There are many reasons to visit Corpus Christi and among them are more than 100 miles of beaches. Specifically, there are nine individual, unique beaches that all let you try different activities beyond the bliss of just strolling and relaxing. On a recent visit, I got to explore some of the ways to really enjoy Corpus Christi for some beach time fun for RealFoodTraveler.com. Enjoy this Editor’s Pick article. 

Save this article to Pinterest to help plan your trip to have Corpus Christi beach fun. Photos and graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Here are 7 unique ways to have Corpus Christi Beach Time Fun

While there are beaches in downtown Corpus Christi (more on that in an upcoming article), the two other main beach areas are Mustang Island and Padre Island. I spent a day on Padre where there’s plenty of fun to be had.

#1 Learn to surf

Surf’s up with the help of Texas Surf Camps. Visitors to Corpus Christi can book a Saturday Surf Class and get expert (and patient) instruction from the basics like the parts of the surfboard, how to get on and stand up, and what to do when you’re out there in the water. Morgan Faulkner is the Director of Texas Surf Camps and his wife Brittany is one of a team of instructors. Morgan shared a valuable safety tip for anyone walking in shallow waters in the ocean:

To avoid jelly fish and stingrays, don’t walk. Instead, shuffle your feet through the water to make noise in the sand to scare them away. It also helps you avoid stepping on them since your feet are in constant contact with the sand.

Hungry for more? Get our 3-day itinerary for a Corpus Christi Getaway.

#2 Go horseback riding

It may seem like something out of a movie scene, going in slow motion, but riding horses on the beach is very much a real thing. Horses on the Beach Corpus Christi has about 50 horses available, but uses up to 24 at a time depending on the size of the group. Riders age eight and up can ride.

The company has Quarter horses, Appaloosas, and Paint horses because they have similar temperaments, travel at the same speed and are good about having a variety of riders on them. Initial instruction is given at the stables before heading out to the beach. Visit the website for restrictions and other information.

Photo of people on beach courtesy of Visit Corpus Christi.

#3 Kayak at night

Perhaps one of the most unique ways to enjoy time at the beach in Corpus Christi, is in the water, touring the Texas Gulf Coast in special kayaks that glow! Glow Row kayaks are clear, are wider than the average kayak, and have colored lights on them. You can choose your color and change it, depending on your mood. All equipment is provided and guidance is provided before getting in the water. You can even B.Y.O.B. but there are restrictions on weight in the kayaks (which includes your cooler, its contents and human body weight) as well as on age of the kayaker.

Glow Row is a great way to see sea life and enjoy the scenery all around.

#4 Take in the nature of the beach

If you simply want to enjoy a beautiful beach, Padre Island National Seashore can’t be beat. There is a park fee to get in for the federally-protected wildlife area. There are more than 130,000 acres of beach and grassland. It’s here you can watch freshly hatched sea turtles as they head out to the Gulf of Mexico (visit the website for information on timing).

There’s a Grasslands Nature Trail, opportunities to see inland animals including deer and ghost crabs. There are also plenty of opportunities to pick up seashells as a reminder of your time and seashore.

Sitting on one of the rocking chairs on the observation desk at the Padre Island Visitors Center had me experiencing a serenity I hadn’t felt in a long time.  It was pretty heavenly. Save a little time post-beach for some rocking.

#5 Grab a bite on the water

Doc’s Seafood and Steaks helps make sure you get a taste of the island in a fun spot that’s more than just a restaurant. Doc’s was established by Bill Blankenship, a long-time and beloved resident of the island who was the highest-decorated living doctor in the U.S. Navy. He loved being by the water and enjoyed seeing people having fun and a great meal.

Options include Oysters Rockefeller, Peel-and-Eat Shrimp, soups and salads, seafood platters served with rice and vegetables, plus steak, chicken, burgers, and sandwiches. It’s a huge menu! I opted for a bowl of their Clam Chowda, said to be the “best in town.” I don’t know about that, but it was definitely the best I’ve had on my travels, anywhere! I also had a Coastal Cobb Salad with mixed greens, egg, onion, bacon, avocado, pico de gallo and cheese to which I added grilled shrimp. It was delicious.

The “inside” of the restaurant is covered but wide open to the water. But there’s also deck seating and a stage for music.

Downstairs, at “the Waterline at Doc’s,” there’s live music on the weekends, cornhole games, and more seating for dining. Be sure to try their flight of margaritas. Also on that level, which is close to the water, we noticed a man cleaning fish that were being brought to him by fishermen. It was an amazing sight – boats pull right up to the dock (at Doc’s) and the man hands the anglers a big plastic basket, and they put their fresh catch of fish in there. The man “processes” the fish and it gets picked up later, cleaned and zipper-bagged fish. The fishermen could have also chosen to have their fish cooked up (grilled, fried, or blackened) at Doc’s to eat right there. The guys I spoke with were going to have some processed for later and were also going to have some cooked up. This is one of the things I love about traveling – unless you live by the water, that whole scenario is not something you’d even fathom doing. But in Corpus Christi, it’s the norm.

It’s also on the Waterline level where people participating in the Glow Row mentioned above might pull up to commune with diners, sometimes getting a quick drink before paddling back.

Hungry for more? Read our Editor’s Pick about Green Bay, WI.

#6 Clean up and fuel up

For a morning jolt or an afternoon boost, Island Joes Coffee and Gallery is the place to go. Made from ten colorful shipping containers, they roast their own coffee in-house, every day. It’s the only coffee shop on the island that does this. They get beans from Guatemala, Columbia, and Costa Rica.

Island Joes serves hot, iced, and frozen espresso-based drinks as well as pastries, snacks, and light food items including Biscuit Sandwiches, Kolache Rolls, Frittata, Cucumber & Dill Toast, protein bars, and tasty Keto Bites.

One of the locals suggested I get the Island Girl which you can have hot, iced, or fro-joe. It has espresso, white chocolate, and milk. I got it iced but I hear that when you get the fro-joe frozen treatment and dine in, the presentation is really fun. Check their Facebook page to plan a visit during one of their open mic, game, or movie nights. And because they care so much about the health of the beaches and ocean, if you bring in a full bag of trash from the beach, you’ll get a free drink. Do good and have good!

#7 Taste the bounty of the sea

Snoopy’s Pearl Oyster Bar is a great place for dinner (and before heading out on your Glow Row). Located at the Marker 37 Marina, the restaurant serves more than 15 varieties of oysters, many sourced locally. They also have salads, steaks, and fresh seafood and shellfish dishes. I shared a Shrimp Boil with my dinner companion which the staff was nice enough to serve already split up for us. The corn and potato were really flavorful and the peel-and-eat shrimp was exactly what I was hankering after a day at the beach.

Stay tuned for an upcoming article about the variety of things to do throughout Corpus Christi. But for now, plan some beach time fun and enjoy glorious temperatures, clean beaches, wildlife, and great food and drink for a memorable vacation at the shore.

To learn more about Corpus Christi, head to the very helpful Visit Corpus Christi website.

-Story and photos, except where mentioned, by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor, RealFoodTraveler.com.

Please note, I was hosted for this visit to Corpus Christi, which is common practice in our industry to help facilitate researching for articles. However, as is always our policy, that does not influence our opinion or focus on providing useful information for RealFoodTraveler.com readers.

Hungry for more? Hear our podcast with the owner of restaurants where the locals eat.