Hi there! I hope everyone out there is enjoying the blog so far! Our topic for today is a mini getaway or a mini vacation. It has been a stressful few weeks for me, so we thought a small mini vacation/getaway would allow some much-needed rest and exploration of a new environment. Little did I know how much I truly needed this!
What is a mini vacation/getaway?
A mini vacation/getaway rarely lasts more than a three-day weekend and is a quick trip close to home. It does not have to break the bank or last longer than a week. Mini vacations and getaways usually are planned around holidays to avoid any personal time off from work. Some travel sites will offer some great deals for a 3-day getaway. However, we usually limit ourselves to somewhere close to home that we have yet to explore.
I love how simple 3-day getaways are and how much they allow you to refocus and recharge. When planning these getaways, we usually consider the length of stay and what activities to do. Some questions we ask ourselves include, where have we not been to or where do we want to go? What do we want to do while there? Do they have a nice restaurant to have a nice dinner? Our choice this time is Corpus Christi, TX.
Walking Around Corpus Christi, TX
We planned this mini vacation last month, unknowingly how intense life would throw us after we planned the vacation. It was a quick 2-day, 1-night trip. However, we added another night to help us not feel sticky from the ocean or rushed on the way back. We first started researching where to stay. The where is usually a Hilton Hotel. They have a program called Hilton Honors that you can save points and redeem for rewards. The hotel we chose was the DoubleTree by Hilton Corpus Christi Beachfront. This hotel offers direct access to the Texas Gulf Coast within 5 minutes of the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium.
We arrived in Corpus Christi late afternoon on Friday and immediately checked into the hotel. When you first enter the hotel lobby where they have a view of the beautiful gulf coast! When they say the USS Lexington is 5 minutes away, they do not lie. It is a 5-minute walk from the Hotel Lobby! Can you imagine stepping onto the balcony and seeing the beautiful Gulf Coast and the USS Lexington? What a sight! Once we checked in, we soon left for a late dinner and a quick trip to Mustang Island (a 45-minute drive from Corpus).
Due to the time of day, we did not want to stay too long at Mustang Island but did take in the beauty! On the way back to Corpus, we came across Padre Island Burger Company, which had a live band playing that night! The food and music were delicious. It is a must-stop and try!
Full Day in Corpus Christi, TX
The next day, we enjoyed a breakfast buffet in the hotel lobby before departing to tour the USS Lexington. I have never been to the USS Lexington till this past weekend. Let me tell you; it was well worth the trip down and amount! There is so much history to explore, and the stories are amazing. I loved the show at the 3D theater and their exhibit honoring Pearl Harbor.
Also within the same area lies the Texas State Aquarium. I have previously visited the aquarium a couple of times over the years. It’s a great place to take the kids to see the beautiful creatures that call it their home.
We then went on to visit some souvenir shops within walking distance. We did not find much to buy, though we had great laughs seeing what they had. Once we finished, we went to the hotel to change into our swimming attire and headed out to the beach. It was literally right outside the hotel lobby! We spent a few hours out on the beach before heading in to change for dinner. Dinner was at Texas A1 Steaks & Seafood in Portland, TX. It was our second time having dinner here, and their steaks and ribs are always on point! It is now our go-to dinner whenever in the Corpus Christi area! Oh, and their cheesecake is delicious too!
While on your own mini vacations, what are some of the places you visited? What did you do while there?