Summer vacations with the kiddos can be a little intimidating when you realize that you have to choose a place they would want to visit, engage in activities that they will enjoy too, and find restaurants that cater to the tinier travelers, but you are well on your way to the best vacation ever. You’ve chosen Corpus Christi for your vacation destination, a place well known for its kid-friendly activities and you are scrolling through our On Island Time vacation retreats, seeking the space that will make you and your children feel comfortable and at home. We have no fears that you won’t find the vacation home of your dreams. We are so confident, we are also providing this guide to planning a kid-friendly summer vacation in Corpus Christi, ensuring that every minute spent with us will be the best!
Let’s Talk About Packing On Summer Vacation in Corpus Christi
Why are we always overthinkers when it comes time to pack our suitcases, especially when we are packing for our kids? We are so afraid we will leave something behind that will ruin the entire vacation, but a Corpus Christi vacation is destined to be a laidback one, requiring nothing more than shorts, tees, sundresses, and swimsuits. Flip flops are always the shoe of choice, and yes, we do recommend a gallon of sunscreen; their tender skin is not prepared for the harsh rays of the sun, and no one wants to look like a lobster in all the vacation pictures. A little sunburn on your nose, some heightened color on cheekbones are both something wonderful, but a full-fledged sunburn is painful and will decrease their joy in this Texas trip of a lifetime!
Plan a Visit to the Texas State Aquarium, Located at 2710 N Shoreline Boulevard
It never ceases to amaze us how easily our children learn new things and how excited they are to learn, as long as they don’t realize they are being educated. A visit to the Texas State Aquarium is the perfect opportunity, offering an undersea adventure that will develop a love of the creatures that live there in the hearts of your littles. Their exhibits include coral reefs, a peek into the Caribbean sea, and so much more, but it is the sea creatures who call this aquarium their home, including sharks, otters, stingrays, ducks, eels, dolphins, and an ocelot. Wait, an ocelot? We’re not exactly sure why Milla the ocelot lives at an aquarium, but we are sure they are open to your kiddo’s questions should they choose to ask. Ticket prices range from $36.95 to $46.95 and kids two and under are three.
Hurricane Alley Waterpark, 702 E Port Avenue
Of course you are going to spend a LOT of time at the beach, frolicking in the surf, building sandcastles, and just relaxing overall, but a visit to Hurricane Alley Waterpark is something that will turn you into heroes in your children’s eyes! Offering opportunities to try your hand at surfing, giant slides (the Cat 5 reaches over 65 feet in height), a lazy river, and best of all for travelers with smaller children, Captain Kid’s Cove. The latter features smaller versions of the larger attractions, but it is the USS Dusty that will capture their excitement, being a replica of an aircraft carrier, which also leads us to your next kid-friendly adventure, which we will talk about below. Tickets for the waterpark, however, cost $20 per person, Monday through Friday, and $25 per person on weekends. Kids under 2 are always free.
USS Lexington, 2914 N Shoreline Boulevard
Remember the replica aircraft carrier we were just talking about at Hurricane Alley? Your kids will THRILL to see a genuine version, and the USS Lexington, constructed during WWII, is where we are sending you next. Converted into a museum, guests can explore aircraft simulators and genuine aircraft, watch a 3D movie, and learn all about Pearl Harbor in an exhibit that will make you feel like you watched it all go down—from a safe distance, of course. Also featuring an escape room that is always popular with the teens, many of their special events are ghost related, as the ship is reputed to be haunted. Ticket prices range from $14.95 to $20.95, kids 4 and under are free, and parking will cost you $5.
Explore All that Awaits you in Corpus Christi On Island Time Vacation Escapes
Sometimes it is just easier to stay home and play, and when you choose On Island Time, easier is also a heck of a lot of fun! Offering swimming pools, hot tubs, beachfront escapes with private beach access, your at-home adventures are destined to become memories you will cherish forevermore, and your kids will never cry out that they are bored. Reserve your favorite sanctuary for a summer vacation in Corpus Christi today!
Corpus Christi is a beach destination vacation spot and most people, when they think of a beach vacation, they think of summer and all that goes along with the season, but we at On Island Time Vacation Rentals have a secret to share with you. April is the best month for a beach vacation in our Texas town, and although March and May are pretty good months too, today we want to talk about the 30 days of spring that will make your eyes shine, especially when you choose to spend any of those days in our seasonal sanctuaries. And to help paint a clearer picture of what to expect in April, we have created this guide for the top events April in Corpus Christi , giving you some ideas of the fun you can have while you are here!
First Friday ArtWalk, April 4, Downtown Corpus Christi
Shopping for souvenirs and gifts is probably one of your top three vacation activities (beach time and dining out falling at numbers one and two, respectively), and if you happen to be in town on the first Friday of the month, your purchases will be of the artistic variety. Offering block parties, live entertainment, food and drink vendors, and over 150 pop-up vendors, this party is one we look forward to every month from March through November. There will be art exhibitions and painting classes, 15 different business events, pop up bars, and best of all, fantastic sales and deals on the items you fall in love with! Stretching out over 12 blocks in the downtown area, the spring weather will make you happy you are outside playing and the pop-up bars will make you even happier.
Corpus Christi Southside Farmers Market, Saturdays From 9 AM to Noon, 5800 Everhart Road
Everyone knows what a good farmers market brings to the table (literally!), and the Corpus Christi Southside Farmers Market is one of the best we’ve ever experienced. Offering fresh produce, locally sourced seafood, art, crafts, and so many other items that have been thoughtfully grown, created, and raised, the beauty of a spring day sparkles brightly while wandering the aisles of this fantastic market. Temperatures in April range from 78 to 83 degrees and the sun shines more often than not, creating the ideal weather for a lazy morning at the Farmers Market.
VSP: Earth Day-Bay Day Festival, April 12, Heritage Park, 1581 N Chapparal Street
You have probably always realized the importance of protecting our Earth, but you get an even more urgent feel about it when you spend time in paradise, hoping that more people will get the message so places like Corpus Christi don’t lose their tranquil and pristine appeal. The Earth Day-Bay Day Festival is one that helps spread the word, offering a free and family friendly festival that entertains as it educates, spreading the love of nature to the next generation. Offering interactive exhibits and activities, meet and greets with wild animals (safely, of course!) delicious food, giveaways that may be of the plant variety, and a day filled with fun, even as it is educational too, this worthy event should be at the top of your itinerary during your mid-April Texas vacation.
The Birdiest Bird Festival in America, April 23 – April 27, South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, 8545 S Staples Street
Offering talks from top naturalists, field trips to where the largest variety of birds can be found, and workshops that are always fascinating and entertaining, the Birdiest Bird Festival in America offers a good time and a great way to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. Every year more bird species are spotted, with 2024 bringing a whopping 274 sightings of different species, the largest amount ever, and we simply can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for us. There will be 19 different field trips that take place throughout this five-day festival, both half-day and full-day ones, but the schedule for those hasn’t been released as of yet. Tickets can be purchased from the site linked here, and if you are interested, we encourage you to check back for the schedule of tours.
Easter, April 20, At Home with On Island Time Vacation Rentals
We realize that Easter should have come before the Birdiest Bird Festival in America on the timeline, but we took our writer’s prerogative to place it here. Your Easter Sunday spent at home in our holiday hideaways may end up being your favorite part of your Corpus Christi adventures, offering a home-cooked Easter feast prepared in our fully equipped kitchens, an Easter egg hunt in which you will boil, decorate, and hide the eggs for the Easter Bunny, and all the warm fuzzies you can expect from a family holiday spent in paradise. Reserve your favorite retreat today!
In many states, winter sticks around like an unwanted house guest, making you feel like you will never be warm again, but if you want to actually enjoy the softer seasons of the year, spending your Spring Break in Corpus Christi will actually bring you a hint of summer. Offering temperatures that reach the 70s and sometimes even tiptoe into the 80s, sunny days, and serene nights that are just cool enough to make you really appreciate the deep soaking tubs found in some of our On Island Time Texas retreats, spring will have sprung and life will be all the sweeter because of it. This guide to the fun you can have during your Spring Break in Corpus Christi and staying in our seasonal sanctuaries will give you something to dream about when the snow gets too much at home.
It’s Always Summer at the Beach
Yes, we know that it is Spring Break we are discussing on this forum today, but every beach everywhere represents the carefree vibe of summer all year round, and our Corpus Christi beaches are no different. Offering vanilla sands that look so sweet you may be tempted to taste them, blue waters, and those fantastic spring temps that will finally warm your chilled noses, toes, and bones. Guests can spend all their time relaxing on the section of sand they claimed for their own, or perhaps, zipping across the waters on jet skis rented from Nauticool Adventures (361-313-6005), pushing all thoughts of winter to the back of their minds.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow N’ Fire, March 23, American Bank Center Arena
Monster trucks have been the obsession of men and boys since Bigfoot rolled onto the scene in the 1970s, and Monster Trucks Live Glow N’ Fire is the latest transformation of this hobby. Offering the biggest names in the business, including the latest rendition of Bigfoot, Tiger Shark, and Bone Shaker, this cool event adds fire into the mix. (We can practically here Tim from that tool show grunting in his manliest manner!) Also offering two VIP experiences for an added cost, including the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite monster truck, admittance to a pre-party, and a cool selection of swag that will serve as the perfect souvenir for your Spring Break shenanigans.
US Lexington Museum, 2914 N Shoreline Road, Open Daily from 9AM to 5PM
Ok, you might think us crazy for suggesting a museum visit during Spring Break, but the US Lexington Museum is an extraordinary one, existing on a decommissioned aircraft carrier that floats in the harbor. Built in 1941, she is the world’s oldest aircraft carrier, which makes her even more special and offers exhibits that include an extremely moving Pearl Harbor exhibition that will linger in your heart and mind long after you have moved on to the next exhibit. Offering both self-guided and guided tours, military buffs, and kiddos with big dreams of making a career on the sea will love spending some of their Spring Break aboard this famed ship.
Rebel Toad Brewing Company, 425 Lomax Street, Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays
Your life has changed more than a little since your college Spring Breaks; you have a spouse, kids, a dog, maybe even a cat now, but although you no longer party the entire night away, it wouldn’t be Spring Break without a few beers, and the Rebel Toad Brewing Company is highly recommended. Offering a taproom that carries anywhere from 8 to 12 beers on tap, including their own brewed on site flavors, it is actually a family friendly spot that invites the ENTIRE family to hang out, including your favorite fur baby! They don’t provide food—this local brewery is all about the beer—but you can bring snacks you prepared in your fully equipped kitchen, or order something from some of the restaurants that are nearby.
Spring Break in Corpus Christi with On Island Time
Your favorite adventures generally turn out to be the ones spent at home, especially when you choose On Island Time for your seasonal sanctuary. Offering a serene and laidback vibe that often accompanies a beach area retreat, each property we offer comes with its own long list of amenities. Community swimming pools and hot tubs, bedrooms with private patios overlooking the sea, state of the art televisions, you may even find a selection of beach gear tucked away in a corner or a closet, encouraging you to get outside and play as hard as you have been relaxing on our comfortable sofas and chairs.
Reserve Your Spring Break in Corpus Christi
Reserve your favorite Spring Break escape today and discover all the ways that a Corpus Christi getaway spent in our Texas retreats will be one you never forget!