You only have to look at the number of condo developments along the Gulf Coast to see that this is a major tourist destination. The climate ranges from balmy at Galveston to subtropical at the Mexican border, but everywhere it's windy: Corpus Christi rivals Chicago as the gustiest city in the States, and a devastating hurricane in 1900 all but leveled the city of Galveston. The fierce tide, progressively gnawing away at the beaches, may pose a threat to tourism, but for now Galveston offers history, shopping and low-key relief from uptight Houston, while Corpus Christi to the south makes the best base for the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore. Rockport , a weathered resort on Hwy-35, is convenient for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge , sheltering endangered whooping cranes, armadillos and alligators.

Gulf Coast

• Gulf Coast

Explore Gulf Coast

• Corpus Christi
• Galveston
• South toward Mexico

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