We are attempting to lay ground work for Spring Break 2003. Would like a beach front hotel or cottage, our time is March 17-23. Is it too cold to swim, to crowded, and do I need to make reservations now? Wouild like SPI or further south. Thanks.

Mom,

First, Texas doesn't really have a "riviera", although there is a town called Riviera but it is pronounced "riv-era".

Second, SPI is as far south as you can go without being in Mexico.

Third, the weather is absolutely impossible to predict that time of year, but it always seems that everyone's spring break is ruined by at least one or two days of rain and cold. I grew up in Corpus Christi and every year the big story in March would be the miserable weather in March and the poor Spring Breakers that had planned to camp on the beach and were out in the cold, blah blah blah. The water will be cold regardless of the air temp and probably will be too cold to swim for any length of time.

Other than that, make your reservations as soon as possible. If your plans are flexible I would recommend the same idea in Florida instead of Texas. Good Luck!

As TX said, any farther south of SPI, and you are in Mexico. And also right on about whether or not it will be too cold to swim. This year, I think it was in the low 70's, clody, rainy. If I remember correctly, last year it was sunny and warm.

One thing for certain - It WILL be crowded - crowded with rowdy, drunk college students!

Just moved from that area of Texas. Please don't expect pristine beaches--it's kind of embarrassing when tourists come up and ask where the pretty beaches are that are found in the brochures. Previous posters got the weather question just right/and the drunken college kids are a problem during March. Water temp.was OK during this past Spring Break but the stinging jellys made swimming a painful experience! If you still plan to come, my recommendation for young kids would be Rockport instead of SPI. It's a really cute town, gentle beach, and close to Corpus for the cold days.

I'd definitely choose Rockport over SPI for Spring Break. If you get a place with a pool, it won't matter what the water temp is on the beach. You can swim at the pool and wade at the beach.

I was just at SPI last month and was amazed at how crowded the beach had gotten. Spring Break will be even worse.

I took a fun dolphin-encounter type boat north of Corpus last December. It was educational and dolphin-friendly - no swimming with them or feeding them, but really interesting to see dolphins so close-up in the wild.

I've also taken a boat out of Rockport to see whooping cranes in the spring. Don't know if they're still around in mid-March.

I like Port Aransas. Its quiet and the beaches are nice. THere is National Seashore there so they keep it very clean. Its fun to take the ferry over and once we saw dolphins. But if you are looking for party central then SPI at Spring Break will get you there. Bleagh.

The Bahia Mar hotel is nice on
SPI if you want to check that out.

Port Aransas used to be the spring break hot spot for UT and several other Texas schools. I don't know if that's still the case.

WOW THANKS ALL< I WAS INFORMED THIS WAS CALLED THE TEXAS RIVIERA, ESPECIALLY BY THE LOCALS, We want to avoid drunken college students,as we have 14 y/o's. By further south I meant like Boca Chica, did the Florida thing a few years ago and swam even tho water temp was 60ish, didnot swim long!! THANKS AGAIN> HOW ABOUT FREEPORT OR PORT O"CONNOR.