Getting Oriented

The majority of the main cities of South Texas are along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico or along the Rio Grande and the border with Mexico. In between are the endless scrublands of some of the largest privately owned ranches in the world. Corpus Christi is seen as a gateway city to Padre Island National Seashore (which includes South Padre) and the Rio Grande Valley. Situated elegantly on Corpus Christi Bay, it has long been the class act of South Texas. McAllen is catching up in terms of the finer things, and could surpass Corpus in the future.