As municipalities go, the self-acclaimed “city by the sea” may be fairly small, but there’s no denying its beautiful waterfront location. Stroll along the bayfront promenade, wade into the surf at a Gulf beach and tour an aircraft carrier or aquarium. Most of the attractions here are on, in or adjacent to the water.

Downtown Corpus, as locals call it, is lined with a bayfront seawall where you can wander and admire the boats, rent a surrey or access a small beach. Across the Harbor Bridge, on another stretch of sand, are the Texas State Aquarium and the Lexington, a retired aircraft carrier, ready to tour.

To the east, North Padre Island contains long, continuous Gulf of Mexico-facing strands. Bob Hall Pier is a favorite area for surfers and surf casters. Nature lovers prefer the 60-mile-long Padre Island National Seashore, where endangered Kemp Ridley Turtles nest. For family splashing, there’s the Schlitterbahn waterpark on “the island.” Any way you look at it, you’re probably going to get wet.