MILSO Recommendations: A Guide to Corpus Christi, Texas

My husband and I arrived in Corpus Christi, Texas in July of 2012. I have to admit, I have not really enjoyed living in Corpus Christi, but what I have learned is you must make the best of where you are. Being a military wife you just learn that this is part of the job. We are about to be transferred, and before we leave I want to make a list of places I really enjoyed. When we found out we were moving here I looked online and found very little about this city. I want to help out my fellow MILSOs and give you some good recommendations. 

Here are some great places I recommend checking out!  

Event Centers and Entertainment:

#1 - The American Bank Center

1901 N. Shoreline Blvd. Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Website:

http://www.americanbankcenter.com/

This is the big event center in Corpus Christi, located in the downtown area. They have a local ice hockey team called the Ice Rays, and a indoor football team called the Fury. Most of the big concerts are held at this event center. If you want to see other large concerts you may have to take a drive to San Antonio or Houston. Check out their website for upcoming concerts and events! 

#2 - The Corpus Christi Hooks @ Whataburger Field

734 E. Port Ave., Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Website:

http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t482 

This is a beautiful minor league baseball field. It is clean, staff is friendly, and the view of the bridge at night is beautiful. If you want to experience some great American baseball, eat some park food, and see a awesome firework show when the team wins this is the place to go. Great for adults and for families!

This is the beautiful bridge that you can see from Whataburger Field. At night it has a amazing light show! I recommend driving over it at night even if you don't want to sit at a game to see it.  

#3 - Concrete Street Amphitheater

700 Concrete St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Website:

http://www.concretestreet.net/

This is a awesome outdoor event center. They host the biggest and best names in Texas country and Rock. There is such ambiance at night from the way the strings of lights hang across the entrance, to the huge plane propellers they have made into fans at the indoor stage. I feel like this is more of an adult venue, but kids under 12 can be accompanied by an adult. If you aren't from Texas, this is the best place to go to get the "Texas country" music experience! 

Restaurants w/ Entertainment:

#4 - Mesquite St. Pizza & Pasta Co. (Chuckles Comedy Club)

617 Mesquite St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Website:

http://www.eatpizzadowntown.com/

If you are looking for some AMAZING thin crust New York style pizza, good drinks, and some entertainment all under the same roof, this is the place to go! Downstairs is the restaurant and main bar. This place is located in a old brick building so the walls on the interior are beautiful old brick. Such a cool vibe, and what I would consider the perfect pizza place setting. Upstairs is newly renovated and is the setting for the only Corpus Christi comedy club, Chuckles. Check out their website for upcoming comedy shows. Occasionally they will also have karaoke!

#5 - Brewster Street Ice House

1724 N. Tancahua, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Website:

http://www.brewsterstreet.net/welcome.html

This place is great if you want to have some good bar food and drinks. They have small name concerts there on certain nights of the week and other performers. Check out the website for a full list of shows. This place is located across a parking lot from Whataburger Field, so you can carry on the party after a Hooks game if you enjoy the nightlife.

Coffee Shops & Cafes:

#6 - Coffee Waves (Corpus Christi)

5738 Alameda St., Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Website:

http://www.coffeewaves.com/

One thing I miss most about other places I have lived are the cute coffee shops and cafes. I found a few here in Corpus Christi that I really enjoyed. I hope in the upcoming years they open more, but Coffee Waves in Corpus, and their other location in Port Aransas are cute! Great coffee and trendy, coffee shop vibes. You will find lots of self promotion (they have a table full of business cards for local aspiring photographers, musicians, etc.) and each location has its own feel. The one in Corpus is located near Texas A&M, so you'll often find students studying away and hanging out. The location in Port Aransas has live music on certain nights (typically older folks jamming out). I prefer the location in Port Aransas, so if you have the chance to make it out there, I highly recommend it. It has a more beach vibe since it is on the Island.

^This is the Corpus Christi location!^ 

#7 - Small Planet

5625 Saratoga Blvd., Suite 117, Corpus Christi, TX 78414

Website:

http://www.smallplanet-gourmet.com/

This place is adorable and they have yummy food and bakery goodies! The decor is great and the staff is super friendly! It is family owned so I suggest showing them some love. My husband loves the Southwest sandwich and I LOVE the French Dip (sans the red onion... just personal opinion). They don't make all of the deserts in house, but the huge chocolate chip cookies are. If you love big, gooey cookies, ask them to serve your cookie warm. You won't regret it!  

#8 - Hester's Cafe

1714 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi, TX 78404

Website:

http://www.hesterscafe.com/

This building used to be Small Planet, but has recently been changed to Hester's Cafe. This is the cutest shopping center in Corpus on the older side of town. It is more established and you can tell by the gorgeous, big trees and lush patio. There is a Ann Taylor Loft, Talbots and a hair salon located in the same parking lot, along with various other shops. 

This is a adorable gift shop in the same parking lot as Hester's called Four Chicks in the Park. 

Shopping & Other:

#9 - Renaissance Antiques (& various other antique shops)

4317 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi, TX 78412

#10 - Benjamin's Surf Shop

1233 Airline Rd., Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Website:

http://www.benjaminsurf.com/

Great local surf shop! They carry all the best skate & surf brands and cute swimwear. 

#11 - Bruno's Bathhouse (Flour Bluff)

1217 1st National Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Website:

http://www.brunosbathhouse.com/ 

We have two dogs and we love Bruno's. The staff is so friendly and you can tell they love dogs. They groom one of our dogs and she always looks picture perfect. Every time we get the nail grind for them both, their nails always look great. We have also boarded them here for up to 10 days, and they are as happy as can be when we get them back!

#12 - Pinnacle Tattoo

1041 Airline Rd., Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Website:

http://www.pinnacletattoo.net/

My husband and I both have multiple tattoos and we love them, but one thing we can agree on is a lot of tattoo shops have stuck up, rude artists. This shop has the best customer service by far! As soon as we walked in the door we were greeted and immediately helped out. The shop is clean and laid back. We have other friends who have been to this shop and have had great experiences as well! Check it out if you are into tattoos. 

Our Favorite Restaurants:

#13 - Atomic Omelette

6313 Wooldridge #10, Corpus Christi, TX 78414

Website:

http://atomicomelette.com/

The BEST breakfast in town. It is tiny inside so my husband and I like to order Sunday morning breakfast and go pick it up. They are always busy and the wait is usually crazy. My husband loves the biscuits and gravy and I love the plain pancakes with bacon and potatoes. They have homemade cinnamon rolls, and I like to get the pumpkin pancakes in the fall! I will miss this place for sure, but I am a morning/breakfast person. 

#14 - B&J's Pizza (Not BJ's Brewhouse)

6662 S. Staples St., Corpus Christi, TX 78413

Website:

http://www.bandjspizza.com/

Great local pizza place! They also brew their own beer and have a large selection of beer on tap. Great all around! I would recommend this over Pizza Hut, Little Caesars, or other chain pizza places. 

#15 - Sushi Bar

6646 S. Staples St., Corpus Christi, TX 78413

Website:

http://www.sushibar.tv/

Great sushi, trendy ambiance, cool bar!

#16 - Niko's Steakhouse

5409 Saratoga Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78413

Website:

http://nikossteakhouse.com/

Awesome bar! They always have the sports games on and the food is great! I love the Steak Avocado Salad and the Cognac Sirloin with the Yukon Mashed Potatoes. Their appetizers are great as well!  

#17 - Thai Cottage

5830 McArdle Rd. #10, Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Website:

http://thai-cottage.com/

Cute restaurant with great character. Recently renovated to add a big bar and more indoor seating. Yummy Thai food! 

If you head over the bridge to the Island you'll find these two restaurants...

#18 - Scoopy's Ice Cream

13313 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (This is Snoopy's address, Scoopy's is the blue building right next door with ice cream cones on the side) 

Right next door to Snoopy's restaurant is an adorable little sandwich and ice cream shop called Scoopy's. I could sit in there all day and look at the boats pass by on the water.

#19 - Scuttlebutts

14254 S.P.I.D. Suite #311, Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Website:

http://www.scuttlebuttsbarandgrill.com/

They have so much selection here. My husband gets sushi and I get their burger. I love the sweet bun they serve the burger on, and the flavor is great! They also have a huge bar and a local performer on the weekends.

I hope this is helpful to some people moving to Corpus Christi!

XOXO,
Bri

March 19, 2015 - Orders Are In! 

After what seemed like the longest couple months of my life we FINALLY got orders. To this day I am still in shock about where we are going. My husband will be transferring to the USCGC Aspen in San Francisco, CA this summer. The reason I am in such disbelief is because that pick was #32 on a list of 50-something we compiled. Of all places for us to go, a Coast Guard ship in San Francisco is probably the closest to where I grew up. I was born in California and raised about 2 hours outside the city. To me, the city is a place we would go to get out of town and enjoy some cool, coastal weather. I feel about San Francisco like people feel about New York City. People describe NYC as having a feeling like no other, and that is exactly the feeling I get when I visit San Francisco. Now, my husband, my two dogs and myself get to live there. Actually live in San Francisco (or the "Bay Area" aka surrounding cities)! On one hand my husband and I wanted to get stationed somewhere neither of us were familiar with, but I can not contain my excitement anymore! I have already started packing and things for the move are coming together. Woohoo!!! 

February 13, 2015 - Re-Enlistment:

On this day I stood next to my husband on the deck of a USCG 45 and watched him re-enlist for another 6 years. It was a surreal moment knowing that the adventure we've been on for the past 4 years is just the start. There may be ups and downs in our lives and many days spent apart, but I am proud to call him my husband, my hero, and my Coastie. Besides spending time apart the hardest thing is waiting on orders. We are set to transfer this year around June and as of today, March 9, we still have no idea where we are going. I am the type of person who loves to pack and move (yes, I said that), but I like to plan a little bit. I research the area we are moving to and look for housing. At this point my mind is all over the place, kind of like this blog post, because all I can think about is getting orders. We don't even know if we'll be stationed on the West or East coast. As soon as we find out everyone and their mom will know because I'll be shouting it from the rooftops, but for now this is all I can compose. Waiting, just waiting. Hurry up and wait is the story of our lives. 

July 5, 2012 - In the Budget Truck Heading to Texas

July 5, 2012 - In the Budget truck heading to Texas:

In July of 2012 I made the second big move of my life. While the choice to move was all my own, the choice of destination was not. When I graduated high school in 2009 I fully intended on moving far enough away from home, but staying in California. After visiting my cousin in San Diego and completely falling in love with the city that is where I decided to move. At the age of 19 I moved to San Diego and loved every minute of my time spent there. The city, the weather, the beach, the restaurants and the overall atmosphere made me never want to leave. Then, I met him. My now husband was stationed on a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (ship) that was home ported in San Diego. After what seemed like one day of hanging out the feeling was there. Our first year together he was gone about 7 months all together, but our fate was sealed and I knew he was my person. The next move was to Port Aransas, Texas. We have been living in the neighboring city of Corpus Christi because Port A, as the locals call it, is tiny. My husband is about to receive his next orders and the next big adventure will begin. My gypsy soul is jumping inside to find out where we are going because I am so ready for a change.