Our time in Corpus Christi is drawing to a close. On Saturday, we’re heading down to the Rio Grande Valley to explore South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and the Harlingen area. We have really enjoyed our time in Corpus Christi. It is a city of about 300,000 people. Unlike many cities we’ve seen in the east, it spreads out rather than rising up, which makes it feel less crowded. There aren’t many tall skyscrapers; instead, there are many neighborhoods, and access to the ocean has been excellent.
We stayed at Colonia Del Rey RV Park, about a 15-minute drive from the bay. In 30 minutes, we were on North Padre Island, with beaches along both sides. There are many fishing piers, so Mark has really enjoyed himself. Some fishing piers even have lights at the bottom to help with night fishing and to attract fish. He’s been doing a lot of fishing, and he’s been catching sand trout, flounder, and pigfish. So we have been eating healthy.
We also went to the science museum, the botanical gardens, and Heritage Park downtown. They have moved historic homes from across the area into a downtown park. Mark and I were both impressed at how well they could move and preserve them.
One of the most interesting things about Corpus Christi is its abundance of wildlife refuges and parks. A lot of them are along the water. They have really nice walkways, usually with pea gravel, so it was really good for the dogs that we didn’t have to worry about them getting grass spurs. Many of them are funded as mitigation banks by oil companies working in the Gulf of Mexico. We’ve gone walking at least three or four days a week, visiting most of the wildlife areas in the parks. Most of the trails range from 2 to 4 miles long.
Overall, the weather here has been fantastic; most days are in the high 60s to low 70s, perfect for walking and outdoor activities. We experienced a couple of cold snaps, with the most frigid night dipping into the high 20s, but our RV kept us warm thanks to multiple heat sources like the propane furnace, electric fireplace, and heat pump. The weather has been mostly clear, with just a little rain, making our stay comfortable and enjoyable. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions for exploring and relaxing.
We took a road trip about an hour south to do a wildlife tour at King Ranch. Although we had seen the products in various places, we didn’t know what it was all about. The visit was fascinating. The ranch is larger than the state of Rhoad Island and is still run by descendants of the original family. If you are ever in the area, it is worth your time.
We’ve met some charming people here and plan to return to the area someday, even if only for a visit. We still have the aquarium to see, and North Padre Island has a sea turtle research facility that offers tours on select days.
On the 31st, we’re heading down to the Rio Grande Valley to stay at an RV park in Harlingen, a favorite with winter Texans. We’re excited to explore Port Isabel and South Padre Island, both on the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande Valley, known as the land of two summers, promises sunny weather and new experiences. Being about 30 minutes from the Mexican border, it’s interesting to consider shopping in Mexico. Then, we plan to travel along the Rio Grande River to Laredo, a traditional western town we’re eager to explore. I hope you continue enjoying these adventures. Maybe, they will inspire you to explore some of these places yourself:)
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