1. Palo Duro Canyon: 120 Miles of Beautiful Scenery
With 120 miles of raw Texan ravine, Palo Duro Canyon is a place to hike, ride and (perhaps surprisingly) to enjoy superb musical performances. Budding frontiersmen can camp in the canyon, while 1,500 acres have been reserved for horse riding. There are mountain biking trails, and all manner of natural inhabitants, from Texas horned lizards to blankets of native wildflowers. And there's also the Pioneer Amphitheater, where the TEXAS show features music, dancing, wagons-full of humor, and a barbecue feast after the show. Needless to say, it's much more than just an 800-foot-deep canyon.
2. Cadillac Ranch: A Twisted Tribute to the Automotive Age
One of America's (and the world's) quirkiest art installations, the Cadillac Ranch is located alongside Route 66 and features 10 Cadillac automobiles, buried head first in the Texan soil, with only their iconic tail fins poking out. The brainchild of California hippies and local millionaire Stanley Marsh, the Caddies have been graffiti-ed over the years - presenting a multicolored spectacle that entertains and mystifies thousands of visitors every week.
3. Amarillo Botanical Gardens: An Urban Oasis with a Musical Side
Situated on Streit Drive in western Amarillo, the Botanical Gardens are a feast for the eyes and the nose. Built over decades by local gardening enthusiasts, the Botanical Gardens are a demonstration of the beauty and hardiness of Texas' flora, and feature four acres of regional flowers, along with a complete change of scenery in the Tropical Conservatory. Educational tours and talks are regularly put on for younger visitors, and come evening the stunning setting is also the backdrop for live roots, folk, and jazz music.
4. Route 66: America's Highway, at the Heart of Amarillo
While Chuck Berry reminded us that Route 66 wound for more than 2,000 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, the section around Amarillo is one of the most special. The iconic highway passes straight through the city (and was name-checked by Berry), where it has become a fabulous place to dine, drink, and shop. Take a stroll down the strip and check out all of the businesses, but have a look at the events schedule too, as Route 66 is the venue for everything from antique markets to fancy-dress scavenger hunts and car shows. If nothing else, it's a classic all-American attraction right at the heart of town.
5. Amarillo Zoo: Meet Fantastic Fauna in the Texan Sunshine
If you've got a gaggle of kids to entertain and an afternoon to kill, Amarillo Zoo is the only place to head. Easy to reach from downtown Amarillo, the zoo opened its doors in 1955, and now hosts a diverse collection of locals - from graceful panthers and lions to African spurred tortoises and boa constrictors. The Safari Theater hosts informative chats from the zoo's expert keepers, providing all the background young zoologists could desire. Even better, Thompson Park Pool is right next door, offering a place to cool off when Texan temperatures soar.
