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Originally Posted by taddison4x
We are relocating to the Gulf Coast of Texas and would love any advice tips, best places, places to avoid, etc. We are looking at the Corpus Christi area. There isn't a lot of information out there for relocation.
We have heard it was hot, muggy, bugs, and the water is dirty. I'm thinking it is better than Florida and less of a hurricane risk not to mention friendlier people and that the bugs and dirty water are just an inflated views of someone who would also complain about Hawaii! LOL
Any thoughts are really appreciated.
Jenny
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Where do you live, currently? That'll help folks gauge the "adjustment" you might be in for moving to Corpus Christi or other Texas Gulf Coast locales.
Here's a quickie response. Give me a bit of time and I'll post some links for relocation info that may help you, as well...
Better than Florida? It's definitely cheaper, and less hurricane prone (though not completely out of danger, as
Dennis is currently reminding U.S. Gulf Coast residents. Corpus Christi has plenty of tourism opportunities, especially if you enjoy history (U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier, historic districts and parks), birdwatching (Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and much more) or fishing, beachcombing or boating. It is not, however, Orlando. One downside -- it's also an oil and gas refining city, with the accompanying annoyances (chemical smell when downwind of the plants) and lower income areas near those 'undesirable' living areas.
Hot & muggy, with bugs -- And...? That defines most southern Gulf Coast cities...
That said, it's probably hotter here in San Antonio (Central Texas) than down on the coast, due to the prevailing "sea breeze" winds. Which, by the way, keep the bugs at bay except after dark, for the most part. Worst times/places for bugs are when the winds are nonexistant and you're in a marshy, densely forested area -- these are generally only found in the National Wildlife Refuges on the coast, which means you'll probably be prepared for the onslaught when you encounter them. Most of these refuges have driving tours, so you don't have to get out of the car if you absolutely don't want to, by the way.
The weather is terrific much of the year -- we've gone camping at
Padre Island National Seashore (near Corpus Christi) when the rest of the USA is snowed under or complaining of tornados, floods or droughts. Beach access along the Texas Upper and Central Coast is prevalent, with fishing piers (public and county parks with low fees), boardwalks, the National Seashore and various State Parks on the beach and inland, as well as several world-renowned National Wildlife Refuges (Aransas NWR, Anahuac NWR, etc.)
People in Texas are friendly, indeed. I haven't been to Florida or Hawaii (except as a toddler), so I can't compare our folks to other coastal communities.
As for the water being dirty, that's the Gulf of Mexico for you. That said, the water has an unfair reputation for being "dirty" when for the most part it is simply sediment. The Gulf is a giant "bowl" if you will, and it gets stirred up by ocean currents, so it is almost always dark. That said, as you get offshore or after a good storm that circulates the water and allows the sediment to settle out, the waters are diveable and certainly good for coastal, bay and offshore fishing and boating. Justin and I fly to the Texas Coast fairly often and the waters look inviting from the air... they're no Caribbean or Pacific waters, but they're fine. Every now and then tar and debris washes up on the southern beaches (Padre Island National Seashore, etc.), but it's cleaned up by regular volunteer beach cleanups and normal weather and wave action. The tar is generally from natural seepage and, in part, the increasing offshore drilling use -- this is occurring throughout the U.S. Gulf Coast, by the way. The trash is mostly from boaters and commercial vessels that are dumping illegally and improperly, both in the Gulf and in the ocean -- once the currents take that stuff into the Gulf, it will be carried to the U.S. Gulf Coast beaches in time... but it's totally safe. The sand is fine, white and inviting, and beachcombing opportunities abound, especially after storms (freshly wash the beaches and redistribute the sand).
Okay, so this wasn't as short as I meant for it to be. More later!
I welcome some feedback from some of our coastal-dwelling Wild Texans!