One of the main reasons Los Cabos, Cancun, and even U.S. beach havens like Miami are so popular is simply due to the multitude of flight options.
Let’s be honest — when it comes to beach vacations, we’re not always up for an adventure. The perfect example would be Gulf Shores.
What’s been solely a road trip destination for decades, once Gulf Shores opened its airport to the public last May, it’s been nothing short of a raging success.
While Corpus Christi’s airport has been open for commercial flights, there have been only a handful of flights to choose from in recent years, forcing travelers to hit the road through the seemingly never-ending highways of Texas or opt for a layover in Dallas or Houston.
Welcoming their first new flight since 1997, Corpus Christi is hoping to take a page out of Gulf Shores’ playbook by making their vibrant city so much easier to reach through yet another major hub and ready to prove not all of Texas’s shores are overrated (no offense, Galveston!).
Travel Tip: With few flights, you may still have a layover on your way to Corpus Christi. Make sure to check out Travel Off Path’s handy-dandy Jetlag Fixer!
Brackish Waters?! This Ain’t Galveston, Partner!
Galveston is a fun beach town with a buzzing boardwalk, fishing excursions, and epic eats, but if you’re going solely for a beach vacation, it’s fair to say visitors will be disappointed with the water quality.
The same could be said for Corpus Christi’s bayside with greenish, murky waters that don’t pass the “I can see my feet” test, though there are multiple pristine shores in close distance.
Corpus Christi is a pretty city that doesn’t get the hype it deserves. I know so because I’ve been there multiple times, and it always gets the nod over Galveston in my book.
No matter if you’re visiting for relaxing beach days, fun tours, to pig out on a balanced blend of Southern and coastal cuisine, or book a towering hotel room with sweeping waterfront views, Corpus Christi won’t let you down, especially now that it’s so convenient to get here this fall.
The truth is, even with all the surprising attractions Corpus has to offer, from art museums to the USS Lexington, most visitors don’t stick to the city limits — they opt to go even further south to nearby beach towns and islands far more worthy of a postcard than the immediate waters crashing against the Seawall promenade.
To avoid the Gulf’s typical brown-ish waters, here are 3 options for a picture-perfect beach vacation:
- Rockport: A tranquil, nearby town offers clear waters as part of the Clean Beaches Coalition program
- Port Aransas (Mustang Island State Park): Known for turquoise waters, and you can drive on the beach!
- Whitecap Beach: Corpus’s less-crowded paradise with expansive beaches along clear water
Downtown’s North Beach is very popular too, but it’s more about the vibes than the beauty.
Margaritaville, Who? Discover Fajitaville & More Surprising Attractions
Who doesn’t love Margaritaville? Well, Corpus has a whole different concept but just as enticing.
Years ago, I had the pleasure of discovering Fajitaville, a beachside restaurant whipping up the city’s finest sizzling Tex-Mex with sweeping multi-level coastal views — and yes, they too serve handcrafted cocktails.
Corpus has become more of a foodie destination in recent years, especially with downtown’s revitalization efforts bringing in new restaurants such as Streat Corner Kitchen and Marty McPies.
But, as a born-and-raised Texan, and proud cult member of Whataburger’s following, the South’s favorite burger chain was founded in none other than Corpus Christi, now taking on Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and Five Guys in a never-ending battle of burger supremacy.
As popular as Whataburger may be across the South, Corpus Christi is specifically known for being the hometown of Selena, the iconic Pop and Tejano who was tragically murdered in the 90s.
You’ll find odes to her legacy, including the Mirador de la Flor statue and the Selena Museum that you can visit for just $5 Monday through Friday.
A recent visitor claimed, “Visiting the Selena Museum was one of the most emotional and meaningful experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment we walked in, we felt her spirit all around us. Being surrounded by her clothes, awards, and personal items brought on a wave of emotions”.
Frontier’s Historic New Flight To Corpus Christi
Say what you want about Frontier, but they are making history. Set to launch October 9, 2025, Corpus Christi will receive its first new flight in 28 years, almost my entire life, which is crazy to think about.
Frontier will offer a single new route from Denver (DEN), operating twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays to CRP.
Travel Tip: Check out Travel Off Path’s new Carry-On Sizer tool. You’ll definitely need it to avoid hefty fees on budget airlines!
For a city of more than 300,000 residents, this is big news not only to hopefully embrace a wave of economic boost via more tourism, but also to avoid making the trek all the way to San Antonio or Austin to fly direct on a vacation of their own.
The opportunity to fly through Denver (specifically on Frontier) provides up to 120 destinations across the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, according to the city of Corpus Christi’s official press release.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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