Have Kids?…5 Reasons to make Corpus Christi your next travel destination. {Part 1}

An ideal vacation with our 6 year old and 2 year old involves quite a bit of homework. Sure we can travel to some gorgeous city and explore popular landscapes. But what’s in it for the kids?

Hubs and I realized (with a knot in our throats) that our kids are young only once.  We’d rather pack their childhood with beautiful memories now than wish we had later.

Enter Corpus Christi…

If you’re traveling to Texas or live in Texas and haven’t visited this Sparkling City by the Sea then Whoa, it’s time!

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While San Antonio, Houston and Dallas are fantastic places to visit with kids, they are a tad bit crowded. That’s the awesome thing about Corpus Christi.

1. The city has refreshingly clean spaces

2. Isn’t as crowded

3. Proximity with distances is considerably close

4. And yes, the city is gorgeous.

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My 5 reasons why Corpus Christi makes a fantastic family travel destination…

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1. Up Close Encounters of the Marine Kind!

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The Texas State Aquarium houses exhibits for the feathered few, a number of creepy crawlies and a host of aquatic folk. Interactive spots are found all over the Aquarium, dependent on the time of your visit.

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My little ones stroked sting rays, touched a slithery snake, peeked into the homes of several crabs…

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and bonded with the dolphins, in the underwater Dolphin Bay viewing room.

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E.B. Mommy Tip : We were blessed to walk away with wonderful dolphin memories and gorgeous photographs. Make sure you set aside a minimum of 15 minutes in the viewing area if you want to get some one-of-a-kind photo opportunities. The dolphins love kids, so make sure that camera has an empty memory card and lots of battery power!

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Visitors to the Aquarium are also treated to a Dolphin Show and a Wild Flight Show, among other Presentations.

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E.B. Mommy Tip : If you do find the arena gets a little crowded for the Dolphin show…

Take the lift to the 2nd floor, find the Learning/Activity Center and watch the show from the comfort of a kid’s sofa!

And if things get too hot in the Aquarium, get the kids to cool off at the HEB Splash Park outdoors.

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2. History On The Bay!

If your children are 7 years old or older then the USS Lexington, an actual World War 2 aircraft carrier, will have them spell bound.

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My little ones are too young to appreciate the wealth of history wrapped in the corridors of this carrier. But Hubby took a hard hat tour and said this was something we had to do again when the kids were older.

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The commemorative plaques, guide placards and informational notices placed around the Museum on the Bay serve as guides on one’s tour. So you really don’t need to arrange to go on a hosted tour unless you want to dive deep into the heart of the Lexington.

E.B. Mommy Tip : The USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium sit adjacent to each other on the shoreline. If your older kids want to visit the Lexington with Hubs, you can take the little ones to the Aquarium instead.

I’d recommend parking at the Aquarium versus the Lexington if you go on a busy day as the lot does get full. The only other parking outside the Lexington lot is toll.

{Parking all day at the Lexington: 3.50 US$. At the Texas State Aquarium: 5 US$}

* Don’t miss reading “Have Kids?…5 Reasons to make Corpus Christi your next travel destination. {Part 2}” tomorrow!*

** For more information on these Corpus Christi attractions, details on planning your trip to Corpus etc, check out the Visit Corpus Christi site. More cities should create a site as tourist-friendly and practical as this one! **

**EBMR Disclaimer: Our family was invited to visit Corpus Christi and experience most of what makes the city a tourist haven. The opinions in this post have not been influenced by our host nor been monetarily compensated. We genuinely had a wonderful time…and that’s the heart of this post!**