The inviting stretch of Texas known as the Coastal Bend is home to numerous cities, including Ingleside, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Rockport and Port Lavaca. The region’s rich culture and mix of Hispanic and Anglo traditions make it one of the world’s most eclectic vacation spots. Its warm coastal waters and cool Gulf breezes create the perfect environment for swimming, fishing, bird-watching, dolphin-watching, sailing, surfing, horseback riding or just sunbathing and relaxing.

With a population of 275,000, Corpus Christi grows considerably each winter when thousands flock to the area to bask in the mild climate. Approximately 144 miles from San Antonio, about 215 miles from Austin and Houston, and 413 miles from Dallas, the area attracts “Winter Texans” and others with its year-round outdoor recreation and one-of-a-kind attractions.

A designated estuary of national significance by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Corpus Christi Bay system contributes to the region’s reputation as the richest place in the United States and Canada for bird-watching. The nearby Gulf of Mexico and Laguna Madre boast some of the finest sport fishing locations in America and are premiere destinations for wind sports such as kite boarding, wind surfing, kite flying and sailing. The region’s abundance of fish, has made waterfowl hunting very popular, with duck, geese, coot, and teal among the prized specimens found here.

Corpus Christi’s history dates to 1519 when Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered the lush semi-tropical bay. The bay and settlement that was established here now is home to the largest city on the Texas Coast and the sixth largest port in the nation. Key industries include petrochemical, tourism, health care, retail, education, shipping, agriculture and the military, as well as serving as the regional hub for marketing, processing, packaging and distributing agricultural commodities for a 12-county trade area.