Corpus Christi tourist information

Some of the most visited attractions are on North Beach, where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay are located. Nearby is Corpus Christi's museum district. Located there are the Museum of Asian Cultures, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the South Texas Museum of Art, and the Harbor Playhouse theatre, one of the oldest continually operating community theatres in the State. Heritage Park is also in the museum district, where a number of older restored houses can be found. The downtown area, of which the museum district is a part, is home to skyscrapers, companies, various shops, a very popular center of marinas, and Mirador de la Flor. Also in the city is the Corpus Christi Botanical Garden which hosts gardening programs from time to time. Most visitors add Corpus Christi Beach, Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens, Padre Island National Seashore, and Lake Corpus Christi State Park to their itinerary too.

Corpus Christi is the county seat of Nueces County and a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the region known as South Texas. The name means "body of Christ" in Latin. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 277,454 people, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. The translation of the city's name is Body of Christ, given to the settlement by the Spanish, in honour of the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist).

The city is often referred to as "The Sparkling City by the Sea," particularly in literature promoting tourism. Locals and natives often just call it Corpus. Since 2003, the city has earned numerous awards including:

* All-America City 2003 * Digital City * One of the best cities to stretch your paycheck * One of the least depressed cities in the nation

Various sections of Corpus Christi maintain distinct senses of identity and community from the city proper, especially the Calallen and Flour Bluff areas, and, less prominently, Clarkwood and Annaville. These areas are sometimes mistakenly believed to be separate municipalities.

The city is home to a number of popular destinations for both tourists and residents. In the southeast part of the city, near the Pharaoh Valley subdivision, is the Hans A. Suter Wildlife Area. It is on the western shore of the Cayo del Oso and is considered to be one of the best sea bird watching areas in the world. The nearby Pharaohs Golf Club course also serves as a haven for migratory birds.

Directly east of Corpus Christi are Padre Island and Mustang Island, home to various municipal, state, and national parks, most notably Padre Island National Seashore. The city is also near King Ranch, one of the world's largest ranches, upon which the movie Giant was based. South Padre Island Drive (locally abbreviated as "S.P.I.D.", with the letters pronounced individually), is the city's main retail corridor, with two shopping malls facing each other and a number of large shopping centers, small strip centers, and scores of restaurants of various kinds.

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