| Numerous oil refineries line I-37 as you approach | | | | Adjacent to the aquarium across the channel sits the |
| Corpus Christi, Texas. You might think that is one ugly | | | | aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington, who was named |
| looking city. Get to the Gulf of Mexico and you will find | | | | by Tokyo Rose as "The Blue Ghost". She named her |
| a totally different city. | | | | such because of all the attacks made on her and she |
| People flock to the beaches to swim in the gulf. But | | | | never sank. The USS Lexington Museum on the Bay is |
| Corpus Christi has so much more to offer. | | | | a National Historical Landmark. Entering the ship you |
| Visit the Texas State Aquarium. Albeit small in size, it is | | | | are thrust into the sounds and sights of the War in the |
| large in quality. Sixteen different venues are located on | | | | Pacific during Would War II. You can see a movie on a |
| three levels, including an observation deck on the roof. | | | | large Imax screen on board. This is included with the |
| The docents encourage the touching of the stingrays | | | | ticket price. Prepare to walk and climb many flights of |
| and the ponds containing urchins, hermit crabs and | | | | stairs. The carrier is a floating city. |
| shells. The aquarium has activities for the entire family | | | | Also on the bay sits the Art Museum of South Texas. |
| every half-hour. These range from talks about | | | | This modernistic building was designed by Philip |
| stingrays, reptiles, turtles, otters, birds and other animals. | | | | Johnson and holds an impressive permanent collection |
| Do not miss the dolphin-training program. The | | | | and has also temporary changing exhibits. |
| fifteen-minute demonstration shows how and why the | | | | Many other sights also attract visitors to Corpus Christi, |
| dolphins are trained. This is different from the dolphin | | | | such as the Botanical Gardens, their Minor League |
| show at Sea World in San Antonio, which is a | | | | baseball team, boat excursions on the Gulf, etc. |
| spectacular show. This is instructional and shows how | | | | We found a very good restaurant; Tango Tea Room |
| the trainers interact with each other. The narrator has | | | | located 505 South Water Street. They serve soup, |
| a person, usually a child, learn some of the hand signals | | | | salads, and sandwiches, besides many varieties of |
| the trainer uses and then uses them with the dolphin. | | | | teas. Both vegans and omnivores will go away from |
| Expect to spend at least three hours here. | | | | the table stuffed. Everything is served with nacho |
| One sidebar about the aquarium is that both the | | | | chips and a delicious salsa. It is closed on Sundays. |
| landscaping and waterscapes arebeautifully done, | | | | |