With a variety of activities and natural beauties, Corpus Christi is ripe for winter exploration.
From fly fishing to hiking through the wetlands, Corpus Christi is an ideal destination for adventure enthusiasts all year round, but its pleasant weather and variety of landscapes make it the perfect coastal getaway for the colder months. Here are five can’t-miss outdoor adventures that show why the Gulf Coast Capital should be at the top of your winter travel list.
With mild temperatures and calm waters, Corpus Christi’s coast is prime for kayaking in the winter. Several companies and locations in the area offer an array of different kayaking experiences—from fishing to guided nature tours. You can explore the bays and wetlands around Corpus Christi on the Mustang Island Wetlands Tour or the Nueces River Safari with Nature Trails Kayaking.
Paddle through the Lighthouse Lakes on a Coastal Bend Kayaking tour with Hector Rios, who’s been a kayak guide on this Texas coast for over 25 years. Bird Island Basin is also a great place to launch a kayak; plus, it’s one of the best windsurfing spots in the nation, so you can try your hand at two water sports in one day.
Corpus Christi is home to over 200 unique species of birds.
While many destinations experience birds migrating away in the winter, Corpus Christi’s tropical climate allows these feathered friends to hang around all year long. With over 200 unique species to catch sight of, there’s a reason this Texas beach town has been dubbed the “Birdiest City in America.”
To view aviators soaring above the coast year-round, head to Bird Island, located on the waters of the Laguna Madre, or check out Padre Island National Seashore. In the winter, look out for flocks of snow, Ross’s and white-fronted geese feeding in coastal pastures, and snap a picture with the songbirds hanging out in Hazel Bazemore County Park. If you want to make a day of it, head to King Ranch for a half-day Winter Birding Tour.
Anglers from around the world come to Corpus Christi to fish in its waters.
From the plethora of fish species in its waters to the countless different hotspots to cast a line, Corpus Christi is an angler’s paradise. If you’re looking to stay on land, the Gulf Coast Capital is home to some world-renowned fishing piers. Two of the most popular piers are on Padre Island—cast a line for redfish, trout and tarpon at Red Dot Pier, or catch speckled trout and black drum at Cos Way Pier.
Prefer standing in the water? No problem, Corpus Christi has plenty of options for a more immersive wade fishing experience. In the winter, head to Oso Bay Bridge, where the drop in temperature causes large amounts of fish to pass through the narrow channel into Corpus Christi Bay. For fly fishing, inshore locations like shallow grass flats or wetlands are great options to maximize your experience—we recommend heading to the Upper Laguna Madre and Nueces Bay. There are also plenty of boat launches and guided fishing tours available that make a fun adventure for the whole family.
If you enjoy a more sophisticated outdoor adventure, check out one of the Gulf Coast Capital’s many scenic golf courses. Nestled right on the water along the Cayo de Oso watershed, the Oso Bay Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole John Bredemus design. (Fun fact: Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret played this course in 1946, so you’re in good company.)
For a shorter game, head to the Arnold Palmer-designed 12-hole course at Palmilla Beach Golf, which not only offers amazing views of Corpus Christi Bay, but was also rated one of the top golf courses to play in Texas and is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. If you want to try a different kind of golf, head to Live Oak Park’s 18-hole disc golf course, which has been described as one of the most challenging in South Texas and is used for two major tournaments each year.
From beaches to coastal prairies, Corpus Christi has a diverse array of natural beauty.
There’s a lot going on in the Corpus Christi ecosystem—from exquisite regional plants and flowers to vivacious coastal prairies and wetlands. One of the best ways to take in the landscapes and learn about what makes the area’s nature so important and unique is by exploring one (or many) of the region’s trails.
For an immersive and educational experience, take a guided nature walk at the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center—a nature preserve dedicated to furthering knowledge of the flora and fauna of South Texas and the importance of protecting the wetlands for future generations. Head to the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center to see uniquely designed floral exhibits and gardens, and don’t forget to check out the Butterfly House. Corpus Christi also has plenty of non-guided hiking and biking trails, such as the Grassland Nature Trail, where you can explore at your leisure, and maybe even catch sight of some jackrabbits and birds.
Book your Texas coast winter adventure today: visitcorpuschristi.com.
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