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The Panhandle

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The Panhandle Travel Guide

The rugged Texas Panhandle, part of the Llano Estacado ("Staked Plain"), is a huge region, even for a state as big as Texas. At 256,601 square mi it's almost twice the size of California and bigger than neighboring New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana combined.

This is a land where American Indians roamed free and confident, astride fine horses, over seemingly limitless hunting grounds, and where cowboys cooked over their campfires on long, wearying cattle drives -- which are still practiced today. Cotton farming, ranching, and oil are the ballast that has stabilized the region, and still does despite the many hardships over the years: the Dust Bowl, the oil busts, and the severe winds and climate -- tornadoes, hail, and snow are all common here. It follows, then, that the people who live here now (many of whom have one or two American Indian ancestors) pride themselves on their hardiness in facing the extremities and their relative isolation.

Visitors come to the Panhandle to experience the cowboy culture and florid, striated beauty of Palo Duro canyon, second in size only to the Grand Canyon. They also trek here for the live entertainment, the authentic cowboy boots and hats, and some of the best steaks in Texas, all of which mingle to create a pervasive Old West atmosphere.

The Panhandle Top 5

Places to Explore

Abilene
Amarillo
Archer City

Canyon & Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Lubbock
Wichita Falls

Get Advice From Other Travelers

What to see along the Gulf Coast of FL, esp the Panhandle?
7 responses; most recent on 04/03/2007, 08:48 am
Too cold in the FL Panhandle in March?
4 responses; most recent on 05/18/2005, 03:10 pm

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