P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f t h e C o rp u s C h r i s t i F e s t i va l o f t h e Ar t s
Adventure Awaits The Coastal Bend Region offers a trove of adventure for outdoor buffs and water enthusiasts. Whether you’re into hunting, fishing or water sports, you’ll find great escapes at these spots.
For anglers: Home to acres of shallow bays, the region is an ideal place to cast a line. Best fishing spots include: • Bluff’s Landing • Packery Channel Boat Ramp • Marker 37 • Clem’s • Billings • Padre Island National Seashore
for Hunters: Hunters can find waterfowl, doves, deer and more in the region. Most popular hunting gounds include: • Laguna Madre • Baffin Bay • Premont • Falfurrias • San Jose Island • Matagorda Island • The Ecino in Sinton • The Fennessey Ranch in Bayside
for water sports fans: The region offers ideal spots for kiteboarding and windsurfing, including: • North Beach/Corpus Christi Beach • Padre Island National Seashore at Bird Island Basin • JFK Causeway • Grassy Point/Bluff’s Landing • Oleander Point at Cole Park • Corpus Christi Marina • Texas A&M Beach • Ropes Park • Poenisch Park • Port Aransas • Packery Channel
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C o a s t a l Be n d
Top: An artist displays her work at the annual Corpus Christi Festival of the Arts. Bottom: Sailboats compete in weekly races at the Corpus Christi Municipal Marina.
and an interactive playroom. The historic World War II aircraft carrier, USS Lexington – also known as “the Blue Ghost” – is nearby and includes a museum open for tours. Offering an alternative to local history, the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center houses more than 8,000 Asian artifacts, including Japanese Hakata dolls and paintings, Chinese porcelain and Korean textiles. In addition to the area’s museums, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra attracts residents and visitors alike with performances by some of the Coastal Bend’s best musicians. Year-Round Festivals The region’s close-knit community spirit is evident in the many festivals it hosts throughout the year. The annual Corpus
Christi Festival of the Arts, held during the last weekend of March, offers performances in contemporary and folk dance, independent films, ballet, theater, musical entertainment, art exhibits and more. Approximately 50 acts grace three stages for the weekend Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi’s Heritage Park in October, and Rockport hosts its own film festival in November. Seafood lovers will enjoy Shrimporee in Aransas Pass, the largest shrimp festival in the state, as well as Oysterfest in Fulton, which includes an oyster-eating contest. Don’t miss the region’s other distinctive festivals including Windfest in Portland, Rattlesnake Races in San Patricio County, and the Three Rivers Salsa Festival and the George West Storyfest in Live Oak County.