Conventional Wisdom

It's Bill White's party, be wild: Five places for Democrats to be seen in CorpusChristi

Texas State Aquarium, home of the last remaining Gulf wildlife?
The USS Lexington, great for supporting uncontroversial wars from 70 years ago.

Photo by Frank H. Brueckner
Selena's red Porsche, at the Selena Museum
Art Museum of South Texas
Democrats: Do not attempt this at home. Or at Corpus Christi.

With Texas Democrats descending on Corpus Christi for the 2010 state convention, there's not a lot of political drama planned. (Not unless they release a platform as controversial as the Texas GOP did this week, at least.)

So if these Dems want to make political hay from their Bill White exercise in confirming inevitability, they are going to have to get out and about around the city.

To aid in this exercise, CultureMap is proud to provide a list of the sights worth seeing in CC, and how they can be best used by the politicos.

The USS Lexington
A visit here, to the most highly-decorated aircraft carrier from World War II, shows support for a strong military that advocating diplomacy rather than Predator drones and using a Rhodes scholarship to avoid service in Vietnam doesn't always convey. Bonus points for incorporating a slam on George W. Bush for the "Mission Accomplished" banner.

Selena Museum
With Hispanics quickly becoming the most populous minority in the country, and Texas one of the first majority-minority states, there's never been a more important time to appeal to Latino voters. A somber visit to the Selena Museum, a tribute by the Quintanilla family to Tejano's biggest star would be a good start.

Be sure to get a basic knowledge of Selena's discography and learn the lyrics to "Como la Flor" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom." Fans are united but no one likes a panderer.

Texas State Aquarium
While the oil spill continues to devastate American ecosystems and wildlife, a trip to the Texas State Aquarium, with its focus on Gulf animals, provides one last glimpse of creatures soon to be seen only covered in oil and on the endangered species list.

Yachting Center of Corpus Christi
Usually sports are a great, all-American interest for a politician. But any sport involving more money than skill — polo, yachting, skiing — is out, lest you be associated with such elitest tastes as classical music and arugula. Think of the pictures of John Kerry windsurfing and keep your feet firmly on the sandy beach.

Art Museum of South Texas
Elitest labels be damned, supporting the arts is usually good politics. But before your visit, just have your staff make sure none of the artists on display have any "Virgin-Mary-made-of-elephant-dung" shenanigans on their résumé. That shit doesn't even fly in New York.

When in doubt, just do what comes natural: Shake hands, kiss babies, and blame Bush for everything.

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lets go camping

Texas llama ranch roams onto America's 50 favorite camping spots

Courtesy of Hipcamp

Camp where the llamas roam.

A family-owned, llama roaming ranch in North Texas was just declared one of America's 50 favorite camping spots in 2026.

The field guide was compiled by online marketplace Hipcamp following a review of campsite ratings from users, regional trends, cultural relevance, and a "spirited debate" of Hipcamp experts. Campgrounds were chosen from 35 different states and organized into seven regions: the Pacific Northwest; California and Hawaii; the Southwest; the Mountain West; the Great Plains and Midwest; the Northeast; and the Southeast.

Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas — about 3.5 hours from Houston — was one of nine total campgrounds featured in the Southwest region. The ranch is the perfect place for families to go on core memory-making excursions like meeting the free roaming llamas or watching out for other wildlife like wild boars. The ranch spans 101 acres, and a 50-foot deep creek also flows along the property lines for fishing and swimming.

"The llamas will come to greet you and so will many more things in this wonderful place," the ranch's listing says. "We are conveniently located in a secluded area, but just a short drive from many local conveniences."

The listing also specifies that the pastures are only mowed three times a year and some of the property is on rough terrain, so campers are welcome to bring their own machetes if they want to explore the area thoroughly.

There are 14 sites available for guests to set up camp, with a mix of tent-only, RV/tent, and RV-only sites. The ranch is also very affordable; sites can be booked for as little as $15 per night.

Many reviewers enjoy getting out into the country to reconnect with nature, and many also praise the ranch's owner, Judy, who says the ranch has been in her family since 1987.

"I went with a group of women for an overnight camp at the pond," one reviewer wrote. "It was so beautiful and a much needed break from city life. The host was wonderful and kind. She was also very accommodating to our group."

A second Dallas-Fort Worth-area campground tucked away in Texas' newest state park was also highlighted in the report. Warbler Ridge Campground, located in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, was the only other Texas representative on the list.

The pet-friendly campground's listing doesn't offer many details, but it says there are 22 RV and tent campsites for visitors, as well as showers, toilets, potable water, and picnic tables. There are activities galore for visitors, including a 68-acre lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, and over 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says campsites at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park start at $13 per night (plus a daily entrance fee) for hike-in primitive sites. Walk-in campsites with water are $15 per night and campsites with electricity are $30 per night.

camping travel vacations ranches campgrounds