Amarillo, which means "yellow" in Spanish, is the center of the Texas Panhandle at the edge of the Great Plains.
Amarillo offers a true Western heritage, a unique geographical area with wide open spaces and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Amarillo is also the gateway to Palo Duro Canyon, America's second largest canyon. With its relatively mild climate, the city is rated as having some of the cleanest air in the country. Indians, conquistadors, buffalo hunters, settlers, cowboys, adventurers, lawmen, gunfighters, and the railroad all contributed in many ways to the development and growth of the area. That heritage is still felt here, where "cowboy" is still an honorable profession. Here you can enjoy the very best of the Old and New West! Founded in 1887, the city charter was adopted in 1913.
The N-S avenues in central Amarillo are named for the presidents of the United States in order of when they served, from Washington just west of downtown through Cleveland to the east. Most of the E-W avenues are numbered, from N 24th through S 58th. Old Route 66 crosses east to west through Amarillo, named Amarillo Boulevard. It passes just to the north of the airport, downtown, and the medical center, connecting US-60 on the east side with I-40 on the west side. Loop 335 has been designated, but has not yet been developed into a limited access loop as in other cities. It comprises Soncy Road on the west (near Westgate Mall), St.
1 Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren (on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus). Gallery of Asian art plus a rotating selection of exhibits. On the third Thursday of each month is a special event with live music, hands-on art activities, film and free coffee. Admission is free anytime. 2 Cadillac Ranch. Built as an eccentric roadside attraction by the art collective Ant Farm on the now decommissioned Route 66, it was moved and can now be found via a frontage road for I-40 just outside of Amarillo. You can see it from I-40; it will be on the southern side of the road.
1 Wonderland Amusement Park, 2601 Dumas Dr, ☏ +1 806-383-3344, toll-free: +1-800-383-4712. (updated Nov 2020) 2 Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, 2301 N Soncy Rd, ☏ +1 806-352-6007. Here you can get a true taste of the Llano Estacado steppe and even some rocky outcrops hiking around on trails and taking in the sights. Just try not to step on any prickly pear thorns. $4 adults, $3 children/seniors (self-pay at entrance). (updated Jan 2022) Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West, 19100 FM1258, ☏ +1 806-672-9256. The ranch offers horseback rides. 3 Tri-State Fair and Rodeo, 3301 SE 10th Ave. 8AM–midnight. In mid-September each year.
Belmar Bakery & Cafe, 3325 Bell St, ☏ +1 806-355-0141. Voted Best Bakery in Amarillo, great sandwiches, salads, and soups, too. 1 The Big Texan Steak Ranch, 7700 I-40 at Lakeside, ☏ +1 806-372-6000. Open daily. A Route 66 icon, the Big Texan was moved when I-40 came barreling through town. Known nationwide for its 72-oz steak dinner offered free to anyone who can eat the entire meal in one hour. Tens of thousands have taken the challenge and as of May 2021 almost 10,000 have succeeded. Country/Western performances every Tuesday. (updated Dec 2018) Calico County, 2410 Paramount (off I-40), ☏ +1 806-358-7664.
The main nightlife district in Amarillo is South Polk Street downtown, between 7th and 8th avenues R&R Bar, 701 S Georgia St, ☏ +1 806-342-9000. LGBT friendly, they serve strong cocktails and have a great selection of music. Crush Wine Bar & Deli, 701 S Polk St, ☏ +1 806-418-2011. A chic wine bar and deli that is cozy and friendly enough to spend hours of time eating and drinking Golden Light Cafe, 2908 W. 6th Ave, ☏ +1 806-374-9237. Known as a Route 66 landmark, go here for great hamburgers and country western music. Bodegas (Chesney's Whiskey Saloon), 715 S. Polk St, ☏ +1 806-378-5790. Stylish wine and jazz club. Butlers, 703 S Polk St, ☏ +1 806-376-8180.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Oct, Amarillo typically sees ~24°C daytime highs and 8 rainy days.
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