Amarillo is home to everything from 72 ounce steaks to vintage Cadillacs planted in a field. Below are a few highlights of the Amarillo area that we think you might enjoy visiting during your stay. Any of our friendly staff will be able to assist with directions and any more information you would like about these or any of Amarillo's best kept secrets!

PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK

"The Grand Canyon of Texas" - Palo Duro Canyon State Park opened on July 4, 1934 and contains 18,438 acres of the scenic and northern most portion of the Palo Duro Canyon. The Civilian Conservation Corp of the 1930's constructed most of the buildings and roads still in use by park staff and visitors.

The Canyon is 120 miles long, as much as 20 miles wide, and has a maximum depth in excess of 800 feet. Its elevation at the rim is 3,500 feet above sea level. It is often claimed that Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States. The largest, the Grand Canyon, is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 6,000 ft. deep.

Complete with hiking and mountain bike trails, on-site horse rentals, picnic tables & grills under immense cottonwood trees and much more, Palo Duro Canyon is sure to make a great getaway!

36 HOLE MUNICPAL GOLF COURSE

Like golf? Then you're going to love Amarillo. With a great variety of local courses, you're sure to find one that fits you to a "t". Be sure to ask any of our staff for their best picks and all the inside secrets on the greens.

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE MUSEUM

The American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum is a 36,500-square foot facility showcasing the history and modern activities of the American Quarter Horse. Located in Amarillo, Texas, the facility offers a multitude of audio visual and hands-on exhibits for visitors, as well as historically significant artifacts and breathtaking art.

Visitors to the Heritage Center are greeted by friendly staff and a beautifully designed building. Overhead, banners depict the many types of events in which the American Quarter Horse excels. At the far ends of the Great Halls towers a 25 ft. x 25 ft. mural illustrating the versatility of the world’s most popular equine breed. To the right of the Great Hall is the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Gallery that hosts temporary exhibitions ranging from fine art and photography to horse toys.

The American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum is open year-round.

AMARILLO ZOO

You'll see herds of bison grazing on a 20-acre range plus other animals of the High Plains. Add to it other "Texotic" exhibits and the Amarillo Zoo is fun for the entire family.

The zoo is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Amarillo Zoo, closed on Monday, is located just north of Amarillo on U.S. Hwy. 287 in Thompson Park. Free admission. (806) 381-7911.

PANHANDLE PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Located down the road in Canyon, TX, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is the largest history museum in Texas. Stories of courage, of hardship, of victory and defeat...stories of life are told through a variety of interpretive exhibits.

Having completed a $6 million renovation project in August 2001, the Museum has added even more magic and drama to the stories of the Southern Great Plains. Beginning with the restoration of Pioneer Hall to its original art deco grandeur, visitors embark on a friendly and informative orientation space that serves as an introduction to the Museum itself and a gateway to the history of the Panhandle region. With over 3 million artifacts in the collection, the Museum's exhibit areas include petroleum, western heritage, paleontology, textiles, furniture and decorative art, transportation and fine art.