Where to stay

Fully appreciate the culture of this part of the Old West by booking a room in downtown Amarillo. Learn the story of the city at the Amarillo Historical Museum and see works of art by local residents at the Amarillo Museum of Art. Discover a more unusual cultural attraction with a stay close to Cadillac Ranch west of the city center, where a prominent art installation of buried cars has been created. Amarillo is a famous stop on Route 66 worth exploring. Choose accommodations along Route 40 closer to the American Quarter Horse Association Museum to learn more about cowboy culture. While in the area, attend the Amarillo Livestock Auction, held every Monday morning. For more cowboy culture, consider a hotel in Canyon and visit the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum on the campus of West Texas A&M University.

Texas is a big state known for its big flavors. Staying in downtown Amarillo will ensure you experience the best the city has to offer. Near Amarillo Lake, is the city's oldest restaurant, a Route 66-style diner serving burgers along with live music. On the same street is a popular Mexican bar and grill, housed in a former gas station. Book a room farther east of the lake near the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame to dine at Thai and sushi restaurants. Find a hotel in Soncy, a 15-minute drive west of the city center, for more good dining options, including pizza, buffets, delis, and steakhouses.

Stay in a hotel near Palo Duro Canyon State Park to experience the outdoors at its most dramatic. This long and deep gorge is one of the largest canyons in the U.S. As well as observing the jaw-dropping sight of the valley itself, enjoy the wide-open spaces, with activities from horseback riding to zip lining and mountain biking. For people who prefer to stay in the city center, the canyon is just a 30-minute drive from downtown Amarillo, where accommodations are also convenient for hiking on the Rock Island Rail Trail and Old Soncy Trail. More outdoor adventure awaits those who stay close to Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, while accommodations near Lake Meredith National Recreation Area are good to get away from civilization and look for elusive coyotes and white-tailed deer.