Visiting the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi was an unforgettable experience. The ship is massive and full of history, with well-preserved exhibits and interactive sections. One of the highlights was meeting Richard in the engine room he took the time to explain how the carrier operated and shared fascinating personal anecdotes. Talking with him truly brought the ship to life and made the visit even more special. If you're in the area, don’t miss this piece of naval history and the chance to meet passionate people like Richard.

Definitely a must to go see, but plan most of the day if you want to see it all, it's a big ship. They have bathrooms, cafeteria, a movie theater and a gift shop of course. Best if you don't go during the heat of the summer, not many cool spots. But if you don't mind sweating go ahead, they do have a little cooler spots here and there. Fun for the whole family and a big part of history.

My kids enjoyed the tour ages 16 and 11. The tour took about 2 hrs. It’s self guided. In a world where kids are glued to their phones and social media it captured their attention. I do not recommend this tour for toddlers, heels, dressy clothing or people with walking restrictions. Their is a lot of climbing (ladder style stairs). Dont forget to take your free picture, it cost $35 for the print out but the digital versions using the QR code are free. Parking was $5 directly across the street. It’s so much to do in the area so bring beach stuff, strollers etc to enjoy the day in the surrounding area.

Came here spur of the moment. And really enjoyed it. This one lasted us half a day and we didn't finish looking at everything. There is so much to do and see. The crew is friendly the place is neat. There are some areas where you can spot hints of the past. The renovated and up kept areas of the ship suddenly contrasted by the subtle reminders that yes, this ship did see war, fought in battles, and has aged. Love it. Highly recommend this spot for a visit if your a military buff.

Very interesting self-guided tour. Can catch a free cart ride up the gangway. The steps are steep and narrow to the different levels so wear good shoes if going.

Went here a few weeks ago. Kid friendly. This place was absolutely amazing. They have 5 different tours to choose from and they explain everything about the ship, to the crew, the historical aspects, military honor, they even have a section on here about Pearl Harbor. Be prepared to learn about the history. If you want to get your steps in for the day, this is the place. Spent 5 hours here and walked over 10K steps. Highly recommend this for a day trip.

Great experience! There is a lot to learn not only about this ship, but a few others as well as about the crews that lived aboard. Note that while walking through the below decks, there are a few rooms that are very cold, which I would think would be a good break in between on the hotter days. It does take a good amount of time to walk and to listen/read everything.

This was such an amazing visit! It is a bit on the pricy side (+$7 parking) but it’s worth it since the money goes to help the rescue and animals! I went during a weekday so it wasn’t packed at all. I was only planning on staying for an hour or two and ended up staying until close. I was able to catch the dolphin show at 3pm, which was magnificent!! The water is beautiful from there. They have swings where you can relax and watch the water or the USS Lexington, which is right next door! The aquarium itself has so many cool fish and staff who truly love their job! They are attentive and informative! I loved my visit here and would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting!

Beautiful way to spend a very hot day. I'm a total aquarium nerd, and this was a treat! Lots of good info on the various species. Animals are healthy and happy. The dolphin show was so cute, you can tell they are having a blast!

Absolutely loved the dolphins show! Also, the otters are so fun to watch. Very interesting and informative. My grandchildren enjoyed everything. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the price. I understand the animals have needs and I love that they rehabilitate a lot of them. But, it was $300 for 3 adults and 2 children. We stayed 2 hours but we missed an entire side, so I recommend getting there no later than 2.

My experience at the Texas State Aquarium with my family was nothing short of amazing! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with friendly staff, breathtaking exhibits, and an atmosphere full of excitement and wonder. The interactive displays kept our kids engaged the entire time, and the variety of marine life — from dolphins and sea turtles to sharks and stingrays — was incredible to see up close. The entire facility was clean, well-organized, and perfect for a full day of fun and learning. It was a memorable family outing that we’ll be talking about for a long time. Highly recommend it for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to experience the beauty of the ocean without leaving Texas!

The aquarium has beautiful tanks filled with happy critters. The birds are beautiful and the layout of well thought out. The staff genuinely seem to love what they do. Like most large aquariums it’s not an inexpensive day, but certainly worth the time and effort to see.

We had an absolutely amazing time at the aquarium, which proved to be a fantastic way to spend our day. The aquarium provided a vast amount of information on various species and offered numerous attractions. The dolphin show was truly spectacular, and the facility offered a range of food and drink options, as well as clean, well-designed bathrooms, making it perfect for families.

We enjoyed our time here. The layout was really nice. Lots to see. Kids had fun. Our only thing was we thought it was a little pricey to not included parking. Welcome to a tourist town I guess.

It was a great trip! We camped between mile marker 10 and 15. The water was great since it was warm and the temperature was definitely hot. Sand flies were prevalent in the morning and boy do they bite! The bug spray didn't seem to deter them so be prepared. Be prepared for wind a lot of the day. The only time it's really calm is in the early morning hours. The water is amazing and the best part is during the day. We hung around the shoreline and the wind was not a factor in our enjoyment at all. A FYI, free trash bags are provided by the park. Those yellow mesh bags at the bathrooms just before entering the seashore are so convenient! We deflated the tires on our Jeep like others suggested and it probably helped but I'm not sure it was needed since we saw lots of vehicles with no problems while driving with fully inflated tires. Pack lots of extra bug spray and keep a lookout for the yellow mesh trash bags.

My trip to Padre Island was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I arrived, I was blown away by the endless stretch of pristine shoreline, soft white sand, and the calming sound of waves rolling in. Whether you're looking for a peaceful escape or outdoor adventure, Padre Island has something for everyone. I spent my mornings walking along the beach with the sunrise painting the sky in soft hues, and my afternoons swimming, paddleboarding, and even spotting dolphins not far from shore. The natural beauty of the island is perfectly preserved, especially at the Padre Island National Seashore — a must-visit if you enjoy untouched nature and wildlife. Local seafood spots were incredible — fresh, flavorful, and full of coastal charm. I was especially impressed by how friendly and welcoming everyone was, from locals to fellow travelers. The atmosphere was laid-back but never boring. This place left a lasting impression on me. It’s the kind of destination that makes you want to extend your stay and already plan your return before you even leave. Highly recommended for families, couples, solo travelers — anyone who loves the ocean and a slower pace of life. Padre Island truly is a hidden gem on the Texas coast!

Wonderful! Nice to visit. I've so many fond memories of camping out here over 50 yrs ago as a child. Remote and private. Id love to camp out here again.

Beautiful but windy. So windy I can’t as getting sand out of my suv for the next 6 months! But quite otherwise..less and less people the further you go.

Such an underrated spot! It was peaceful and not packed on a holiday weekend. The walk to the beach isn’t bad and there’s a nice store with bathrooms at the parking lot. Be careful of the natural tar in the water and on the beach. It gets removed with oil or dish soap but my dog and myself both got splotches of it on us. I love this spot more than the other beaches in the area.

Entrance fee 25$ per car. Beautiful beaches, a few people. We swam at the Halloween weekend, but the water wasn’t that warm.

One of the best camping experiences. You just need the national park pass or pay the day/s fee, no reservation required. Make sure you have all wheel drive vehicle. Try to park towards the shore and not the dunes.

I was told to come here because it is supposedly better than Port Aransas beach. Boy, was that a mistake. This beach is located inside a park that you have to pay $10 for. Considering everyone gets charged, you would think the beach would be well maintained.. well, you'd be wrong. There was trash everywhere, broken glass getting in your tires is a risk as well. The water was dirty and brown compared to Port A (Considering they both are in the gulf, and Texas doesn't really have beaches like the east and west coast) plus at Port A, you pay $12 for an entire year vs $10 a day for a dirty and trashy beach. Oh, did I mention dead jellyfish and stingrays on shore? Yeah.. there were several of those. Definitely wouldn't wanna step on that, would you? Just go to Port A where the city actually takes care of it unlike the national park association with this beach. It was sad. Also, the only restrooms were at the beginning of the trail. Port A has them everywhere from the access road. While they "recommend" a 4x4 vehicle, a 2x4 vehicle with a smart driver will work as well. Just go slow and don't accelerate suddenly and you'll be fine.

Waves and water temperature perfect. Beach clean with outdoor showers available as well as restrooms and a gift shop. Nearest store/restaurant 13 miles northeast.

Always so gorgeous and lots of sea creatures to see. This trip we came across different types of jellyfish, a baby stingray, all sorts of fish, hermit crabs, ghost crabs and pretty sure a baby shark. There were also lots of cute little prairie dogs in the day and antlered deer at night! Cons: -One toilet in the ladies bathroom kept running even after they would fix it during cleaning time. -Camping spots did have some ant issues. -There wasn’t a camp hosting (we always look forward to meeting them). Due to their absence the deposit box was overflowing and people were randomly parking without reserving spots and rvs were parking in tent campsites.

our favorite beach, windy and breezy, often waves, but sometimes you have to be careful with the fuel oil, but still we like it

Great place clean and well managed. However, when we went last week, the water system was not working. Call first and make sure it's working because it's a hassle without a shower. I have TMobile cell service and there was no signal

Beautiful beach!!! This beach has private parking including disability areas and ramps, very clean restrooms, and private showers as well! Perfect for a relaxing day at the beach. Also note that the entrance fee was free for us because we got there a little after 6pm which was even a better trip! The fee is not as hefty as South Padre Island who no longer has private showers!!!

If you have pets, may want to wrap their paws before you walk them. A lot of thorny cockleburs that wreak havoc on their paws! Other than that, very beautiful natural beachfront with a lot of jellyfish and turtles.

This is a video from the last time at this location. This was truly relaxing. Going back in a couple weeks, already know that I'm going to miss the pier ... For those that do not know, the pier is no longer there. Don't expect to see it.

First come first served parking drive on beach. Got there before noon and was able to park close "peir" (see pic). Restrooms and wash area was clean.

Had to come here to find out it was torn down. So sad. We were looking for it. We came here in 2017. We loved it. It was a nice place to eat right on the beach. They need to build another place again.

I love Bob Hall Pier. I enjoy this beach very much nice big piece of driftwood came floating up its iconic

Had no clue the pier was torn down after our visit last year in 2022. Can't wait to see the rebuild.

There is no pier at this place. Beach seemed nice, but we came to check out the pier. Disappointed, because it was non existent.

Pier is closed and it was crowded. I do recommend 4x4 wheel drive. Other than that it was ok for a short stroll.