Lively Beach is a new resort located on Mustang Island in Corpus Christi Texas. The area is known for its Gulf of Mexico beaches and fish-filled waters. I was recently hosted by them over a long weekend and I could not wait to tell you all about it.
My husband’s sister and her husband live in Houston. We had not seen them in two years so when I was invited to Lively Beach, I invited them to join us. My husband and I flew from Orange County, CA to Houston and then the four of us drove to Lively Beach together the next day. Lively Beach is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Houston. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law said it is the perfect weekend getaway for them and are already making plans to return.
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If you are looking for where to stay in Corpus Christi, I highly recommend a visit to Lively Beach.
Where is Lively Beach?
Once you drive over the causeway from Corpus Christi on the way to Port Aransas, you turn onto Zahn Road. You’ll see the condominium resort ahead. It is located on Mustang Island which is a barrier island that stretches between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas.
Right now, there is not much around it so you cannot miss it. It feels like a hidden gem but I bet that will change soon once the word gets out!
About the resort at Lively Beach
The property opened in 2020 with 46 rooms offering all the comforts of home. We agreed the rooms were spotlessly clean and sanitized. The place feels exclusive and secluded which is perfect for the times we are living in. You can be as socially distant as you want to be and at the same time enjoy a relaxing beach vacation.
When you drive up, you’ll see the property is surrounded by natural grasses, native vegetation, palm trees, and dunes. We saw many species of birds and local fishermen fishing from docks and wading into the inlets.
Contactless Check-in
I was impressed from the start with the check-in process. I got an email the day before asking me to confirm details and our arrival time and then the code to the front door was provided along with my room number. You can also checkout as easily online.
Types of rooms at Lively Beach
We stayed in the largest unit which is a two-bedroom, three-bath unit with a deck. In our condo, the couch in the living room converts into a bed.
Our master bedroom had a king-sized bed which was very comfy!
The second bedroom had two sets of bunk beds and the bottom bunks had full-sized mattresses. It was very spacious and the beds were amazingly comfortable.
Our rooms were well stocked with pillows, blankets, and towels, all top quality.
There are several types of rooms to accommodate groups both large and small:
Studio – these are located on the first floor and are dog-friendly.
1 bedroom, 2 bath – accommodates up to four people
1 bedroom – two bathrooms with deck- This room also sleeps up to four people
1 Bedroom 2 bathroom with dean and patio – sleeps up to 6 people
1 bedroom 2 bath with loft and deck – sleeps up to 6 people
2 bedroom 3 bathroom with deck- I think you could fit up to 8 people!
The condos have 50-inch smart TVs, separate sitting, eating, and working areas, and fully equipped kitchens. It was so nice to have a full kitchen. On the way to the resort, we stopped at an H-E-B grocery store and stocked up on breakfast and lunch items.
Because the resort is new, all of the appliances are also new and modern. There is a full-size refrigerator and freezer, microwave, and dishwasher. You’ll find pots and pans, utensils, silverware, dishes, glasses, a Keurig with pods, and Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products.
Our plans were to relax, catch up and just enjoy being together again. We went out for a nice dinner in the early evening and had breakfast and lunch “at home.” I recommend timing your dinner to when the sun is setting because their sunsets are breathtaking!
The bathrooms had walk-in showers. Shower soap, shampoo, and conditioner are provided. During our stay, we requested more towels and toilet paper and they were promptly delivered to us.
Around the property
There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore. You’ll find quiet places to relax and enjoy nature. There are walkable courtyards between the buildings, a rooftop deck with grills, a cornhole game, and a gorgeous heated pool.
The entire property was very clean and not crowded.
The resort has a beautiful heated pool with seating available in covered alcoves. The pool has a center island with submerged seats. We spent an entire afternoon relaxing in the pool.
In our room, there were plush beach towels for us to use.
At night the pool is lit with colored lights and is so pretty.
While we explored the property we saw kiteboarders and windsurfers soaring above the ocean.
The Boardwalk
The highlight of the property is the raised private boardwalk that only guests can access with a code that takes you right to the beach.
Along the boardwalk, you’ll find tables and chairs where you can relax and listen to the sound of the waves.
It was a surprise to me that you could drive cars on the beach. We met friendly families parked at the waters-edge enjoying the beautiful day.
Even the cars practiced social distancing and there was plenty of room to spread out along the long stretch of coastline.
By the way, coming from California, the beach is beautiful with white sand like sugar!
Our biggest adventure was to rent a golf cart and drive it on the beach. It was a blast! You can rent them from the Lively Beach website. They are already on the property.
As pretty as the sunsets are, the resort is also lovely in the evening
Tips:
I read that mosquitos can be a nuisance so I came with bug spray. None of us reported any mosquito bites so I’m not sure if it was the time of year we visited or the bug spray, but we had no issues at all.
There are no elevators so if anyone in your party has mobility issues, request a unit on the ground floor.
There is a CVS store just outside the resort in case you forget something.
Although you can check in and check out from your phone, there is friendly and helpful staff on-site during business hours.
The weather in Corpus Christi typically varies from 50 degrees to 94 degrees in the middle of summer. Our visit was in November, right before Thanksgiving and it was lovely. The average temperature was in the mid to high 70s during the day and in the high 50s in the evening. Some days were windy but very enjoyable.
Lively Beach is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. The drive time from Dallas is about 6 hours. We flew back to California from the Corpus Christi airport and it was a very easy airport to use.
Book your stay
If you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation, book your visit at the Lively Beach website. There are no extra fees for parking, wifi, or resort fees which is so rare these days. Everything is included in your room charge with no surprise or hidden fees.
Things to do in Corpus Christi
With sunny days pretty much year-round, stunning (but still somewhat low-key) beaches and a ton of culture and traditions to explore, Corpus Christi offers a wide array of things to do.
I did some research before we left but over the course of the weekend, our group wanted to mostly enjoy the beaches and pool on this trip but I look forward to my next visit to see and do even more.
Doc’s Seafood is a very short drive over the causeway and is a must-do. The sunset was breathtaking and the food and service were top-notch. We dined on a Saturday night with no reservations. The dress code is very casual and there is live music. This was the view at sunset from the inside patio.
USS Lexington
In our party of four, three of us were veterans so we were very interested to learn about life on board the ship and learn more about its history. The USS Lexington, nicknamed The Blue Ghost, was the longest-serving Essex Class aircraft carrier that served in World War II. The 16 deck aircraft carrier displays artifacts and more than 20 aircraft. It is a National Historic Landmark located on North Beach in Corpus Christi.
Texas State Aquarium
Located right next to the USS Lexington is the underwater world of the Texas State Aquarium. We spent our day touring the ship but next time, I want to visit the aquarium. I read there are over 500 different species of animals.
With the aim to promote environmental and wildlife conservation, this non-profit museum gives visitors a unique insight into the marine life in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Padre Island National Seashore
You wouldn’t expect Texas to boast the world’s largest untouched barrier island, but that’s exactly what Padre Island is. Home to a variety of landscapes ranging from grasslands to gigantic sand dunes, this 70-mile stretch of seashore offers white sand beaches, warm water, swimming, fishing, windsurfing, boating, camping, birdwatching, and more.
You may also enjoy the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Texas Surf Museum, Selena Museum, and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
I hope this guide to the best things to do in Corpus Christi helped you plan the perfect getaway! I’d love to know all about your plans to visit this gem of a coastal town in Texas, so don’t hesitate to come back and us about your visit!
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Our empty-nest staycation at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
A big thank you to Kasi Yannamani, Corpus Christi photographer.
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