Corpus Christi for Romantics
Corpus Christi is named after the festival called Feast of 'Corpus Christi. In English, Corpus Christi translates to body of Christ. The name was given to it by the Spanish explorer, Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, in 1519. Legend has it that he discovered the semi-tropical bay on the day of the feast.
Corpus Christi is also called the 'Sparkling City by the Sea', especially in tourism literature. The city's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico has blessed it with a wonderful climate. This has led to the development of many tourist attractions. Here are a few places that you can visit with your better half or date in Corpus Christi.
Walk along pristine nature trails
The South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center is a major tourist destination in Corpus Christi. It is a nature retreat away from the urban jungle. There are a number of greenhouses and gardens in the premises. These are stocked with flowering plants like hibiscus, plumeria, roses, orchids and more. The natural trails extend for several miles and you can keep walking with your date or partner till your feet tire. For a more breathtaking view, climb atop one of the observation decks.
Go back in history
USS Lexington was the lead ship of the U.S Navy during the decisive Battle of the Philippine Sea which inflicted a crushing defeat on the Japanese Navy (World War II). After a long and glorious time in service, it was decommissioned in 1991 and and converted into a museum (USS Lexington Museum on the Bay).
A visit to USS Lexington is like a lesson in history. There are many interesting things to do on board. The flight simulator will plunge you headfirst into gritty combat. It will give you a taste of what it was like to fight in the Second World War. There is also a 3D Mega Theater.
Explore an underwater world
Scuba diving, especially with your loved one by your side is a wonderful experience. In scuba diving, you have to keep an eye on your partner at all times and put faith in each other. In this way, it is a wonderful bond deepening exercise.
Corpus Christi is famous for scuba diving. If you want to try it out, there are many establishments here that take people scuba diving for a fee, such as Dive Shop, Copeland's Inc., Ascuba Ventures and others.
Visit the Pier
The piers on North Beach give a wonderful view of the water and the shoreline. You can visit the pier if you want to spend some quiet time with your partner or date. Select a pier with a good view, grab a few beers, some snacks and just relax.
The restaurants on the shoreline are known for their tasty sea food. If you get hungry just head over to one of these. The popular restaurants here are Doc's Restaurant, Snoopy's Seafood Restaurant and Virginias on the Bay.
Have a date with some aquatic friends
The Texas State Aquarium is another must visit site in Corpus Christi. You can make some time for it when you visit USS Lexington, if you wish. There are many interesting exhibits here such as the Stingray Lagoon (you can feed the Stingrays yourself), Tortuga cay (sea turtles), Swamp Tales (American alligator), Otter Creek (river otters), Islands of Steel (sand tiger sharks, green morays, amberjacks, nurse sharks, tarpons and other fish), Shark Touch (touch a Stingray), Dolphin Bay (bottle-nose dolphins) and more.
Try your hand at ranching
Ever dreamed of being a cowboy? Here is your chance. King Ranch, near Corpus Christi is one of the world's largest ranches. In addition to cattle, the ranch also raises horses. The 1946 Triple Crown winner Assault was born here. King Ranch conducts regular tours of the ranch and you can join in one of them with your partner, if you want to experience the ranch life.