Amarillo Attractions

Amarillo is the biggest city located within the Texas Panhandle and features a population of about 180,000 people. Amarillo offers visitors a real Western experience, with it’s distinctive geographical area, wide open areas and some of the most stunning sunrises and sunsets that you’ll ever see.

With its comparatively mild climate, the city is rated as having some of the county’s cleanest air. The climate is almost always agreeable to vacation activities, but it can sometimes have its extremes. Snowstorms within the winter can sometimes bring 3 – 5″ at a time, usually about half a dozen times each winter. The summer temperatures can top 100 degrees on occasion, but normally the temps stay in the 90′s. While Amarillo is situated in Tornado Alley, but tornadoes are rare in and around the city.

Amarillo is also gateway to Palo Duro Canyon, America’s second largest canyon. It sits at the meeting of I-40 and I-27, in the center of the Panhandle. This growing and bustling city, which is home to the excellent Amarillo College features great accommodations, theater events such as ballet, opera and symphonies, and a large convention/civic center.

Don Harrington Discovery Center

Situated within a 51-acre park, the Don Harrington Discovery Center focuses on earth, life physical sciences. The park grounds boast a picnic area and lake for the enjoyment of it’s visitors, while the Center itself features more than a hundred hands-on activities along with it’s Space Theater that has recently been renovated. You’ll find fresh and saltwater aquariums, along with an impressive botanical garden. Some of the other attractions that you’ll come across on your visit here include the Hunters of the Sky exhibit where visitors can experience a look at the scientific and cultural examination of birds of prey. The Space Lounge where you can get ready for your journey in the Space Theater by checking out the Space Gallery. Enjoy View Space from NASA, examine the radiation that is around us over at the Cloud Chamber, or catch up on the at the newest astronomical news and updates over in the Space Gallery. The Don Harrington Discovery Center is a great place for families to enjoy a day together!

Cadillac Ranch

The Cadillac Ranch stands out as one of the most interesting Amarillo visitor attractions due to it’s unique nature. The work of helium millionaire Stanley Marsh III, along with the San Francisco art collective called the Ant Farm, Marsh took ten old Cadillacs that he felt were representative of the “Golden Age” of American automobiles and placed them partially-buried in a cow pasture. Visitors to the attraction are encouraged to go ahead and spray-paint the autos, as there are cans of spray paint available for use.

Amarillo Museum of Art

The only accredited art museum in the Texas Panhandle, the Amarillo Museum of Art The museum has six galleries that house a permanent collection featuring European paintings from between the 17th and 19th centuries, 20th century modernists, photography, Asian art and Middle Japanese textiles. Also features are a rotating selection of exhibits that range from today’s modern art to the European and American classic works. The Museum was opened to the public in 1972, with a purpose of encouraging an appreciation of the visual arts through active participation. As a bonus, the Museum opens it’s doors on the third Thursday of each month, featuring free admission to special events that include films, live bands and hands-on art activities.

Palo Duro Canyon

Located on the southern high plains, an area called El Llano Estacado, the Palo Duro canyon reaches a maximum depth of 800 feet, and is the second largest canyon in the United States. It’s approximately 120 miles in length and has an average width of about six miles, although the canyon can be as wide as 20 miles at certain points. Activities at the park include camping, hiking,nature study, horseback riding, bird watching, scenic drives and on site hiking and mountain biking trails. You’ll also find cabins for rent and Tent and RV sites with water & electricity.