b'Coastal Bend Tour GuideDOWNTOWN C.C. REVIVED WHERES THE BEACH?After decades of hope, Downtown Corpus Christi is atThe Coastal Bend offers more miles of publicly-acces-last experiencing sustained growth that is resulting in thesible beaches than anywhere in the United States, on revival of old buildings that sat dormant for decades, asboth the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay. North well as consistent consumer activity that is keeping newBeachOver the Harbor Bridge, you will find over a businesses prospering. The transformation of Chaparralmile of pedestrian friendly public beach on Corpus St. into two-way traffic, along with leasing success at theChristi Bay, complete with a wonderful view of the city. long-awaited Cosmopolitan apartment building, haveMcGee BeachAlso on the bay is downtowns one helped to create a critical mass of residential activity. Es- sandy beach, at the foot of the seawall, just south of the tablishments like Moonshine & Ale Piano Bar and NuecesEmerald Beach Hotel on N. Shoreline Blvd. Padre Balli Brewing Co. are leading the wave of downtown revival. ParkNueces County beach and recreational area on North Padre Island includes famed Bob Hall Pier, camp-BEST GOLFINGing facilities, first aid and information center, plus cov-ered picnic tables on pedestrian beach. Padre Island National SeashoreAmericas wildest beach runs over VALUE IN TEXAS 70 miles south of Corpus Christi and is where some of the states best fishing and birdwatching can be found. JP Luby Surf ParkTake Zahn Rd. off Hwy. 361 The Oso Beach Golf Course is located at the southernjust north of Packery Channel to the widest spread of end of S. Alameda St. near the intersection of Ennisgulf beach on the island, home to a more raucous and Joslin Rd. and Ocean Dr., and was the site of majoryounger beach crowd, as well as fishing on the north competitions in its early days, featuring legends likejetty of Packery Channel. Port Aransas BeachThe Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. areas best maintained and most patrolled beach space, The Gabe Lozano Golf Center is located on the citysboth beach parking and pedestrian friendly zones.west side on Old Brownsville Rd., and features both an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole executive VISITOR CENTER WILL POINTcourse.YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! Both facilities are beautifully maintained, offer instruc-tion by PGA certified professionals, both for individu-The Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureauals and groups, and have driving ranges and putting operates a staffed visitor information center on Northgreens. Best of all, you will find the lowest fees, by far, Shoreline Blvd. across from American Bank Center.making Corpus Christis courses the best golfing value VisitCorpusChristiTX.com in all of Texas!STEP ABOARD AMERICAN HISTORYThe U.S.S. Lexington CVA-16 was commissioned in 1943 and christened in honor of the original Lexington, which was lost in 1942 at the Battle of the Coral Sea at the start of World War II. The new Lady Lex set more combat records than any carrier in U.S. Naval history and today rests in Corpus Christi Bay as the U.S.S. Lexington Museum on the Bay, a tribute and memorial to those who served defending America. The Lexington is the oldest remaining aircraft carrier in the world.Famed Japanese propagandist Tokyo Rose, after reporting in error on numerous occasions that the Lexington had been sunk, nicknamed the ship the Blue Ghost, which has stuck to this day. The Lex is credited with destroying over 800 enemy aircraft, 300,000 tons of enemy ships and damaging an-other 600,000 tons, in Pacific War battles that included the Kwajalein Raid, Battle of the Philippine Sea, Battle of Leyte Gulf, and in bombing attacks on Japanese home islands at the end of the war.Eleven of the ships 16 decks are included in tours of the Lex, including the flight deck where 20 military aircraft are tethered, ranging from a vintage N3N-3 Yellow Pearl biplane to a Blue Angels F/18 Hornet. The popular state-of-the-art, 16 passenger Flight Simulator is located on the hanger deck, as is the Virtual Battle Stations game center.The Joe Jessel Mega Theater features both vintage and ultra-modern, aviation and other adventure films in thundering digital sound and brilliant video projection. Give yourself a good half-day to fully enjoy the U.S.S. Lexington Museum on the Bayan unmatched educational experience inLeft: Navy fighter planes on deck of American history. USS Lexington in the Pacific, 1944; 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd. on North Beach(361) 888-4873USSLexington.com Top: War Operations room onboard current museum.84 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINEFall 2019 TheCoastalBend.com'