The Panhandle Places

Amarillo

Amarillo is one of those legendary Old West towns where cowboys-and-Indians culture has morphed into a softer, more modern version of Western tenacity and hospitality. The people still hold on to their hardiness and homespun values, and celebrate the rich mix of culture in the region, including a strong Tex-Mex feel. Folks are proud of their assorted histories and the city that settlers, businessmen, and railroads carved from this dry, flat grassland.

Located about two hours south of the Oklahoma border, Amarillo celebrates other richly historical themes with several museums. These include the capacious Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, nicknamed by some "The Smithsonian of Texas." It's also home to the famous and hyperbolic Big Texan Steak Ranch, where diners can park their cars or their horses, swim in the pool, or stay the night after trying to tackle the famous 72-ounce steak. Continuing the tongue-in-cheek and over-the-top trend, eccentric millionaire Stanley Marsh III ("It's 3, not the third," he's quoted as saying) has continued to sow mischief throughout the lands with random and visually striking public art.