Fun Stuff To Do In Amarillo Tx
If you think Amarillo is just a pit stop on I-40 where the wind tries to steal your hat, bless your heart. This Panhandle town is weird in the best way, with a canyon, a field...
If you think Amarillo is just a pit stop on I-40 where the wind tries to steal your hat, bless your heart. This Panhandle town is weird in the best way, with a canyon, a field of buried Cadillacs, and a steak challenge that laughs at your appetite. Grab a breakfast burrito and let’s wander.
Palo Duro Canyon Is a Big Deal, Literally
Palo Duro Canyon is often called the second-largest canyon in the United States, which is a fancy way of saying the Grand Canyon has a scrappy Texas cousin. The walls glow orange and red at sunset, and the Lighthouse Trail is the rock star hike here.
The trail runs about six miles round trip, so bring water, sunscreen, and the humility to let a seven-year-old pass you. If hiking sounds like too much cardio, take a jeep tour or go horseback riding instead.
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In summer, the outdoor musical Texas fills the canyon amphitheater with singing, dancing, and enough fireworks to make a bald eagle salute. It’s gloriously dramatic, and the canyon backdrop does most of the heavy lifting.
Cadillac Ranch: A Car Graveyard You Can Spray-Paint
Ten Cadillacs stand nose-down in a field west of town, planted in 1974 by millionaire art patron Stanley Marsh 3. Yes, you can bring spray paint and add your own masterpiece. Just don’t write anything you’d have to explain to your grandma.
The cars are angled to match the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is a sentence I never thought I’d type. It’s free, it’s muddy after rain, and it’s gloriously ridiculous.
The Big Texan: Eat a 72-Ounce Steak or Die Trying (Not Literally)
The Big Texan Steak Ranch offers a 72-ounce steak challenge: finish the whole meal in one hour and it’s free. You also get a shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, roll, and butter, because apparently the steak alone wasn’t a personality test.
Even if you don’t attempt it, the place is a carnival of cowboy kitsch. There’s a motel with a Texas-shaped pool, and yes, someone will probably be wearing a ten-gallon hat indoors.
Route 66, Sod Poodles, and Other Ways to Kill an Afternoon
Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District on Sixth Street is full of antique shops, murals, and cafes that look like they’ve seen some things. The Amarillo Sod Poodles are the local minor league baseball team, and their name is basically a polite term for prairie dogs.
21 Best Things to Do in Amarillo, Texas (must-dos!) - Happy To Be Texas
Catch a game at Hodgetown, where the mascot situation is delightfully unhinged. If baseball isn’t your jam, the Amarillo Museum of Art and the Don Harrington Discovery Center offer air-conditioned sanity.
Weird Museums, Giant Monuments, and a Lot of Helium
Amarillo calls itself the Helium Capital of the World, and there’s a monument to prove it. The Helium Centennial Monument on Route 66 is a 60-foot-tall tower with a time capsule, because nothing says “party” like noble gases.
The Jack Sisemore RV Museum houses vintage campers, including the RV from the Robin Williams movie RV. It’s a niche joy, like finding a forgotten bag of chips in your car.
Nearby in Canyon, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is the largest history museum in Texas. It has dinosaur skeletons, pioneer relics, and enough taxidermy to make you nervous.
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo celebrates the world’s most popular horse breed, which is a real sentence. Even if you don’t know a fetlock from a footlocker, the exhibits are surprisingly fun.
Outdoor Fun That Doesn’t Require a Steak Coma
Wonderland Amusement Park has roller coasters, water rides, and the distinct smell of funnel cake and childhood. The Amarillo Botanical Gardens are small but lovely, especially when the conservatory is blooming.
For a truly Texas experience, go to Palo Duro Canyon for zip lining, mountain biking, or a sunset picnic. Just bring water, sunscreen, and a sense of direction. The canyon is beautiful; getting lost in it is less charming.
Top attractions in amarillo texas | Soule.lgbt
The Amarillo Zoo is a low-key spot for kids and adults who still giggle at otters. It won’t take all day, which leaves plenty of time for more important things, like eating.
Where to Eat When You’re Not Eating a 72-Ounce Steak
Tyler’s Barbecue serves brisket that might make you propose marriage. Coyote Bluff Cafe is a tiny burger joint with a big reputation, and the Golden Light Cafe has been feeding Route 66 travelers since the 1940s.
For caffeine, Palace Coffee Company and The 806 are local favorites. If you need dessert, get a giant cinnamon roll and pretend you’ll share it.
Seasonal Fun and Quirky Events
In summer, the Texas musical is the big draw. In fall, the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo brings carnival rides, livestock, and fried food that defies medical science.
The city also hosts parades and festivals throughout the year, because Amarillo loves a reason to wear boots. Check local calendars for art walks, concerts, and whatever else gives people an excuse to stand outside.
Final Bite (Probably Not 72 Ounces)
Amarillo is the kind of place where you can hike a canyon, spray-paint a Cadillac, eat a steak the size of a cinder block, and watch a baseball team named after a rodent. It’s weird, warm, and wildly underrated.
So next time you’re driving through the Panhandle, don’t just wave at the wind turbines. Stop, stretch your legs, and embrace the delightful chaos. Your Instagram will thank you, and your cardiologist will forgive you. Probably.
