South Padre Spring Break stories had me excited about visiting the Gulf, but I am not sure I was prepared to find the joy I did in Corpus Christi, Texas.

I grew up in the Midwest, and I had never traveled further south than Kansas until I was 25. I had heard all the cowboy songs about Mexico and seen all the Spring Break snapchats from the tropics, but I never had the chance to experience it for myself.

Corpus Christi doesn’t even feel like the rest of Texas. It has its own vibe altogether, a little tropical, and little southern, and all the vibes of vacation. Here are my top five Corpus Christi sights/things to do.

1. The Texas State Aquarium

It is such a strong tie between 1 and 2 on this list of what I enjoyed more. The Texas State Aquarium was such a site for me. It was my first time visiting an aquarium with saltwater creatures, and it was beautiful.

The ticket price is a little for those on a budget at $35/person but I felt like I got my money’s worth. The aquarium was huge, spanning three levels and included outdoor attractions. The floors were divided between animals found in the gulf, in the Caribbean, and even a jungle section. There are nearly 400 species to see throughout the aquarium and they each had their own viewing experience.

As a photographer, I enjoyed the aquarium so much because I had the opportunity to photograph so many creatures that I would never have had the opportunity to do unless I was scuba diving (which would surely be an amazing experience). I was able to capture the beauty of so many different creatures and really see them up close to admire their grandeur.

2. Dolphin Connections Dolphin Tour

Now talk about an experience. The Dolphin Connection Tour is a local business ran by a woman who has lived on the water for 30+ years. She took us out on her personal boat to locations she usually observes the dolphins in their natural habitat.

This experience was ah-maz-ing.

The first group of dolphins we encountered was a little shy, only a group of three or four who were playing around. Sonja, our guide, said they were off on their own and didn’t really care about showing off for us. She had them ‘surf’ with us just for a bit. Dolphins ‘surf’ when they follow the wake left by a boat.

We felt the area of young dolphins and took a trip around a small island, saw some more dolphins in the distance just living life and then spotted an approaching oil tanker. This is where the real excitement happened.

There were a group of 5 or so dolphins leaping in front of this empty tanker. This was magical, again as a photographer, something I never thought I would have to opportunity to capture. These dolphins were LOVING life as they cruised along with this tanker at really pretty high speeds. They lept far above the water, flipping and flopping. To watch these creatures in their natural habitat and seemingly enjoying life to the fullest was one of the best experiences ever. Sonja with Dolphin Connections was kind and knowledgeable and just as excited as we were to watch these animals. It was a genuine experience.

Recommend: Dolphin Connections

3. Ocean Drive

This sounds a little silly, but I so enjoyed my time driving up and down Ocean Drive. The main artery road literally travels right along the gulf and was full of boulevards and palm trees, beautiful homes, and large parks.

We drove this route a few times, and each experience was different. The first morning the fog was so thick we couldn’t see the water at all. The next day we drove it and realized the water was only 100 yards away at some points.

The homes were crafted with architecture I hadn’t experienced in my life, and the parks were not typical playground parks surrounded by trees. The boulevards were lively and filled with statues as you got closer to the pier, which had an ambiance itself. Ocean Drive ran right into the historic downtown which offers many fine eating experiences, shops, and sights.

Recommend: Corpus Christi Mural, Selena Memorial

4. Port Aransas

Our RV Park that we splurged on for the week was a block away from the gulf, and our parking spot even backed up to the canal where wildlife would spend the morning. Nearby was an amazing little seafood restaurant, but across the inlet was a quaint little town of Port Aransas, or Port A.

I hadn’t ridden a ferry since I was a little girl, but the short ride really makes you feel like you’re in a whole bother world. The homes were bright and exactly what I would expect to see in an island resort town. Port A was filled with surf shops, tourist attractions, phenomenal eateries, and the beach, of course.

This was my first time on an American beach and my first time at the ocean. The shoreline was clean and a few surfers were catching waves in the distance while some fished from the pier. It was everything I had expected in a beach. I was in love.

If I visited again I would try to convince Olie that we should camp on the beach. I’m not really sure how we would get our large 5th wheel on the ferry, but I think that would be a fun experience.

Recommend:

Ransom Road RV Park - warm, friendly, clean, amenities

Moby Dick’s - authentic feel, great food fresh shrimp, perfect atmosphere.

MacDaddy’s Family Kitchen - fresh and modern feel, awesome BBQ