Amarillo

Located in the Texas Panhandle along the world-famous Route 66, the Yellow Rose of Texas – a play on Amarillo’s Spanish name – offers an eclectic yet quintessentially Texan experience with unconventional attractions and a strong sense of the American West still permeating throughout the city’s present. Start with a glimpse of Amarillo’s former glory by exploring the city’s Route 66 Historic District. From carefully preserved shops and theatres from the highway’s heyday to art galleries, antique shops and cafés that have restored the original Western buildings back to life – this walkable district is a must. Further afield lies the famed Cadillac Ranch, an interactive installation featuring a sculpture of 10 classic Cadillacs half-buried in the ground, and lineups of classic cars from the 1930s to the 1970s with funky street art to match.

Next, delve into one of the USA’s best collections of Western art and artefacts at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and head over to the Amarillo Livestock Auction to mingle with real cowboys as they buy and sell their cattle. Those looking to learn more about the local cowboy culture should head just outside of Amarillo to Palo Duro Canyon for a guided horse ride by one of the locals through the USA’s second largest gorge after the Grand Canyon. You’ll find a stunning rust-hued landscape sculpted by wind and time into jagged mesas and mountains like the towering Lighthouse Rock.

A visit to Amarillo isn’t complete without a bite to eat at the iconic Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery famed for its 72 oz. or two-kilo steak challenge for those with an adventurous appetite. The flashy exterior belies the fact that inside, you’ll find a good time and a delicious meal after a day of exploring.