- The "Daytripper" is made possible by Rudy's, real Texas barbecue.

Shipping nationwide at rudys.com.

Karbach Brewing Company from Houston, Texas, makers of Karbach Lager, a beer that is proudly partnered with Don't Mess with Texas, please dispose responsibly.

Visit Georgetown, where big ideas meet small town charm.

Georgetown, the most beautiful town square in Texas.

Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, protection and peace of mind for Texans since 1952.

Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick in Georgetown.

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Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick, Texas True.

Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Texas' local bottler providing the Lone Star state with a variety of Coca-Cola products.

- Get your sunscreen and chanclas ready because we're back for a second trip in the sparkling city by the sea.

We'll dance with the dolphins and rescue turtles at our state's largest aquarium.

Discover the secret to South Texas barbacoa.

We'll hit the waves and ride the wind piloting our own plane.

All before diving into the most legendary seafood basket by the bay here in Corp... Ah!

(seagulls squawking) Ah!

Corpus Christi!

Come on.

(theme song) (upbeat music) - Follow the Gulf breezes to Corpus Christi, which sits about two hours southeast of San Antonio.

While most tourists equate Corpus with the beach, and it is a beach town, but as soon as you drive in, you'll realize the bay, not the beach, is where the big action happens.

After all, Corpus Christi is the third largest port in the US by tonnage ship.

So it's truly the town where beach bum meets blue collar.

Well, welcome to the sparkling city by the sea.

And now today Corpus is one of Texas's most vibrant coastal towns, but believe it or not, it took over a hundred years to make any community stick here by the bay.

And what eventually sprouted up feels sort of like Jimmy Buffett writing beach tunes with Freddie Fender after they both pulled an overtime shift down at the docks.

You know it's coastal Tex-Mex with a touch of working man blues.

And truthfully, there's no other city in Texas quite like it.

We're currently at the famous Corpus T Heads home to the flagship two-story Whataburger, a Corpus original, and Mirador de la Flor, the monument to Selena, Corpus's timeless Tejano Songstress.

Anything for Selenas, especially in Corpus.

(upbeat music) - Corpus Christi, translates to the body of Christ.

How did they come up with that name for this area?

- Because- - You haven't read the Dead Sea Scrolls, correct?

- Yeah.

Clearly.

Daniel, it's a little embarrassing you're asking.

How about you tell us so that we know you know.

- Yall really don't know?

No, the city of Corpus Christi is named after the Roman Catholic Feast Day, Corpus Christi - In 1519, Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, he actually named the bay Corpus Christi Bay, and then later on the town was named after the bay.

- Yes, obviously.

- Yeah.

I thought you said 1520, and I was like, no, he's totally off.

- I'm glad you know, so you're not such an embarrassment to us.

But, of course, we knew that.

And now y'all know.

Well, since 1519 Corpus has grown into a town of over 300,000 folks.

It's got some of the biggest attractions in Texas, including our first stop, the Texas State Aquarium.

(tranquil music) All right, so the Texas State Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Texas.

This tank alone is over 400,000 gallons.

That is enormous.

I mean, ever since I was a little kid, I've been fascinated with like the underwater world, aquariums, all the different things.

- Whoa!

Shark!

Shark!

- Daniel!

You freaked me out, man.

It's just a shark.

I'm not afraid of sharks, but I am thankful for the glass.

So this is a sandbar shark native to Texas.

Although you don't see too many of 'em out there.

It's like God just dumped out the whole pack of crayons and used every one of 'em.

There's a big old fat sleepy grouper.

I feel you, man.

What do you call a group of grouper though?

- A school.

- Groupi?

Oh, school.

Okay.

All right, that makes a lot more sense.

Since opening in 1990, the aquarium has grown to hold over 300 species and 4,000 animals.

There are stingrays to pet and flamingo's to not pet.

I want to touch it so bad.

I'm not gonna touch the animals.

He's right there though.

So this is an ocelot, and believe it or not, these are native to South Texas.

Although people very rarely ever see him.

Who is a cute little kitty.

This is their historic range.

And this is their current range.

Just a small little wildlife preserve in South Texas.

So this cat is very, very endangered.

Of course the showstopper for the entire aquarium is the dolphin show.

Where these magnificent creatures fly through the air to the oohs and ahs of the crowd.

Well, since I was little, dolphins have fascinated me.

And I'm so excited to step backstage and meet the stars of the show.

- Oh!

- Get out of your way.

There you go.

- Hey!

This is shadow and his trainer, Emma.

This is a dream come true for me.

- So fun.

So good.

- Is this something you wanted to do since you were a little girl?

- Oh, yeah.

I love it.

I love it.

This gentleman is trying to come up to give you a kiss.

- Oh!

- So, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna have you lay on your belly please.

- Well.

Okay.

- Please put both of your hands like that.

- Okay.

- And then you are just gonna hold, kiss.

Go ahead, turn around, let him Kiss you on the cheek.

There you go.

Well, now, I'm gonna get you to stand up.

- Okay.

- And we're gonna do some fun stuff over here.

I really think that the most important thing is that when people come and see us, that they walk away learning something and that they fall in love with these animals and they want to protect them out into the wild.

Whether it be I have to pick up my trash or I have to do a little something extra because these guys are absolutely incredible.

- Well, I know I first fell in love with animals by seeing a dolphin show.

Because the first step in conservation is education, right?

- Absolutely.

- We have to know what what we're protecting before we care.

- Yep.

- Shadow.

- He is like, how about another?

- I know.

I know.

- There you go.

- You're eating on camera, that's basically my whole job.

Shadow and his friends have a very important job to do.

And I think I'm bombing my audition.

- On the count of three up in the air.

One, two, three, up in the air.

Oh.

- I didn't go down first, I just went up.

Oh.

- Okay, we have another chance.

- One more time.

- One, two, three, and go!

Oh, no.

- What?

Look, it's my first day as a dolphin trainer, make me look good.

- No.

- No!

- It's not gonna happen.

- Come on.

- Take both hands out and wave 'em.

- Okay.

- There you go.

- All right.

- We'll just try a wave.

- Oh!

- Excellent.

That's fine.

That's fine.

Y'all are embarrassing me on my show, but that's, that's all right.

We got to wave goodbye to them anyway to head next door and see the greater mission of this entire aquarium.

- So you've got the third best aquarium in North America running over there.

When you come and you visit those funds come over here and run the country's largest coastal wildlife rescue program for manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, birds, mountain lions, black bears, and ocelots.

And so, this is a monster program.

And we're here to help Texas wildlife state resilient.

- My goodness.

This is a massive wildlife ER.

- It is actually- - For the country.

- For the country.

- That's crazy.

- It's exactly what it is.

- Jesse here is the aquarium and rescue's CEO.

And this Kemp's ridley turtle was cold stunned all the way in Massachusetts and brought back here to rehab.

This guy's about to get a full CT scan and we get to watch.

The biceps can protect themselves.

Ouch.

All right, so, we're looking inside the turtle now.

So that this little guy's got pneumonia.

Kemp's ridley are endangered.

So, gotta do everything you can to save everyone you can.

With these detailed scans.

This turtle can help many others.

- We had an idea.

We thought if this is a file on a screen, could you 3D print whatever you see on the screen?

- No kidding.

- The answer is yes.

So, we're now working on a project where we can use artificial intelligence to teach sensors what turtles look like without humans interfacing, so think almost like a fish finder.

- Wow!

that's so cool.

- Yep.

- Now drones and boats will be able to identify and map sea turtles in danger.

And so you thought you were coming to see the pretty fish and dolphins, turns out you were helping keep all the animals in the ocean healthy and safe.

Well folks, I do believe it's time for lunch and based on all the new friends I just made, let's leave seafood off the menu for now.

And find some real deals South Texas flavor as we head to Southside Barbacoa.

On any given weekend, folks will be lined up out the door to buy barbacoa by the pound.

But come in for breakfast or lunch and you can get your own pile of Maria and Manuel Aguilar's famous beef.

All right, so this is it.

Southside's signature barbacoa.

- Yes, sir.

- Wow.

Now, is that cachete?

- It is cachete.

- Okay.

- That is cheek meat.

- I learned, I learned, I've learned a couple things being in South Texas.

Yeah.

Yes.

Beef cheeks.

That Manuel steams for 12 hours creating divine bovine goodness.

Is that unseasoned?

- Nothing put, nothing.

- That's not seasoned?

- Nothing.

- That's incredible.

- Yeah.

- The fact that that's got no salt, no pepper, or nothing.

That's just.

- Nothing.

- I don't know, you need a hot sauce?

- Tell me about this hot sauce.

- That's gonna be a little spicy.

- Okay.

Do a little bit here.

- Just a little bit, just a little bit.

- That's got some flavor.

- It's flavor.

- Yes a flavor.

- It is so, that's so- - Bring him water.

- That's some good flavor.

- Little salt.

- Oh, that's so good.

The tenderness of this meat mixed with the onions, the fresh cilantro, all that.

And then the creamy avocado.

This is amazing.

This is enough to name your restaurant after.

The Aguilar's met working at a restaurant decades ago, but have built this business together one pound of barbacoa at a time.

And you still like each other.

You still married?

- Can't you see us smiling?

- You still married, yeah, I love it.

- We're going for 46 years of married.

- Oh, congratulations.

I love that.

- Yeah, we looking for- - We're still smiling.

- Yeah.

- Every day they're open, you'll find Maria smiling in the dining room while Manuel craft's homemade Mexican dishes in the kitchen.

- I cook with love.

I don't work.

- Really?

Yeah.

I saw you back there working hard.

- Yeah.

- But it's all because it comes from a place of love.

- Yes, it is.

- And I get the same for you.

- Yes.

I'm cleaning tables and everything because I love it.

- I get the feeling they're coming for more than just the barbacoa though.

I mean they're coming for y'all.

At first this business was just barbacoa.

Then the Aguilar's added three tacos.

And now, well, they have a full spread of Mexican classics, including one taco that's becoming as famous as the barbacoa.

But also carne guisada tacos kind of become famous.

It's like "Texas Monthly" said one of the best tacos in all of Texas.

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- So, what's the magic there?

- He.

- That's you?

Okay.

It's the love, huh?

- It is the love.

- It is the love.

- And well, three hours of slow simmering doesn't hurt.

And I think it's now time to try the other especial de la casa.

This is called the Twin Special named in honor of Maria and Manuel's twin granddaughters.

So, it's got a couple enchiladas.

And this right here, the carne guisada.

Slow cooked, super tender meat, and then the gravy is like just buttery Tex-Mexy goodness.

Oh my gosh, that's good.

It's classic stuff like a homemade in a kitchen by a couple that you wish were your grandparents.

This right here is the South Texas experience.

Again, we're just working on the beach bod.

One bite at a time.

(upbeat music) All right, so, we are going to the beach, but today, I thought we'd take a different route, not by land or by sea, but, by sky.

So, I'm used to taking a car to all my destinations.

This is gonna be a different viewpoint.

- It's totally different.

But, I like this style better than driving a car, that's for sure.

- This is Dominic Turenne of Splendid Aviation.

He's a flight instructor who helps aspiring pilots get their wings.

- This is usually how we start our training process as we take you up in the airplane for the first time, give you a discovery flight and see how you like it, and- - Okay.

- And I'll tell you what, a hundred percent of the time they come back with a bigger smile than they left.

- I'm already smiling pretty big.

So we've scheduled a discovery flight.

And if we like it, well, maybe we'll discover a new way to trip Texas.

On one of these or maybe one of these, but, not today.

Today we will be in one of these.

With our fearless captain, Chris.

- Chet, you are gonna be my co-pilot today whether you like it or not.

So, I'll probably just have you- - Sir, yes, sir.

- Hold things, you know?

Like that.

- I've done a flight simulator on an iPad before, so, is this like, am I flying the plane with this?

- It's totally the same.

It's totally the same.

- Okay.

- Bravo to one, three, delta pop.

- Chris, I know you're speaking English, but it does not sound that way.

- Part of the process, man.

- We're airborne.

We're flying, Peter.

We're doing it, we're doing it.

Anytime I fly a commercial, I want the window seat, and this is why.

The views up here are incredible.

Downtown, the Harbor Bridge, and the USS Lexington, one of the most storied aircraft carriers of World War II.

From up here, it is impossible to imagine landing a plane on an aircraft carrier like the Lexington.

- I gotta hand it to those pilots, they are skilled, they are tough.

God bless this country.

- Yeah.

- Now we have aviators like that protecting us.

- Amen to that.

- Amen.

- So, what was it about this that got you into it?

- I grew up racing dirt bikes and that kind of thing.

I'm a gearhead, I love motors and engines, all stuff.

And I was like, that's one machine I've never done.

And I went for a discovery flight just like you're doing now.

- Uh-oh.

- And I was hooked.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- That was- - That's awesome.

I've always wanted to be a pilot.

- Okay.

- My dad was a pilot.

My grandfather served in the Air Force in World War II.

- Okay.

- Like, I don't know, something about the sky's in my DNA.

And just like that we made it to Port Aransas.

I tell you, this is the way to cover some miles.

- Now Chet, we're gonna have you do some flying today, okay?

- Are you sure?

- I'm sure.

- Okay.

- See, airplanes by themselves, okay?

It's like a car.

- Okay, okay.

- You just gonna have to be one step ahead of it and tell it where you want it to go.

Okay.

Let's go ahead and put your hand on the control.

- Okay.

All right.

- All right?

Driving Miss Daisy is two hands, but like a real pilot, you kind of have one hand over here.

So let's see, you do with just that right hand.

- Yeah.

Okay.

Sort of, you kick back the vibing.

- Yeah.

- We need some tunes though I feel like.

Look ma, I'm flying a plane.

When you push in and out, this is pitch up.

That's what you- - Okay, okay.

- Push forward.

- Push forward.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

- That's pitch.

- All right.

- Then you've got the a laws that do banks.

So go bank to the right.

Bank to the left.

- Wow!

- Yeah.

There you go.

- All right, this is nuts.

If you're not paying attention, you can get high real fast.

- You can get all kinds of things real fast.

- Yeah.

I'm flying.

It happened.

This is dangerous, Chris.

Not dangerous in the sense of like, I fear for my safety, I fear for my future bank account because I'm like, I could do this instantly.

Getting your pilot's license can happen in as little as six months.

And well, like a Texas redfish in the bay, I believe I'm hooked.

But, I am gonna pass the controls back to Chris to land this baby.

(upbeat music) - We're on the ground.

- We made it, we're on the ground.

Let's go.

Hey, thank you, Chris.

- You got it.

Anytime.

You're a good student.

- That was awesome.

- You only cried once.

- Yeah, that's true.

Couple barfs.

Gotta change my pants, but I only cried once.

- Yeah.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Guys, I don't mean to brag, but, did you happen to see my pilot's log?

- Let me see this.

- What that means is that I'm essentially a pilot.

That's that how that works.

Okay?

- What does this tack start, tack in?

It's all 1.3.

- Just, that, it just, okay, if you don't have one, you don't have to be jealous about it, all right?

- I'm saying I don't know if that's what you think it is.

- I think it means I'm a pilot.

Okay?

That's what I think.

- That's definitely not what that's means.

- That's what I think it means.

- No.

Hey, good, good job though.

- Hey, hey, hey.

I didn't crash.

We're alive.

- I appreciate that.

Do you think you'd ever be a pilot?

- Hmm?

It's a lot of work.

- I would like to know how to fly a plane for those emergency situations where they're like, is there a doctor on board?

Could someone fly the plane?

I'd love to like first hand up.

- It's a lot of responsibility.

- Is there a pilot doctor on board?

Britten.

Yes.

- That would be me.

- Boom, hands up.

- All right, y'all, now, it's time to actually head to the beach on ground level.

Just a short hop over the causeway.

We've crossed over to North Padre Island time.

Now, Padre Island is well known for its fast action coastal vibes.

But those that are looking for a more relaxed beach experience, well, it's just one island away.

This is Mustang Island, one of Texas's mini barrier islands that nature has miraculously built to protect its delicate bay ecosystems.

And Mustang Island offers tripper a great place to experience both beach and bay.

This is Park superintendent Scott Taylor.

Oh, this is awesome.

I don't ever hike up the dunes out here.

- Right?

When you think of Mustang Island State Park, obviously, the beach is the first thing you think about.

- Sure.

- The park consists of over 5,000 acres and the majority of that is gonna be on our bay side, some of the best fishing in the state of Texas.

- So that's a little bit of a different outdoor enthusiast who sees the bay side.

- Right.

- If you're looking for a place to hit the beach, but dodge the crowds, this is your spot.

It's got five miles of beach front, which means every visitor can find a little room to spread out.

- They want to experience the beach, they want that natural environment.

I think they just respect state parks.

They understand what we're doing here with conservation and appreciate that.

- Now people catch some pretty big things out in the surf, don't they?

- Oh, yeah.

You know, I've seen 14 foot tiger sharks.

- Hold up, what?

- Huge stingrays off the jetties.

Like a hundred pound stingrays.

You never know.

- And I'm historically pretty terrible at just throwing a line out and catching anything.

- You could probably put a hot dog and catch something, so.

- Is that, yeah, do you think, you just said the words that cursed us, Scott, like anybody bring a hot dog?

No?

No.

Any leftover barbacoa?

Hot dogs are no, let's head to the jetties.

(upbeat music) Look at that giant school of fish.

They're little catfish.

Look at that.

All right, so one cool reason to fish at Mustang Island is that you don't need a license to fish inside of a state park.

Now, does it mean you'll be better at fishing because you're in a state park?

Clearly not.

We are having no luck, and the wind is brutal.

Maybe Scott meant these fish only eat hot dogs.

They're literally thousands of fish right in front of me and I'm not catching a single one.

I was always better at playing at the beach than fishing at the beach.

Let's go swimming.

(tranquil music) It's always best when the crew decides to join me.

I'm probably biased, but Texas beaches are my favorite.

Just watch out for those Texas sized waves and those chompy sharks.

I'm kidding.

Shark bites are next to non-existent in Texas.

This is what day tripping is all about.

(waves sloshing) Now, for generations, folks have been coming to the Texas coast to swim on the beach and fish on the bay.

But just as meaningful to many Texan families, it's the tradition of eating a basket of fried seafood goodness from Snoopy's Pier.

It's a Corpus tradition dating back over 45 years when a local fisherman named Ernie Butler turned a bait stand into a burger joint.

Well, soon after he added some deep fryers and the rest is golden battered history.

Current owner, Steve and Kim Gotberg, took the keys recently and have made some changes while making sure the spirit of Snoopy's always abides.

Although it has gotten a little spicier these days.

Whoa!

Thank you.

- Oh, Chet, I'll tell you what, it's been amazing what's been going on here.

- I mean, this is amazing.

He knows what he's doing.

- Oh, big time.

- Yeah.

- Big time.

- I think the first time I came to Snoopy's, I remember it sort of feeling like it was a bit frozen in time and that was some of the charm.

- Yes.

- It's sort of evolved over the last decade or so.

- Exactly, Chet.

And that is the key is keeping that iconic institution frozen in time.

- Yeah.

- Because you see a lot of grandparents with their kids and their grandkids, but now, we've even gotten fourth generations of families showing up from that 40 year time period.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.

- And it is cool to hear 'em all say, we've been coming every year for 42 years now.

- It's all about creating memories.

- That's awesome.

- The same fishing photos and knick-knacks have been hanging on the wall for as long as I've been coming.

The truth is, you can get a fried seafood basket.

A lot of places on the coast, well, actually, everywhere on the coast, but here at Snoopy's, sitting out looking over the Intracoastal Canal, it just hits different - Over at Snoopy's it is 90% a fried food menu.

- Deep fried paradise.

- There you go.

- That's okay, that's okay.

Each of the recipes are exactly what they were that Ernie was doing 40 years ago, and 30 years ago, 20 years ago.

- Shrimps still get hand peeled by the boatload.

And whether you're eating at the Pearl Oyster Bar, the Cajun Boil House, The Cuban with as authentic Cuban classics as you'll find anywhere or here at Snoopy's.

Well, you're gonna have an experience worth vacationing for year over year.

- It's not just Snoopy's.

We have five restaurants, seven bars, three live music venues.

- Are you telling me I shouldn't have done anything else on this day?

I should have just pulled up here.

One day trip.

- Yes.

We'll get you out on a fishing boat too.

- I'm all for that.

Although I gotta warn you, we don't catch anything when the cameras are running.

Now, when they're not running, I slay, I kill it.

- I wouldn't know.

- I wouldn't.

- Yeah.

- Well, I personally know what's been living in my head rent free for years.

And it comes in one color, golden brown.

All right, y'all, so the Cajun bowl was awesome, but, this right here is the classic Snoopy's experience, right?

This is what generations of Texans have been coming right here to get.

So, it's a full combo.

But let's notice before we jump in, the fish, the oysters, and the shrimp all have different batters.

Like that is a sign of a good seafood restaurant because they taste best with different batters.

We'll go oyster.

How about it?

Well, love, how about a good fried oyster?

It gives you a chance to taste the sea.

In a small way, it tastes like kissing a dolphin.

- You would know.

- I would know.

A lot of people talk about like a fresh summer tomato, but the fresh summer shrimp doesn't get the love it deserves.

This right here is one of the best bounties that nature provides.

Let's dive into the fish.

That's generational seafood right there.

I get older, seafood basket stays the same age.

You know what I mean?

Fresh.

There's plenty of fish in the sea, but none like Corpus Christi.

It's a place full of friendly folks, incredible food, and bountiful beaches where you can kiss a dolphin and kiss the sky all in the same day.

So, let the tide pull you in to the sparkling city by the sea.

But, one important rule, as the Texas sun sets over the bay, always leave room for Scoopy's.

Pina colada ice cream, you know?

Hey, we're on the islands, it just felt right.

So, I'll see all y'all out on the road.

Vaya con dios, amigos.

(upbeat music) Howdy, y'all.

Follow along with my adventures at chettripper on Instagram and at thedaytrippertv on Facebook and YouTube, or head to the daytripper.com for travel guides, past episodes, and info on our mobile app and team "Daytripper."

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