North Beach - Corpus Christi, TX

North Beach is positioned adjacent to Nueces Bay. In the early 1900s, smugglers made use of the area to move contraband. In 1919, a hurricane destroyed a large number of the buildings with loss of life, and a deepwater port, added in 1926, helped the area recover. Between 1920 and 1930, the population rose to 27,741. Constructed in 1927, the first skyscraper foreshadowed the modern-style hotels and buildings that followed. By 1950, Corpus Christi claimed 2,845 businesses and a population of over 100,000. North Beach has a large Latino population, and the culture reflects this.

Local museums include the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History on North Chaparral and the Art Museum of South Texas, located on North Shoreline Boulevard. The city celebrates the annual Festival of the Arts at the end of March, a juried show displaying artwork from around the country.

I-37 near the coast offers some great themed restaurants for a good meal. The area restaurants, naturally enough, serve lots of seafood, but you can also find Mexican dishes, Cajun food and American dishes. The Lexington Bar & Grill on North Shoreline Blvd., decorated in a cross between an upscale restaurant and chic beach bar with live entertainment, has ambiance and great food to go with it. Pinups on the walls and servers dressed in sailor outfits add to the fun. Seafood features prominently on the menu. If you enjoy trying out new dishes, opt for the lobster mac and cheese. At People's Street T-Head, you find Harrison's Landing, a family-owned, dog-friendly restaurant on the waterfront that offers a superb selection of chicken, beef and seafood dishes. For a big appetite, try the U-Peel-em shrimp with cocktail sauce and lemon, and order it by the pound. Blackbeard's on West Main, a casual family-style restaurant with a pirate theme, occupies one of the oldest buildings on that part of the coast. The addition of a rock "?n roll bar makes the place even more fun. It offers great food for both seafarer types and landlubbers, and raves abound for Blackbeard's Baja tacos. Whiskey River prides itself as a honky-tonk type of nightclub with a huge dance floor, located about 17 miles off Route 358 on South Staples Street. They have a DJ, fabulous light and sound and offer Tejano and country music as well as an eclectic mix of other types. Many bars in the area include food menus and music as an added bonus. Locals rave about the service and atmosphere at the Tropical Hookah on Nile Drive. Hookahs, flavors and accessories are also available to purchase for at-home use. The Executive Surf Club on North Water Street has great live bands, food and icy cold beer.

North Beach has the highest walkability score of the many neighborhoods in Corpus Christi, but the majority of residents use a car to run errands, commute to work or shop. The main route runs along Shoreline Drive for nearly seven miles with easy connections to Highway 35 and I-37. Uber plays a big part in Corpus Christi, and North Beach residents favor this alternative cab service.

Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority provides citywide bus service. The Santa Fe and South Alameda bus lines run parallel to the North Beach shoreline. An interactive map, available online, makes finding the correct route or arrival and departure time a breeze.

A seasonal pedestrian harbor ferry takes passengers to the Texas State Aquarium. Bicyclists tooling around North Beach enjoy abundant bike trails along the shore. The routes, posted online, make note of distance and elevation. City buses have bike racks making it easy to bike and ride.

North Beach has an abundance of big and small parks available to see and enjoy without a fee. The Cole Park Amphitheater on Ocean Drive provides a great place to skate, view the bay, jog or just relax with Fido. Old City Hall Park on Shoreline Blvd., a stately park with palm trees and lush lawns, provides a respite from a day’s work. Heritage Park on North Chaparral Street contains the historic, Victorian Galvan House often used for wedding ceremonies. The Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge, about one mile inland from Ocean Drive on Ennis Joslin Road, has a boardwalk jutting into Oso Bay and a one-mile nature trail.

It costs 16 percent less to live in the Corpus Christi area than the national average. A one-bedroom residence averages $654. To travel by CCRTA to the center of the city costs $0.75 with reduced fares of $0.25 at certain hours available for seniors, students over age six with school identification, disabled persons and those carrying Medicare cards. Children under five ride with an adult free. To cool off with a glass of beer costs around $2, and gasoline costs 8.4 percent less than the national average.

To shop for that new bathing suit at Macy’s, head to La Palmera Mall on South Padre Island Drive on Route 358. Bright and cheerful, just like the state, it holds over 130 retail stores and has a splash pad indoors for the children.

A boutique on South Alameda off Route 358 called Four Chicks in the Park sells clothing, trendy gifts and fragrances. Find unusual gifts for yourself or loved ones in this exotic boutique. If you are looking for the perfect pair of sandals, Southern Charm Boutique and Gifts on Saratoga Blvd. offers imported clothing and a charming range of eclectic gifts and sandals.

Local grocery stores include three Wal-Mart Supercenters, one on Saratoga Road, one on South Padre Island Drive, both off Route 358, and a third along Highway 77. The Sprouts Farmers Market on Airline Road, just off Route 358, has online ordering.