The Coastal Bend (home to Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport, and other beloved coastal towns) attracts transplants and visitors from all over the world, making it home to some of the warmest, most engaging folks around. Plus, it’s the South, and no one does hospitality better, amIright?!
But even as exciting as moving to the Coastal Bend area can be, the whole process can be pretty overwhelming. To make sure you’re 100% ready for the transition, we’ve compiled a list of insider secrets about the Coastal Bend that we think will make you even more excited to set down roots in this neck of the woods (or should we say, “beach”!).
1. We Go Off Roading…On The Beach
The Coastal Bend is your front-row seat to the Gulf of Mexico, so hop in your car and pull right up to the water. Beaches are a go-to spot for fishing, exercising, and getting together with friends. And most beaches allow people to drive on the sand, camp overnight, and have small fires. S’mores, anyone?
Down on North Padre Island, the beach is party-and-parade central during the annual Barefoot Mardi Gras Festival, and each May runners traverse the sand as part of the Beach to Bay Relay Marathon.
2. It Ain’t All Stucco
Image: Keller Williams Realty Rockport
Although South Texas is well-known for its gorgeous stucco houses and Mediterranean villas, the residential neighborhoods are a landscape of diverse architecture. The streets of Corpus Christi, Rockport, and Port Aransas are lined with waterfront estates, mountain chalets, Tuscan style villas, craftsman style ranches, cottages, and unique homes that blend old antebellum and coastal style.
For house-lovers, North Padre Island hosts an annual Holiday House Tour, and the History Center for Aransas County offers a Rockport-Fulton Tour of Historic Homes every December.
3. We Really Love Shells
While other states may celebrate fall by donning scarves and gloves and going “leafing,” here in the Coastal Bend we offer a warmer, year-round alternative: “Shelling.”
There’s nothing more relaxing than a few hours combing the beach for unique shells and sea creatures…and the beaches in the Coastal Bend are awash with both. Many “shellers” even take this pastime to the professional level, selling artisan shell crafts at farmers markets and boutique retailers.
4. When We Talk About Selena, We Don’t Mean Selena Gomez
Corpus Christi is the proud home of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez…or the Tejana Princess. As a singer-songwriter, designer, and spokesperson in the ‘90s, Selena was hugely influential for Latin music and young Tejana women.
After her murder at age 23, her birthday was declared Selena Day in Texas. To this day, the Coastal Bend and its visitors still celebrate and honor Selena with the Selena Museum and Selena Memorial Statue in Downtown Corpus Christi, and the annual Fiesta de la Flor, a 2-day music festival honoring Selena’s legacy.
Image: Fiesta de la Flor Instagram page.
The 2018 Fiesta de la Flor (April 13-14) will feature The Mavericks, Becky G, and more!
5. The Scenery Is Straight Out Of A Movie…Literally
Everyday life in the Coastal Bend can feel like you’ve stepped off the silver screen into a beautifully crafted tropical paradise. Palm trees lining the streets, beaches stretching for miles, and sunsets blazing like the cover of a bestselling romance novel, the landscape is truly world class!
And in fact, the city of Corpus Christi has served as the set for multiple movies (the 1997 film “Selena” was filmed on location in downtown Corpus Christi and several scenes in “Pearl Harbor” were filmed on the USS Lexington, the city’s floating museum). You could say this place has that undeniable “star quality” to it.
Image: USS Lexington Museum Instagram page
6. We’d Boat To Work If We Could
Water is life in the Coastal Bend. With a large maritime industry and plenty of readily available fishing, residents and visitors alike take to the waves. Whether you’re exploring Rockport, grabbing lunch in Port Aransas, or just sitting on your dock at home, you’re sure to see sailboats, fishing boats, and kayaks cruising by.
7. It’s A Dreamland Of Outdoor Sports
It happens to all of us: you move to the Coastal Bend and you start acquiring outdoor hobbies. We’ve mentioned shelling and boating, but the fun doesn’t stop there.
The Coastal Bend is a mecca for kitesurfing — Corpus Christi, Mustang Island, and Port Aransas are known as the “triple threat” in the kitesurfing world (together they boast over a dozen premier launch sites). For kitesurfing lessons, check out Third Coast Kitesurfing in Port Aransas.
Surfers will find hot spots along Mustang Island, fishing enthusiasts will be in good company, and hunters can try their hand at duck and wild boar hunts.
Coastal Bend living is a happy balance of activity and relaxation that most people only experience after retirement. But between the paradise landscapes, insatiable taste for adventure, and warm communities, natives and transplants of all ages are revitalized here. And soon, you will be, too.
No matter which stage you’re at in the moving process, Keller Williams Coastal Bend has you covered. Need to find a neighborhood? Check out our list of Coastal Bend communities that need to be on your radar. Buying a home for the first time? download our exclusive Buyer’s Guide. Want to know your loan options? Speak with a local lender. And when it’s time to find the perfect home, contact an agent to help you make your dream home a reality.
