A place where the heritage of the Old West sits comfortably alongside the energy and creativity of modern Texas, offering a thriving arts scene, gateway to wide-open outdoor spaces and classic Texas eats.
Everyone should make their way to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, where the famous 72oz steak challenge awaits: finish it within an hour and it’s free. (Smaller sizes are on offer too!) Downtown Amarillo is a great neighbourhood to check out, with locally owned spots mixing craft cocktails and great conversation. In the Route 66 Historic District, wander through antique shops, art galleries, and bookstores, and make sure, to drop by the Golden Light Café & Cantina with nearly 80 years of burgers, cold beers, and live music.
1
For a deep-dive with Mother Nature don’t miss Palo Duro Canyon State Park – the “Grand Canyon” of Texas – which is the second-largest canyon in America. You can explore it on foot, mountain bike or even horseback, but Palo Duro Creek Ranch Jeep Tours will bump and rumble you along backroads with a guide who knows every dip and turn. Just minutes from downtown Amarillo, Wildcat Bluff Nature Center this scenic preserve offers hiking trails, wildlife viewing and stargazing away from city lights.
2
Amarillo proudly leans into its heritage. Route 66 Historic District brings the past to life with vintage signs, mid-century storefronts, and a sense that a cowboy could appear around the corner any minute…and probably might. If vintage vehicles are your thing, Bill’s Backyard Classics and the Jack Sisemore Recreational Vehicle Museum keep the engines — and the nostalgia — running.
3
Start at the Cadillac Ranch, an art installation with ten Cadillac cars half-buried in the ground and layered in graffiti, where you can bring a can of spray paint to leave your mark. Then catch live music under the stars at the Starlight Ranch Event Center or browse Arts in the Sunset, a beautifully revamped arts space housed in a former shopping mall. Amarillo’s culture scene is like the town itself: unexpectedly rich and uirkily offbeat.
4
