Words: Alexa Alley Photos: Rachel Benavides
Padre Island Seawall Beach
If you need a break from your typical beach day, biking down the Padre Island Seawall is a great way to enjoy the beach from an elevated and paved path. On any given day, especially in the summertime, the seawall is filled with people biking, rollerblading, or taking a leisurely stroll. Parking is free in the Windward lot off of Whitecap Blvd., but a permit is required for parking on the beach.
15209 Windward Dr.
Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center
Fairly new to Corpus Christi, the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve provides natural trails teeming with wildlife. There are multiple trails at the park, one of which has an entrance at the end of Holly road with a paved path all the way to the preserve. The preserve was established to educate and aid the community in preserving the wetlands, so if you bike on these trails make sure to pay extra close attention to the living creatures all around.
2446 N. Oso Parkway
The Downtown Seawall
For the best of both worlds, downtown and the bay, try biking on the Downtown Seawall. A wide, paved path, perfect for bike riding, stretches from the Emerald Beach Hotel all the way to the American Bank Center. You can ride past the Selena statue, the T-Heads, and Whataburger by the Bay, just to name a few. If you have time, take a break to hangout out at one of the various establishments downtown.
Hike and Bike Trail at Texas A&M University
The Texas A&M Hike and Bike Trail, created to provided exercise while enjoying the wildlife, encircles the Island University. The trail can reach up to 3.2 miles, with multiple rest stops and starting points all around the diameter. It is lighted from dusk until dawn on a daily basis. All are encouraged to enjoy the trail, but cyclists must yield to foot traffic.
Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive
Cole Park
With the bay on one side and Cole Park on the other, this trail is paved as close to the water as you can get. Cole Park is a perfect place to get outside and enjoy the view of the bay that stretches as far as the eye can see. If you bike the length of the path, there are parts with hills, making it a great trail if you are looking to burn some extra calories.
2600 Ocean Drive
