Family-Friendly Hotel Overlooking Corpus Christi Bay and Historic Seawall

In the 1930s, Corpus Christi built a seawall to protect its bayside downtown area, constructing the coastal structure with steps down to the water, like an amphitheater for the bay. Today, visitors routinely visit the seawall to simply sit and watch the waves or to stroll along the promenade. Located across from this historic site, Best Western Marina Grand is a perfect spot for a family outing, as you can walk to gulf-coast beaches and the museum district.

The Grandview Lounge sits on the top floor of the 11-story hotel, and offers scenic views of the bay. Best Western Marina Grand’s guest rooms also overlook the marina with private balconies in every room, and the lobby and lounge have been recently renovated. When the weather’s hot enough, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or relax under the covered patio. Accommodations include a complimentary hot breakfast each morning, and a variety of waterfront restaurants can be found only steps away for lunch and dinner.

Corpus Christi, Texas: Walkable Downtown and Floating Naval Museum

Even though it’s the largest city on Texas’s gulf coast, Corpus Christi has a small-town feel with lack of urban sprawl. The walkable downtown has a promenade that encourages leisurely strolls and bike rides along the bay. Explore the district’s shops and eateries—mostly seafood and Tex-Mex thanks to the city’s coastal location and large Hispanic population. Waterfront activities are also popular, including dolphin-watching cruises and fishing.

However, Corpus Christi does resemble a big city with an excellent variety of cultural attractions. Catch one of the downtown trolleys to the USS Lexington, a floating naval museum inside of a massive World War II–era aircraft carrier. Inside, visitors can tour the ship’s decks, quarters, and narrow passages. Exhibits and IMAX movies in the onsite theater detail the ship’s history, and the flight deck displays an array of vintage aircraft from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Right next to the USS Lexington, Corpus Christi’s museum district is another cultural gem. Some of the highlights include the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History and the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center. At the Texas State Aquarium, kids and adults find themselves face-to-face with sharks, alligators, octopi, and other marine animals found throughout the Gulf of Mexico and coastal Texas.

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