Corpus Christi is known as "The Sparkling City by the Sea," because of its water front and sunny, mild temperatures, small town feel and modern attractions. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Texas gulf coast. The Corpus Christi Bay offers year-round activities from fishing and sailing, to skiing and sun-bathing, making it an ideal vacation spot for tourists or snow birds. It is also a top convention center, thanks to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, lovely barrier islands, and miles of sandy beaches. There are lots of natural attractions including Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi's marina, a noteworthy seawall, the Texas State Aquarium and the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens. It's main hotels along the shoreline offering tantalizing views of the bay. And Corpus Christi is rich in Spanish-American and Texas history, as documented by the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History and the Art Museum of South Texas. A deepwater seaport, Corpus Christi is also the 8th largest port in the U.S. (by tonnage)
