Corpus Christi is a small town that has a lot of attractions for the single vacationer.
Corpus Christi isn't the largest city in Texas, or the oldest, but it has a few spots off the beaten path that are interesting. This city is easy to navigate, the beaches are fairly clean, and the ocean is wonderful.
The International Kite Museum is located at 3200 East Surfside Blvd., inside the Sandy Shores Resort Hotel in an off-lobby exhibition area. This is an awesome museum that had all types of recreational and military kites, stories on the wall of famous kite flyers and inventors of paper-winged planes. A large exhibition tells the story of the Wright brothers and how they used kites to figure out the plans to build their first planes. Best of all, there is no admission charge.
One of the coolest things about this place is the historical photos of the origins of kiting. It started in the Orient and had black-and-white photographs blown up to about 18x24 inches, with little blurbs written to the side of each photo. You walk through a kind of maze that has actual kites hanging from the ceiling as you pass through the exhibit. There were box kites, kites with multiple tips and tails, and kites that looked almost like stealth airplanes. The building has several walls of pure glass that let in a lot of light, so the colored kites are a marvel to view. Since the hall is open from around 9 a.m. to around 6 p.m., there is no hurry"¦visitors can walk at their own pace and there are several benches along the way to stop and ponder or rest. Remember to bring a camera, because personal photography is definitely allowed at this exhibit.
Another great pastime in Corpus Christi is windsurfing along the beach. There are many little parks and camp areas that allow easy access to the water with a trailer or on foot. Cole Park: this area of water is mostly calm, but there are a few great waves that can be exciting. For the most part, there were quite a few others out windsurfing, so it isn't daunting to have no immediate partner on this vacation. Just remember to always wear a life preserver when windsurfing, because a sudden gust of wind can knock a surfer right off the board in one second flat. It's fun to talk with other windsurfers and compare stories. People come from all areas of the world to windsurf at Corpus Christi's beaches and they all have stories to tell about their various adventures. There were also lots of people out boating and using their jet-skis. And, although sunscreen is a must, there is still a good chance of sunburn"¦so wearing an additional T-shirt should be considered. All in all, it can be a wonderful day in the sun.
If collecting seashells is a desired activity, walk along the beach and collect a wide variety. It is important to go very early, maybe around first daylight. Just watch out for seaweed and jellyfish that haven't washed back out to sea yet! Another big draw on the beach for collectors is the incredible amount of completely undamaged sand dollars. As a side note, don't wait until 9 or 10 am; by then, all the good stuff is gone for the day.
Corpus is a small town, but it is very beautiful by day and by night. For the lone vacationer, it offers a few good museums, great weather, nice beaches and gorgeous seashells. It's a great place to wander around and take time out to think.
