66 Things to Do in Amarillo

A city on Historic Route 66 should have at least 66 things to do. Amarillo does, and more! Here are the CVC's favorites but we're always looking for more.

 

Take a journey to the tropics at the tropical conservatory at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens (www.amarillobotanicalgardens.org).

Get hands-on science experiences at the Don Harrington Discovery Center (www.dhdc.org).

Stroll along Amarillo's Historic Route 66 (www.amarillo66.com). 

Listen to music at the Golden Light Café & Cantina (www.goldenlightcafe.com).  

Feed the ducks in Medi Park in the Harrington Regional Medical Center.

Paint graffiti on the cars at Cadillac Ranch.

Visit the “Madame Queen,” the only 2-10-2 “Texas” type locomotive, built especially for the Plains.

Take a walking tour along historic Polk Street.

See the Chase Tower, the tallest building between Dallas & Denver.

Ride the coasters at Wonderland Amusement Park (www.wonderlandpark.com).

Search for some of the over 95 American Quarter Horse statues around the city.

Pay tribute to heroes at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial.

See a performance of the Kwahadi Indian Dancers at the Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian (www.kwahadi.com).

Retrace the Panhandle's aviation history at the Texas Air & Space Museum (www.texasairandspacemuseum.com).

Reminisce at the expanded RV Museum with its exhibits from the 1920s to today (www.rvmuseum.net).

See the history of the “horse that won the West” at the American Quarter Hall of Fame & Museum (www.aqha/museum.org).

Take time to see the “Pirates of the Canyon” Balloon Festival in November 2014 (www.piratesofthecanyon.com).

Discover local history at the Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum- it's The Smithsonian with a Texas accent (www.panhandleplains.org).

Be sure to check out the Amarillo Zoo with over 60 animal species and a new herpetarium www.amarillozoo.org).

Ride in a Big Texan Limo, complete with longhorns on the hood, to the Big Texan Steak Ranch (www.bigtexan.com).

Cool off during the summer at Splash Amarillo (www.splashamarillo.com).

Watch a sunrise or sunset from anywhere in Amarillo.

Go two-stepping at one of the county-western venues.

Visit Cal Farley's Boys Ranch.

Go to Eades and get some Texas beef jerky.

Hike, bike or jog along the Rock Island Rail Trail or play in any number of other Amarillo public parks.

See the magnificent statue of astronaut Rick Husband at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.

Plan your Christmas around the Lone Star Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker (www.lonestarballet.org).

Zip-line across Palo Duro Canyon at the new Palo Duro Adventure Park (www.palodurozip.com).

Pretend to be a cattle baron by visiting the Amarillo Livestock Auction on Monday (www.amarillolivestockauction.com).

Reserve your tickets for the official play of Texas, the musical “TEXAS” and help them cross 4 million in attendance (www.texas-show.com).

Hike, camp, mountain bike and more in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, named one of the nation's 10 Best State Parks by Fodors.com. Or if you prefer, drive to the bottom of Palo Duro Canyon State Park (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/paloduro/paloduro.htm).

Depending on the season, enjoy Amarillo sports by attending Amarillo Venom (arena football- www.govenom.com); Amarillo Bulls (ice hockey- www.amarillobulls.com); or Amarillo Sox (baseball- www.amarillosox.com) game.

Be at the Cowboy Mounted Shooting National Finals in October.

Spend time with the folks at the Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo (www.wrca.org).

Choose a different local restaurant for each meal.

Attend the festivities at National Day of the Cowboy the last Saturday of July.

Appreciate one of the performances by the symphony, ballet, opera or theater at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.

Shop, shop, shop- at the specialty stores in renovated Wolflin Village & Wolflin Square; at antique shops on Historic Route 66 or at over 100 shops in Westgate Mall.

Marvel at over 50 galleries and the outdoor sculpture garden at The Galleries at Sunset Center (www.amarilloartists.com).

Splurge on barbecue during the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Good Times Celebration Barbecue Cook Off in September (www.amarillo-chamber.org).

Don't miss our 4th of July tradition – the Range Riders Rodeo.

Rev-up at Route 66 Motor Speedway (www.route66motorspeedway.com).

Savor Strawberry Habanero gelato, and many other flavors, at Cowboy Gelato (www.cowboygelato.com).

Make time for a summer music concert series- High Noon on the Square; June Jazz; Starlight Theater and Music in the Gardens.

Join the fun at the Center City Block Party in August (www.centercity.org).

Watch simulcast horse racing at the Saddle Brook Jockey Club (www.saddlebrookjockeyclub.com).

Order a custom-made saddle at Oliver's Saddle Shop (www.oliversaddle.com);   get fitted for custom boots at Beck Boots (www.beckboots.com) and find Western accessories at shops around town. Show off your duds at a C&W venue in town.

Visit the Amarillo Visitor Information Center and purchase an Amarillo Logo item.

Eat something on a stick and enjoy the midway rides at the Tri-State Fair in September (www.tristatefair.com).

Ride the Rt 66 Trolley Express.

See WRCA World Championship Bronc Riding over Memorial Day weekend (www.wrca.org).

Visit the Amarillo Museum of Art, where admission is always free (www.amarilloart.org).

Eat a Hotter Than Hell Burger at Coyote Bluff Café (www.coyotebluffcafe.com).

Ride horseback at several venues in and around Palo Duro Canyon (Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West, Old West Stables or Timber Springs Stables).

Take a carload to the Tascosa Drive In Theater (www.tascosadrivein.com).

Relax and enjoy a sunset at the Bar Z Winery (www.barzwines.com).

Play golf at a fine city course at either the Ross Rogers or Comanche Trail complexes.

Drive out to River Breaks Ranch for a great meal and shoot some clay pigeons at their sporting clay course (www.riverbreaksranch.com).

Eat a chicken fried steak at the Stockyard Café – it was on the Travel Channel.

Be creative at the Amarillo Little Theatre – the longest continuously running community theatre in the nation (www.amarillolittletheatre.org).

See how the other half lived at the Harrington House; just make sure you have tour reservations (www.harringtonhousehistorichome.org). Slowly drive the rest of the neighborhood to see homes of the area's founding families.

Visit historic Llano Cemetery where most of the city's prominent families have been laid to rest (www.llanocemetery.org).

Grab a blanket and attend a high school football game at Dick Bivins Stadium.

Marvel at big agribusiness during the annual Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show (www.ideaggroup.com/amarillo).

Take a side trip to learn more about the Texas Panhandle, from the Goodnight Historical Center (www.armstrongcountymuseum.com) in Claude, TX, to the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (www.nps.gov/alfl/index.htm) in Fritch, TX. And so many stops in between.

 

Even More Things to Do in Amarillo

Don't forget the Texas Pharmacy Museum, largest of its kind in the state.

Heard of the Amarillo Railroad Museum? – static displays of unique railroad cars

Browse Georgia Street Mall for the one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Take a side trip along the Texas Plains Trail.

Discover the “legs of Ozymandias.”

ARCH- Amarillo Rock Climbing House

Shooting ranges- Amarillo Gun Club, Panhandle Gunslingers, River Breaks

First Friday Art Walk

Rodeo- Coors Cowboy Club, Range Riders, Boys Ranch, Wrangler Champions Challenge, Tri-State Fair PRCA Rodeo, WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo

Equine Events- CMSA World Finals; AQHA Adequan Select World Finals, WRCA World Championship Ranch Bronc Riding

 

Updated 8/20/14

#####

 

The Amarillo CVC is the premier marketer of Amarillo. Our mission is to increase hotel and attraction visitors by promoting the Amarillo area as a unique destination.

 

Visit the Amarillo CVC website at www.visitamarillotx.com