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South Texas Welcomes Families
As children, we all can remember the excitement surrounding the annual family vacation. As parents, we can now appreciate the efforts our parents made to ensure a fun time was had by all. Now, it's our turn to chart out a trip to suit the wants of our entire clan. Somewhere fun for the kids and, of course, educational for the parents, where the weather is good and the people are friendly. The Lone Star State of Texas fits this bill!
It would take forever to tour Texas, the second largest state in America, sandwiched half way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As the tourist brochures say, 'Texas, It's Like A Whole Other Country', and it is - there are numerous destinations catering to a wide variety of interests. That's why we narrowed our search to the state's southeastern coast on the Gulf of Mexico.
In recent years, many families have been flocking to Corpus Christi and the "Coastal Bend," finding their way south to the Rio Grande Valley, then crossing the causeway to the sun n' fun of South Padre Island.
Corpus Christi
There is so much to see and do in Corpus Christi, but a favorite sight is the USS Lexington (800/LADY-LEX, 361/888-4873), the most famous aircraft carrier in the history of naval aviation. You can explore the ship, and those with a strong stomach will enjoy the excitement of a jet fighter in action by trying the Lexington's Flight Simulator.
Other points of interest include the Texas State Aquarium (800/477-GULF), focusing on the plants and animals native to the Gulf of Mexico. The recently installed Amazon section features an anaconda and other snakes, piranhas, frogs and more wildlife of the rainforest region, and nicely complements the popular Dolphin Bay and shark tank exhibits.
The Columbus Fleet - replicas of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History are also fun day outings. Another must-see spot is the International Kite Museum (512/883-7456) where you can learn about the history of kites beginning with the Chinese kites 2000 years ago. For more information about the region's other attractions, visit the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau website.
The King Ranch
A visit to the Coastal Bend wouldn't be complete without a tour of King Ranch. This 150-year-old property is one of the largest working ranches in the world and is recognized as the birthplace of the American ranching industry. The entire family can learn the history of the ranch at The King Ranch Museum (361/592-8055) located in the quaint town of Kingsville, bordering the ranch.
Drive two hours south of Kingsville, and you'll arrive in the Rio Grande Valley, made famous in the classic John Wayne movie "The Alamo," filmed in Bracketville. You'll want to check out the city of Harlingen, known for its birding and nature trails. Other attractions include World War II's Iwo Jima Memorial, the Rio Grande Valley Museum (956/430-8500) and the Texas Air Museum (210/977-9885) in neighboring Rio Hondo.
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