Corpus Christi Travel: Fun Activities for Toddlers

Corpus Christi is about a 2-hour southeast drive from San Antonio, TX, and sits along the Gulf of Mexico. This town is home to many sights and attractions, including the USS Lexington, museums, and other places (don’t visit the Bob Hall Pier right now because it’s being demolished). Downtown Corpus Christi offers delicious eats, and the coastline is home to many beaches like Corpus Christi Beach, North Beach, and more. 

Below are eight places to take your toddler during your Corpus Christi travel trip. There is a little bit of everything from indoor children’s play areas to outdoor exploration fun. We have included admission prices for toddlers (most are free!) and great kid-friendly places to eat nearby. After reading this guide, you will be ready to hit the road and get to Corpus Christi as soon as possible. 

USS Lexington

USS Lexington is fun for all ages, toddlers included! While some exhibits might not be best for your toddler, there are plenty of toddler-friendly exhibits on your Corpus Christi travel trip. The Flight Deck, USS Lexington’s most popular experience, lets toddlers get an up-close look at aircraft carriers from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. With over 20 aircraft to see, you will have plenty of photo opportunities. Toddlers will also be captivated by the Warbirds and Warships Scale Model Gallery. It’s basically an entire gallery of toys in the eyes of a toddler!

Admission: Free for children under 3

Kid-friendly Dining: Mess Deck Cafe

Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island, one of the last intact barrier islands, is the best Corpus Christi travel stop for kiddos who would love to get a glimpse of hatching baby sea turtles. This event takes place during the summer, and an exact date cannot be predicted, but parents can keep an eye on the Current Nesting Season to get an idea of dates. Of course, little ones will love playing on the sandy shore and putting their feet in the waves while they’re there.

Admission: Free

Kid-friendly Dining: Surfside Sandwich Shoppe, Padre Island Burger Company

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Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

Here is another excellent stop to make during your Corpus Christi travel trip. The best part of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History for toddlers is the H-E-B Science Center. This children’s activity center is best for children ages three and older. With 5,000 square feet of hands-on activities plus a shaded playground outdoors, parents will love bringing their little ones to the Museum of Science and History. Of course, there are other exhibits, such as the Coastal Ecology exhibit and Xeriscape Garden, that toddlers may enjoy visiting as well.

Admission: Free for children under 2

Kid-friendly Dining: Brewster Street Icehouse

Art Museum of South Texas

Located right by the Museum of Science & History, the Art Museum of South Texas is another fun Corpus Christi travel attraction for kids. Other than viewing the various forms of artwork, toddlers will love stopping by the Artcade Interactive Space. Here, where little kids can draw, paint, and more. Throughout the year, the Art Museum holds classes like Preschool Picassos, where toddlers between 2 and 5 can create a work of art.

Admission: Free for children under 12

Kid-friendly Dining: Brewster Street Icehouse

Texas State Aquarium

What toddler doesn’t love a giant aquarium? At Texas State Aquarium, toddlers can look at various sea life. Exhibits include Tortuga Cay, Flower Gardens, Otter Creek, Saving Sharks, Dolphin Bay, Ocelots, Coral Reef, Jungle, and more. Cool off in the interactive water playground, H-E-B Splash Park. Close to that is Owen’s Paleo Park, where little ones can help dig up animal fossils. For toddlers who love the movie theatre, check out the Whataburger 4-Dimension Theater for kid-friendly shows. Add this one to your Corpus Christi travel plans!

Admission: Free for children under 2

Kid-friendly Dining: Pepsi Shoreline Grill, Aqua Dolce, Tiki Hut, and more (all inside the aquarium)

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

Where do we start with this Corpus Christi travel stop? The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center has many fun things for toddlers to do, see, and play on. They can view the Resident Reptiles, Iguana House, Tropical Parrots, and Butterfly House (plus so much more). There is a kid’s play area, Monkey Mansion Tree House, and private animal encounters that can be scheduled in advance. This is a great place to take your toddlers and your pups for outdoor fun.

Admission: Free for children under 3

Kid-friendly Dining: Whataburger, Sal’s Bronx Pizza

Mustang Island State Park

Last but not least on our list of top Corpus Christi travel stops is Mustang Island State Park. This park is not far from the Padre Island National Seashore and offers plenty of things to do with toddlers. First, of course, there is the beach and all the fun that comes with building sandcastles and splashing in the water. There are areas for camping, a park store for buying necessities and gifts, and the Mustang Island Paddling Trail. Toddlers can also get a kick out of geocaching—an interactive ‘treasure’ hunt that gets kids outside and exploring the surrounding area.

Admission: Free for children under 12

Kid-friendly Dining: Padre Pizzeria, Padre Island Burger Company

As you can see, there are a lot of kid-friendly places to visit and explore in Corpus Christi. Whether you want to play at the beach, stop by a museum, or grab a delicious bite to eat at a family-friendly restaurant, we hope this guide helped prepare you for your Corpus Christi travel adventure. Thankfully, toddlers can get into most of these places for free!

Have you visited Corpus Christi with a toddler before? If so, where did you and your little one enjoy visiting the most?