Corpus Christi

[jonbloozy]

Will be going to CC in a couple weeks - anybody ever stay in the Bayfront Plaza Hotel?  Is it as bad as the reviews on google? 

I'm also up for suggestions for fun stuff to do, besides the obligatory Hooks games.  Any good beaches (with waves, preferably)?  Good bars?  Good links?

[jbm]

I've stayed there.  Not worth the price, imo.  The glass doors to the balcony, through which you are supposed to have a nice view of the bay, are dirty and screw up what would be a nice view.  They can't be opened.

Do waves exist anywhere on the Texas coast?  The National Seashore is not crowded, and generally relaxing during the week, except for the drilling and servicing trucks.  Not familiar with the other beaches.

[jonbloozy]

Do waves exist anywhere on the Texas coast?

I've seen pictures of some pretty good swells in Surfer magazine.  Mostly storm-related I'm sure, but I figure there has to be a spot or two that is more consistent on a regular day.  Maybe not, though.

[juliogotay]

Will be going to CC in a couple weeks - anybody ever stay in the Bayfront Plaza Hotel?  Is it as bad as the reviews on google? 

I'm also up for suggestions for fun stuff to do, besides the obligatory Hooks games.  Any good beaches (with waves, preferably)?  Good bars?  Good links?

I'm from CC. That's the old Ramada Inn and a dump. The Omni is nice and not unreasonable. There actually are two Omni's downtown. This is my preferred one. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-359446-omni_corpus_christi_hotel_bayfront_tower-i

Port Aransas is my preferred beach. Not far from downtown CC. My favorite restaurant downtown is Mama Mia's. Great Italian but also fresh seafood and good steaks and chops. Be warned, cash only.

The Surf Club downtown is a pretty good music club. If you want somewhere quiet to have a drink, the top of the Omni has a very nice restaurant and bar and a great view of the bay. They keep their windows clean. And you'll get a very nice meal there if you choose.

Honestly, there isn't alot to see as a tourist. Most go for the beach. The U.S.S. Lexington is there  and open for touring.

[farmstros]

My dad and I stayed there one night a few weeks ago... the Bayfront Plaza.  Our conclusion was it was adequate for us...close to the ballpark, a bed, but if we brought our families we would have wanted to be somewhere else. (My dad and I can sleep anywhere)
we didn't tour other than whataburger field, but on a previous trip with my wife, it was quite good for touring.  The aquarium, the history museum was good, I think they still have a replica of one of Columbus' ships, the LEXINGTON was really interesting.  There are a few other spots, but those were the highlights.

[jonbloozy]

The Omni is where I stayed last year.  I thought it was great, especially if work pays for it.  I have to work at a conference at the American Bank Center the first part of June, and I'm staying in the Tower again.  Didn't know about the restaraunt though, thanks.  We ate at Water Street? last year and thought it was decent.

Last year I was working the whole time, so this time I'm actually gonna get a chance to be a tourist.  Thanks for the recommendations.  Go Hooks!

I also have another small conference later at the Bayfront Plaza.  I'm responsible for both conferences, but I'm sending another guy down to do the second conference.  I've just stayed at a lot of bad hotels, and for what we're asking him to do, I don't want him staying in some dump.

[Duke]

Is teh Black Diamond Oyster bar still around?

[Taras Bulba]

Is teh Black Diamond Oyster bar still around?

I went there about a year ago and was not real impressed.  Wasn't as good as i had remembered it.

For quick, reasonably priced seafood, I like stopping by a Sea Island in SA or Corpus.  The lemon pepper fish and the shrimp skewers are tasty.

[Duke]

I went there about a year ago and was not real impressed.  Wasn't as good as i had remembered it.

For quick, reasonably priced seafood, I like stopping by a Sea Island in SA or Corpus.  The lemon pepper fish and the shrimp skewers are tasty.

Too bad. Used to be quite the spot way back when.

[juliogotay]

Too bad. Used to be quite the spot way back when.

About 10 years ago the Black Diamond Oyster Bar moved into fancier digs. Not sure they were ever the same.

[TheWizard]

Don't know how old you are, but if you are looking for a bars downtown, Mulligans and Porky's are pretty decent.  Mulligans for good prices, Porky's for good scenery.  I assume both of those are still open.

[PCOL2000]

If you're a surfer, the pier in Corpus has been descent when i've been.  Also take the ferry to the other side of Aransas.  good waves there.  I used to stay at the Rusty Pelican when we went for the yearly surfing/fishing trip.  is it still there?  i have a good rusty pelican story or 2.

[tophfar]

i have a good rusty pelican story or 2.

as long as there's not a trombone involved.

[jonbloozy]

Thanks for all the advice.  Got back to San Antonio a few days ago.  I was working most days from 7 am to 7 pm and was extremely busy (good for work, sucks for me).  Didn't get a chance to catch the Hooks, but did grab some gear at Hook, Line and Sinker.  The magazine in the hotel listed the pier as the best spot for surfing and said it was consistent for Texas.  After a terrible experience with room service, I earned a free night stay at the Omni, so I'm gonna try to go back when there is some action in the gulf. 

The one night we were able to go out, we ate at Landry's Seafood; not much to write about.     

The Bayfront Plaza sounds as bad as juliogotay says.  The guy working for me arrived yesterday and discovered the hotel had refused shipment of my freight delivery.  Totally screws up sales and makes us look bad.  Guess it's a good thing I'm not there.

[Matt]

as long as there's not a trombone involved.

Beat me to the trombone comment. You gotta be quick around here!