Amarillo, Texas, is what road-trip dreams are made of. The largest city in the Texas Panhandle is located off of Historic Route 66, where old Western Texas cowboy culture meets the hustle and bustle of a growing, modern city. Set in the middle of windswept plains under a vast open sky, the city gets its name from the golden color of the sun.
For many travelers, Amarillo provides a gateway to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and thanks to Stanley Marsh 3, an eccentric millionaire who called Amarillo home, the city is also an unexpected hub for arts and culture.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Explore ‘Rilla’s Iconic Sites
Pick up coffee and breakfast at the 806 before making your way to the Cadillac Ranch. Built in 1974, the art installation features 10 graffiti-marked Cadillacs buried nose down in a field at the same angle as the Great Pyramids of Giza. Bring a can of spray paint to leave your mark on this interactive pop-culture landmark — one of many public art projects funded by Marsh.
Continue your art tour by heading to the Amarillo Museum of Art (AMOA), which boasts four Georgia O’Keeffe watercolors among its collection of 20th-century art.
When the hunger pangs hit, head to the Coyote Bluff Café, a casual country shack known for its burgers. Head there during the lunch rush to dine with the locals. If you’re ready to brave the high index of Scoville heat units, order the “Burger from Hell” — a diabolical combination of Tabasco, fresh jalapeños and house-made hot sauce.
Walk off your lunch at the Oliver Saddle Shop. The store has been around for more than a century and features high-end saddles with four- and five-figure price tags. Reins, jewelry, chaps and wallets are also available at this one-stop shop for cowfolk.
Stop at the Cerulean Gallery to get a sense of the contemporary art scene before making your way to OHMS, a bistro offering upscale American fare. The elk tenderloin and surf-and-turf tortellini are popular options. End your evening with a nightcap at the Bomb City Distillery — the city’s first distillery, specializing in handmade vodka.
Saturday: Adventure Awaits on Route 66
For breakfast, find a seat on the patio at Girasol Café & Bakery. This bright little brunch spot serves classic morning fare with a modern twist.
Try the tartine sampler, which comes with three breakfast pastries filled with different savory combinations (like avocado and frizzled ham), or the “Priscilla” — a fried brioche sandwich stuffed with sliced bananas and cookie-butter cream cheese, fit for the queen herself.
Save a little room before your tour of the Route 66 Historic District — you’ll kick it off at the Eatery, a local favorite popular for its sweet treats. The 13-block area includes close to 100 antiques boutiques including the Natatorium, a castle-like crenelated building that once housed an indoor swimming pool. Get lost in the shops, bakeries and sidewalk cafés.
The area is known for its restaurants and bars as well as retail options like Texas Ivy (art deco antiques) and the Roseberry (Western-inspired home decor and collectibles).
Stop at Aldaco’s Tacos before heading to Starlight Ranch for a day of activities. The entertainment complex is family-friendly and home to an 18-hole mini-golf course, zip lining, a concert venue and a number of food and beverage options. Check the schedule to see if you can catch a show under the Texas sky.
Once you have worked up an appetite, try your hand at the Big Texan Steak Ranch steak challenge. If you can finish the 72-ounce steak in under an hour (including the dinner rolls, potatoes, side salad and shrimp cocktail), it’s on the house.
End the night with a wine tasting at Starlight Ranch or head back to the Route 66 Historic District. The Golden Light Café has live music in the evenings and is a popular hangout spot among locals.
Sunday: Roam the Range in Palo Duro Canyon
Dress for the outdoors and get your day going by heading to Meme’s D.O.C. Café in the Route 66 Historic District. The huevos rancheros and the “Cadillac Eldorado” are two fan favorites. While there, pick up any last-minute gifts or souvenirs you eyed yesterday and can’t live without.
Head to Palo Duro Canyon (25 miles south of Amarillo) and prepare to be dazzled by the breathtaking rock formations that often earn comparisons to the Grand Canyon for their jaw-dropping size and swirling colors. Valleys of brown and green are peppered in cottonwood trees and orange hoodoos, sandstone spires that reach up to touch the vast blue sky.
Grab lunch and souvenirs at the Trading Post, located at the floor of the canyon, before returning to the trail. Rather than rushing from point to point, take time to marvel in the majestic beauty, over a million years in the making. After lunch, depending on your activity level, you may want to hike, bike or explore the area on horseback — there is no wrong way to see the canyon.
Once you’re done taking in the natural sights, sample the city’s barbecue at Doug’s Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q or head to African Safari for an authentic Somali meal. Leave enough room for snacks at the movies.
Take it easy the rest of the evening by winding down at the Tascosa Drive-In Theater. The retro theater offers double features and a concession stand menu that’s quintessentially Texas — think Frito pies, chili cheese dogs and nachos.
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