About Corpus Christi's Downtown /ocean front

The Columbus Sailing Association is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and was given official approval by the City of Corpus Christi to raise funds on behalf of the ships in December 2009.

The Columbus Sailing Association is a non-profit organization founded to help preserve the Columbus Ship replicas - the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria - which arrived in Corpus Christi in 1993 and were given to the City of Corpus Christi by Spain to honor the 5ooth anniversary of Columbus' voyage.

The Columbus Sailing Association also works to comply with the agreement with Spain to promote and educate the public about the voyages which Columbus made to the New World and the cultural contributions Spain made in the Western Hemisphere.

Unfortunately, the ships have fallen into disrepair and the Columbus Sailing Association is working to restore them so they may be exhibited. Volunteers with the Columbus Sailing Association have been working since November 2010 to remove wood railing aboard the Niña, which is currently moored at the T-Heads in downtown Corpus Christi, which have rotted over time.

When you see the ship up close, you will be amazed that people actually crossed the ocean on ships just like this one.

Whether you live in South Texas or somewhere else throughout the country, the Columbus Sailing Association is certainly a worthwhile non-profit for a contribution. The sight of these ships is one that you will not want to miss whether you live in Corpus Christi or are just here for a visit.

A family looking for great entertainment and education value in Corpus Christi needs to look no further than purchasing a family membership for 2011 with the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History and making that purchase in February.

Why February? Well, when someone gets a membership in February, they also receive a free pass in February to the Botanical Gardens and the Asian Cultures Museum and Educational Center. Folks buying their membership in February also receive 50% off admission to the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum for the month of February as well.

The value in February alone is phenomenal! Bringing a family to the museum twice pays for itself. I brought my kids to the museum for summer activities 2-3 times a week during the summer, and had my membership pay for itself many times over.

Some of the things you'll find at the museum include:

• Replicas of the Columbus ships
• Shipwreck artifacts from the La Belle expedition
• A kids' discovery zone, a hands-on learning play area
• Scavenger hunts for families
• Hands on learning activities for kids on weekends and throughout the summer
• Evening lecture series for adults, and more!

Corpus Christi Ballet will present the most beloved of all the classical ballets, "Sleeping Beauty", the famous fairy tale ballet of the sleeping princess who was cursed by an evil fairy and doomed to sleep for 100 years. The sets create an atmosphere of fairy tale magic that brings the audience into a mystical world where spells are cast and fairy tale characters dance to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music.

The performance will be held April 9 & 10, 2011 in the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium of Downtown Corpus Christi. For more information, call the Ballet Office at 361-882-4588, or order your tickets through Ticketmaster.

The American Bank Center Selena Auditorium is an integral part of the American Bank Center complex of meeting and entertainment venues and was originally built in 1979. With seating for over 2,500 and an outstanding acoustical rating, the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium has been one of the most attended venues for entertainment in the Coastal Bend area.