The eighth largest city in the Lone Star state, Corpus Christi spans a semitropical bay laden in history and enriched with exotic wildlife. It's located in South Texas on the Gulf of Mexico - halfway between Houston and the U.S./Mexico border - and surrounded by islands and hundreds of miles of beachfront property. A dreamland for boating families, Corpus Christi has limitless opportunities for good, Texas-style fun.

The 452-square-mile area - of which 124 miles is comprised of land and 328 of water - was discovered by Spanish explorer Alonzo Álvarez de Pineda in 1519 on the Roman Catholic Feast Day. Christened for the feast day celebrating the "Body of Christ," the city was incorporated in 1852. However, it wasn't until Gen. Zachary Taylor set up camp in Corpus Christi during the Mexican-American War in the summer of 1845 that the area became a stable settlement in Southern Texas.

Today, the city capitalizes on its natural beauty and resources to offer an array of cultural and recreational amenities for locals and visitors to enjoy. Most attractions are conveniently established near the Corpus Christi Municipal Marina - the largest marina in Texas. With more than 113 miles of Gulf Coast beaches and access to nearly 70 miles of beaches on Mustang and Padre islands - plus incredible tropical weather - Corpus Christi is an ideal getaway for fishing, boating and surfing.

Since Corpus Christi is also known as the "Birdiest City" in the nation, the trip wouldn't be complete without partaking in some bird watching. Also home to the USS Lexington, there are more than enough nautical World War II-era stories and legends to be told. Other attractions like Heritage Park, King Ranch and the Texas Surf Museum take visitors back to different periods of time when oil barons, cowboys and surfers ruled the land.


MARINAS

• Corpus Christi Municipal Marina. With a recent $7 million upgrade, Corpus Christi Municipal Marina has become the largest marina in Texas, and is also the focal point of the city. The Marina has added four new floating docks, which can accommodate boats up to 100 feet, electrical power down the dock to service visitors, a lift station, and slips that bring the marina's total capacity to 700. The marina's clubhouse includes Internet/WiFi, cable, showers, restrooms, laundry facilities and a fueling station. And visitors don't have to venture too far away because attractions, restaurants and entertainment are all within walking distance. (361) 826-3980, www.corpuschristimarina.com.


RESTAURANTS

• Water Street Oyster Bar/Water Street Food Co. Want the freshest catch of the day? Water Street Oyster Bar and its sister restaurant, the Water Street Food Co., are known for great seafood. Located in downtown Corpus Christi, Water Street's menu includes specialties such as seafood enchiladas, crab cakes and gulf shrimp. There's even a new sushi bar that features native spices with a hint of Mexican flair. Water Street Oyster Bar (361/881-9448); Water Street Food Co. (361/882-8683). www.waterstreetco.com.

• Katz 21 Steak & Spirits. Visitors looking for a hearty meat-and-potatoes dish can try this award-winning steakhouse. Experience fine dining as Katz 21 combines elegance with a "masculine" design depicting the swing era's supper clubs. Specializing in dry-aged, corn-fed Midwestern Prime beef, the restaurant offers traditional steaks and an assortment of pastas, seafood, veal and lamb. There's even an adjoining ultralounge and cigar bar with the largest selection of fine spirits in Corpus Christi. And throughout the week, visitors can also listen to live music while dining. (361) 884-1815, www.katz21.com.

• Executive Surf Club. For more than 10 years, the Executive Surf Club has been the downtown area's casual yet upbeat place of choice for lunch - surfer-style. This eatery is known for its burgers and quesadillas, and of course, its happy hour. The Club also has an open-air stage for live entertainment, and guests can either enjoy their meals on the outdoor patio or inside the dining room. (361) 884-SURF, www.executivesurfclub.com.


ACCOMMODATIONS

• Omni Bayfront Hotel. This four-diamond hotel has an unbelievable view of breathtaking sunsets on Corpus Christi's bay. Together, the Omni's two towers include 821 guest rooms, three restaurants and more than 38,000 square feet of meeting spaces. The guest rooms are accented with cherrywood furniture, rich artwork, cozy chairs and private balconies. There's a fully equipped health club, an outdoor heated swimming pool, indoor racquetball courts and an in- house massage therapist. (361) 887-1600, www.omnihotels.com.

• V Boutique Hotel. "V" is for Vietnam Boutique, and this intimate downtown retreat offers a sleek, contemporary décor in eight unique suites to fit any guest's lifestyle. Rooms include wire/wireless Internet access, a 37-inch flat screen TV and satellite cable, plush bedding and linens with 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and terry cloth robes and towels. V Boutique even has fitness facilities and a 24-hour concierge service. It also serves five-star Vietnamese cuisine. (361) 883-9200, www.vhotelcc.com.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

• Bird Watching. Corpus Christi has had more than 500 bird species documented in the area, including brown pelicans, whooping cranes, masked ducks and raptors. It's been dubbed the "Birdiest City" in the nation because there are ample opportunities to watch many exotic birds - some common ones being white ibises, hawks and great blue herons. Because Corpus Christi has a tropical climate and encompasses a combination of rivers, beaches, lakes, plains, swamps and chaparral, there's no telling what rare birds will fly past you.

The Texas Coastal Bend even has 153 sites for nature enthusiasts to explore. Another popular place to learn further about wildlife is King Ranch, an 825,000-acre ranch that offers tours on everything from nature and agriculture to farming and cattle/horse operations. (361) 592-8055, www.king-ranch.com.

• Fishing. Family fishing at Corpus Christi is year-round and plentiful along shallow shores and bays, where fisherman can catch redfish, whiting, flounder, drum and speckled trout. The odds of catching big speckled trout are greater at Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay, but if guests want to switch between bay and offshore fishing, Packery Channel is the "go-to" spot. Visitors can become better acquainted with the bay area by tagging along with Capt. Nathan Clark aboard Capt. Clark's Flagship (361/884-4369, www.corpuschristicvb.com) to learn more about the bayfront's history, local legends and area attractions.

LANDMARKS

• USS Lexington Museum. Take a self-guided tour aboard the 910-foot, 16-deck, 33,000-ton aircraft carrier, USS Lexington. Dubbed the "Blue Ghost" because of its striking hue at night, the USS Lexington stands as a tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and also serves as a memorial for those who have died serving their country. The museum both entertains and educates about naval aviation and the role of the Lexington. Visitors are able to do everything from climbing behind the controls of a jet fighter, to flying an F/A-18 Hornet in a simulator, to watching a movie in the MEGA Theater, which has intense sight and sound. (361) 888-4873 or (800) LADY LEX, www.usslexington.com.

• Heritage Park. Twelve of Corpus Christi's Victorian homes - the oldest dating back to 1851 - can be found in Heritage Park. The park is a great way to learn about the city's history and culture as visitors stroll through special tours led by award-winning docents - sharing stories about historical events such as the 1800s trade market, the 1919 hurricane, and the yellow fever epidemic of 1867, to name a few. As a cultural center, Heritage Park hosts festivals, art exhibits and multicultural events throughout the year. (361) 883-0639, www.cclandmarks.org or www.cctexas.com.

CULTURAL

• Art Museum of South Texas. Designed by world-renowned architect Philip Johnson and recently renovated by Mexican architect Ricardo Legoretta, the Art Museum of South Texas is a three-story cultural center that displays fine art against walls of white concrete and plaster. Works by such greats as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall have even graced its walls. Approximately 15 exhibitions are featured annually, but the museum also has a permanent collection of more than 1,300 works of art by American artists - particularly of Texans - who specialized in drawing, sculpture, prints, painting, collages, ceramics, textiles and mixed media. One of the most popular collections features Texas-born modernist Dorothy Hood. (361) 825-3500), www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org.

• Texas Surf Museum. This 3,000-square-foot museum is the only surf museum in Texas. Designed to commemorate the legacy of Texan surfers and also to explore the history of surfing as a whole, the Texas Surf Museum contains a huge collection of surfing memorabilia: an excess of 100 photos (some of which are historic) of surfers riding waves; more than 35 classic boards from the 1960s and '70s, along with replicas of 1930s and '40s wooden boards; a mock garage shop; and a small theater playing surfing movies. The Surf Museum is free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (361) 888-7873, www.texassurfmuseum.com.

GAMING

• Texas Treasure Casino. Visitors can take their chances with Lady Luck aboard the Texas Treasure Casino cruise liner located in Port Aransas, a mere 15 miles from downtown Corpus Christi. This 9.2-mile excursion offers Las Vegas-inspired gambling - with more than 500 slots and 24 table games - while traveling international waters. Some of the games include Blackjack, Craps, Let It Ride and Roulette. The cruise also has live entertainment and an international buffet. (866) 468-5825, www.texas-treasure.com.