This 20-story downtown bayside hotel serves corporate travelers, convention and conference business, family reunions, and vacationers. The welcoming lobby extends to two levels, each with seating areas, striking bouquets of tropical flowers, potted plants, and access to a jewelry store and gift shop. The 20th-floor restaurant and bar offer views of the city and Corpus Christi Bay.

What to expect: Located in the Rockport-Fulton area at the heart of the Texas Coastal Bend, the Inn offers a pleasing mix of laid-back seaside style and Victorian elegance, featuring a private courtyard with cooking grills, a 60-foot heated swimming pool with an adjacent spa tub, conference rooms, and a bay-view fitness center. Best of all, guests have easy and immediate access to the pleasures of the harbor and bay.

Amenity highlights: The Inn's charms begin with its Victorian style, and views of the pool, Fulton Harbor, and Aransas Bay. On premises, guests will find a library, where books and board games await them; the Mercantile, a shop offering gifts and sundries; a 60-foot pool; and a fully-equipped fitness center. Guests can fish in the bay from the hotel grounds. Complimentary breakfast is served daily and complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas.

Insider tip: Just 1.75 miles from the hotel, the mile-long strand at Rockport Beach Park qualifies as Texas's only Blue Wave Beach. The water is clean, safe, and shallow enough for small children; there are no rough waves or undertows. The park and the adjacent Rookery Islands serve as nesting and breeding sites for numerous waterbirds including roseate spoonbills, herons, and egrets.