Kick off your winter retreat with year-round sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and outdoor activities on the Texas Gulf Coast. From campfires and beaches to fishing and exploring nature, there is plenty of outdoor fun all winter long in Corpus Christi!
1. Campfires and S’mores
The Gulf Coast enjoys milder winter days, but the nights can get a bit chilly. After a long day exploring the coast, snuggle up for a night of unwinding on the beach and roasting marshmallows over the crackling of sunset campfire and crashing of the waves.
Be sure to read up on campfire safety and rules. The hole for the fire should not exceed 3 feet in depth and diameter, and when you’re finished, the fire should be properly extinguished so it doesn’t smolder for hours after the original attempt. Burn only natural wood -- pallets, lumber, and nails are not allowed.
2. Fishing
Anglers travel to Corpus Christi from all over to drop a line into our waters. Whether you cast from the beach or a pier or choose to rent a kayak or charter a deep-sea angling adventure, you’ll find people fishing anywhere you see water.
Types of catch vary depending on the time of year and location. The most popular inshore fish species include speckled trout, redfish, black drum, flounder, and sheepshead, while offshore fishing makes for an exciting adventure where you can expect to find bigger fish such as snapper, dorado, king mackerel, tuna, and jacks.
Make sure to check out the weekly fishing report from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to see what’s in season or learn more about fishing in the Gulf Coast Capital here.
3. Beach Adventures
There is so much to do on our beaches, and we’ve got a few ideas to enjoy them over the winter. While enjoying the plush sands, cool breeze, and waterfront views, enjoy a luxury pop-up customizable picnic experience with Pretty Picnics or test your art skills with Paint and Picnic while eating a delicious meal from French restaurant Bien Mérité.
For a more adventurous experience, explore the coastline in style with a rental from Overland America. Most of Padre Island National Seashore can only be accessed with four-wheel drive vehicles, and you can choose from a Ford Bronco, Jeep Rubicon Extreme, or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
Seafood on the beach is another great option, and with Rollin’ Tide Boil Co., you can enjoy a private "Low Country Shrimp Boil" and campfire on the beach for your family or group. A delicious meal with fresh jumbo gulf shrimp, red potatoes, corn on the cob, Vidalia onions, and spicy sausage all cooking while you relax with your toes in the sand around your own 3-hour campfire, complete with Adirondack chairs, Tiki torches, and of course, s'mores.
4. Explore our Parks and Trails
From well-known parks to scenic trails, there are plenty of places to take nature walks and hikes for outdoor enthusiasts. Spend some time at Cole Park, a spacious, family-friendly park on Ocean Dr. and enjoy a waterfront playground, an amphitheater, and a walking/cycling trail. Corpus Christi Bay Trail stretches from downtown to Oso Bay, offering 8 miles of diverse natural habitat and wildlife, and links 6 parks along Ocean Drive and is a well-known area for picnics, birdwatching, biking, taking your pets for a walk, and more.
Head to the Southside for a 162-acre nature haven offering 4 miles of scenic trails at Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve or visit the Schanen Hike and Bike Trail for 1.25 miles of gravel and concrete for walking, running, and road biking.
5. Birdwatching
Corpus Christi is known as the “Birdiest City in America,” thanks to its protected environments attracting hundreds of bird species, year-round. Bird enthusiasts from around the world flock to Corpus Christi to witness the nesting, feeding, wading, and flight of some of the country's most interesting birds. Birds like the Whooping Crane flock to Port Aransas for its milder winter climates, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see them here.
Grab a pair of binoculars and check out some of our favorite spots for birding. Stop by Hazel Bazemore Park for the largest concentration of raptors in the nation, especially during the winter migration period with a great view from the Hawk Watch Platform or explore a 1-mile nature trail, an 800-foot boardwalk, and iconic birdwatching at Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. Other locations to explore are Bird Island Basin at Padre Island National Seashore and South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. You can even schedule birdwatching tours at various locations.
