You didn’t mention flying or driving. If flying to Houston, go to Hobby instead of Bush. If driving, except for around/through Houston, Galveston would be an easier drive than Corpus. I-35 between Dallas and San Antonio is miserable.
I’m from Houston, now in Dallas. If it must be the gulf, I’d say Galveston. Otherwise, see San Antonio, Austin and the beautiful area to the west and east of Austin.
I’ve been to Corpus Christi, Padre Island and Galveston. I’ll take Ft. Walton beach any day of the year. White sand. Usually clear water when I go. Great seafood. Much cleaner overall.
Galveston has some interesting history and architecture but the beaches suck ass. The water close to shore is brown from all the rivers dumping sediment. If you want to get clean ocean water you have to get on a boat and go out quite a few miles, 5 to 10 at least. Corpus Christi has beaches with clear ocean water all the way at the beach but it doesn’t have as much interesting history.
I’d say Corpus. Galveston is a tourist city, from what I’ve heard a lot of the beaches have washed away.
Water is better in Corpus, but still not great, anywhere on the Gulf it’s murky. I grew up in Louisiana going to Grand Isle every summer, same thing. Water is always murky. Difference in bottom lets the silt get stirred up. Other places like southern Florida have more gravel and less silt. clearer water.
Corpus has some good fishing, if that’s an attraction, find OSO Bay. You can wade out a half mile and catch nice redfish if you know how, still only knee deep. Wade slow and quiet, use a tout tail below a cork. If you let that kind of jig drag the bottom, it just drags up a ton of weeds. Keep it off the bottom, take it slow and it’s great. Wade like you’re trying to sneak up on a deer or you’ll spook fish out of casting distance. I caught a bunch of 22 inch redfish, plenty Speckled Trout in the channel going in, and a few flounder, one of those over 22½ inches.
Beaches are better around Aransas Pass and Port Aransas. Corpus itself is soso, not hard to find some decent camping spots.
Watch it going to the isolated beaches to the south, you’re getting into no mans land, last time I went the locals warned me about bandits down there. Also getting close enough to the border cities so you’ll find boatloads of illegals.
But, Galveston is about the same. The area I lived in around 1990 is total Mexican now, just south of Intercontinental Airport on the north side of Houston. Nice place in the 90’s, little Mexico now. I drove about 45 blocks, never saw another white boy. Or black or anything else...apartments painted orange, yellow and blue, all now have south of the border names...depressing place...
Galveston is probably not much different but I haven’t been there in over 20 years. That’s where we would launch the boat to go diving but only drove through to the marina. Beach when I went mid 80’s was pretty small, probably not 50 yards of actual beach, from what I’ve heard erosion has wiped a lot of it out.
Don’t go near Corpus or Galveston during spring break. Madhouse. You’ll never find a motel room anyway. Or a restaurant...parking place...
Texas has some great places, but once you’ve seen some of the cleaner beaches like Florida and Caribbean, the water leaves a bit to be desired. good fishing if you know where to go, good eats but hurricanes and economy have wiped out anything I’d know of since I was in either place over 20 years ago. I’m sure others have moved in...for seafood, look around the marinas. I never touch fast food no matter where I am. All I ever get at whataburger is coffee. All of them actually...if I want a burger, it’s five guys.
Just getting home from rush hour, keep that in mind, the drivers in Texas are completely insane. I learned to drive on the Long Island Expressway and have driven in Boston Saudi Arabia and in Italy. Texas drivers are in-sane Houston wow.
They will run you over they will pass you on the right coming out of an off ramp. They will come around you at top speed an inch away to get in order to the red light first.
Texas DOT has the most dangerous operations you could imagine. Highways lose a lane from nowhere Just merge or go into the cement barricade your choice
There has been one death per day on I 10 west near us. I know people who go out of their way an hour every day to avoid it. That’s Texas DOT in combination with the insane Texas drivers
Did I mention Texas drivers are insane? My car has been hit from behind six times whistle in a standing that is stopped position at a red light, stop sign or parked. Six times.
You will see so many accidents you will be amazed
Stay steady and deliberate. Plan your route. Do not get mad at them. They’re insane they know not what they do bless their hearts and you’ll be fine.
If you must choose a chain restaurant go with Chuys. The service the atmosphere and the food are way above average
And don’t go too late into spring. It’s hot.
Enjoy. Texas is awesome.
Galveston is a old historic city. Lots to offer from The Strand to Seawall blvd. West end of the island is flat but lots of beach. Gaido’s is an awesome place for gulf coast seafood. Pricey but worth the trip. Heading there this weekend for Mardi Gras.
Come to Gulf Shores.
We care far more about Jimmy Buffett than Warren Buffett.
(Except for the political shit)
RLTW
Corpus.
Take Runza burgers with you!!!!!
Galveston is historically interesting, but the beaches aren’t special.
I like Rockport which is just north of Corpus....drive into Corpus for the Lex and other attractions. Charter boat in Rockport harbor takes a 4 hour tour through a national wildlife preserve with whooping cranes and thousands of waterfowl. The boat captain is an expert. Small maritime museum in Rockport is interesting.
Corpus Christie........and we live in Texas and love CC and Galveston.....but Corpus is nicer IMHO
Didn’t read all....but Port Aransas just up the road from Corpus has great beaches, fishing and eating. Rockport is nice too!
I like both, especially this time of year when the humidity and heat are low!
The muddy water comes out of the Mississippi into the Gulf and flows to the west. The farther you go west, the better the water.
However you might be interested in Seawolf Park and the Battleship Texas in the Houston/Galveston area.
About 20 miles SW of Galveston is San Luis pass. Nicer beaches but dangerous currents. Cross the pass and about 15 miles on down is Surfside, which I feel is a better beach and not as crowded
If you go to Corpus, the USS Lexington tour is a must.
If you really want to see beautiful beaches go to Florida, but if you are dead set on Texas, South Padre Island is the place to go! Galveston sucks and Corpus is not much better!