We all love a summer beach, but in Corpus Christi, a winter beach can be just as enjoyable if you do it right. This season, we invite you to snuggle around a beach fire, roast s'mores and more, and enjoy the breeze that the Gulf Coast Capital provides.
Here are the top five ways to love a Corpus Christi winter beach.
Enjoy a cool swim
If you'd rather have a cool beach experience this is the time of year for you. With water temperatures usually not dipping below 68 degrees, a cool swim can really get your blood flowing. But don't forget to bring a warm-fuzzy towel and dry off as soon as you get out to enjoy the next best thing about a winter beach.
Walk or drive along the beach
If it’s too cold for a swim, the great thing about our beaches is that they are both walkable and drivable. This gives visitors and locals the best of both worlds. Throw on your Gulf Coast Capital sweater and enjoy a drive with the windows down on a slightly chilly beach, or you could even take the hand of a loved one and walk along the shoreline.
Still too cold with the blowing wind? There's still something nice and cozy about hopping in your car, rolling the windows down and driving down the packed sand of the beach while listening to your favorite holiday hits or even the Gulf Coast Capital playlist.
Go bird watching
Known to be the "Birdiest City in America", many shorebirds stay year-round on the Corpus Christi and gulf beaches. From Brown Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, and more, the winter birds include those that spend their non-breeding seasons in Corpus Christi. Other included are some that are traveling through Corpus Christi like Ruddy turnstones, Red Knots, or Willets and Black-bellied for example.
Be on the lookout for the unofficial winter beach mascot – the little Sanderling. With a stamina reminiscent of the Energizer Bunny, Sanderlings are constantly busy, up and back with the waves, poking and poking beaks into the sand.
As you birdwatch or beach, don't forget to respect the birds' habitats and clean up trash and fishing lines that can get a bird all tangled up.
You can check out all-things birding in the Gulf Coast Capital here.
Cozy around the campfire
As the sun goes down, bring out the s’mores and the hot cocoa, the blankets and the best friends, and the boom box or guitar. The magic of a campfire is strong in any season. But when there is a temperature difference between the flames and your surroundings, it is all that more enticing. A local favorite is chilling by the campfire by the beach, and you too can kick it like a local. Don't forget to check that campfires are allowed on the beach and make sure the fire is contained to a 3' x 3' x 3' space and extinguished before leaving.
Have a picnic
With mild temps year-round, Corpus Christi is an ideal destination for the outdoors any time of the year. Gather your friends and family for a fun feast on the beach. Just remember that glass isn't allowed on our beaches and don't forget to leave our beaches better than you found them! If you're looking to have a fancy picnic without all the work that goes into it, try hiring a local full-service picnic company like Pretty Picnics! And don't forget to pick up some food from a local restaurant to enjoy on the beach.