trips and picnics. Hotels near the calm waters and sandy shores of Corpus Christi Bay are where to stay for a Spring Break beach party. For something more serene, consider staying in accommodations near the paved Beachwalk along North Beach, regarded by locals as their city's best-kept secret. Stay in Rockport for Rockport Beach, commended for its cleanliness, and one of only four in Texas designated a Blue Wave Beach.

For those whose idea of bliss is a fishing rod and the sound of the waves, rooms in Port Aransas are located in what is considered the fishing capital of Texas. A host of charter boats depart from the area, offering daily trips, from bay fishing to deep sea excursions. Alternatively, consider staying in hotels in Nueces, where fishing is permitted on the Nueces River, or join a night fishing expedition in Flounder from accommodations in Rockport. Wherever you stay in Corpus Christi, there's no shortage of seafood eateries in the bay serving freshly caught fish.

Stay in accommodations across Harbor Bridge in the North Beach district for easy access to two of Corpus Christi's most popular family attractions. The Texas State Aquarium entices about half a million visitors every year and has more than 13,000 animals on show, while the USS Lexington is a former aircraft carrier turned museum. To catch a glimpse of a rare hawk, or to kayak along the Nueces River, book hotels in Nueces for the Hazel Bazemore County Park. Meanwhile, accommodations in Port Aransas are a great place to stay to take the kids on a pirate cruise.