As the largest coastal city in Texas and one of the nation’s main ports, Corpus Christi is an economic powerhouse among U.S. small cities. And a big engine behind that powerhouse is the tourism heritage of being the gateway to Padre Island. Corpus Christi boasts miles of beaches and multitudes of activities, including #11-ranked restaurants—don’t miss the gulf seafood, especially shrimp and oysters. Of course the area is best known globally for its spring break revelry, when the beaches around Corpus Christi Bay and Padre Island become a mass of humanity for the better part of the month. Even the pandemic didn’t stop too many from feeling the lure of the place, as newsfeeds showed the usual crowds, undeterred by the risk of infection. They of course documented it all on social media, which explains why the city ranks #3 nationally in our Facebook Check-ins subcategory and #7 for Instagram Hashtags.