Northern Texas is home to historic sights, family fun and outdoor recreation, from hiking to mountain biking. The rugged region has two main cities, Amarillo and Lubbock. Historic Route 66 cuts across the Panhandle Plains of the state's north, with off-beat attractions and blue skies attracting road trip enthusiasts from around the world.
In the center of the Texas Panhandle and at the edge of the Great Plains, Amarillo offers visitors oddities and Western heritage. Non-stop flights connect the city with Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Denver and Las Vegas. Route 66 straddles the city, making it a popular stop for travelers driving along the historic highway. Visitors to the city can enjoy Splash Amarillo, the only water park in the Panhandle, and the famous 72-ounce steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. The Cadillac Ranch is an off-beat sight with 10 Cadillacs buried nose down in a field along Interstate 40.
Palo Duro Canyon is 120 miles long, reaches a maximum width of 20 miles and is as deep as 800 feet, making it the second-largest canyon in the United States. Inhabited for approximately 12,000 years, early Spanish explorers named the canyon Palo Duro, Spanish for hard wood, because of the mesquite and juniper trees in the area. Visitors can stay in primitive and enhanced camping, as well as cabins along the rim. The park features horseback riding trails and stables, picnic areas, hiking and mountain biking trails and a restaurant.
Approximately 30 miles north of Amarillo, Lake Meredith was created to supply water for 11 cities. Since 1916, the recreation area has provided outdoor fun for visitors, including fishing, boating, scuba diving, swimming and water skiing. The surrounding area is also popular for hiking, camping, horseback riding and hunting. Weather here can be unpredictable, with hot summers and snow in the winter. Wind storms and tornadoes can also occur.
Once occupied by tall grasses and roaming buffalo, Lubbock is now a bustling city with entertainment, shopping, dining and fine arts. Buddy Holly, one of the founders of rock and roll, was born in Lubbock. Today, visitors can see the Buddy Holly Center at the renovated Ft. Worth and Denver South Plains Railroad Depot. The city is also home to Texas Tech University and several museums, including the American Museum of Agriculture, American Wind Power Center and Silent Wings Museum.
