Winter Blues? Try Exploring Amarillo!
Spend Some Time Exploring Here In Amarillo!
It’s always interesting to see our city through the eyes of someone who’s from someplace else. Like this nice young lady, who is visiting and who pronounces the name of our town “ah-mah-REE-yo”! Bless her heart. Sure…that’s sort of correct. But not.
And then there are folks who enjoy visiting our growing and ever-changing downtown area. Or just visiting Amarillo in general. It’s always cool to see what people think of a visit to Bomb City! But hey…these people are ALREADY on a vacation. And we LIVE here!
Let’s say, for whatever reason, you’ve decided to some of your vacation time here in Amarillo or the Texas Panhandle. Maybe commitments won’t allow you to leave town for any length of time. Or maybe the funds just aren’t there for expensive hotels and travel. No matter what the reason is, it’s time to look at our area through the eyes of a tourist! (Here’s a quick tour of town before we start)
When your perspective changes, and you begin to see what others see when they visit our part of the planet, all of a sudden you being to find a new appreciation for the things we see here every day! It’s a pretty amazing place. And here are 5 amazing things about it that perhaps you haven’t seen, or visited in a long, long time.
Amarillo Botanical Gardens is not just for Christmas! Located at 1400 Streit Drive (near Medi Park) there’s nothing more beautiful and relaxing than a walk through Amarillo Botanical Gardens! Hours are M-F 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Regular hours on July 4th! And take the kiddos. They’ll have a million questions and learn to appreciate the colors and beauty of nature. Guided tours are available during regular business hours by appointment only. A minimum of one-week’s notice is required to schedule a tour with a garden docent.
If you haven’t been to Amarillo Botanical Gardens in awhile, or if you’re never been, treat yourself to an afternoon in one of the most tranquil, gorgeous places in our city!
The Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian:
The museum features exhibits that give visitors a glimpse into the cultures of the people and pueblos of the High Plains. Displays include paintings, bronzes, bead-work, and more of the items that were part of the day-to-day lives of our native people. Call ahead at (806) 335-3175 to find out when the Kwahadi Dancers will be performing, and you’ll witness an indescribable event that you’ll remember for the rest of your lief! It truly is an amazing spectacle.
Summer hours (through August) are Wednesday – Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm (10:00 pm on show nights). Some people live their whole lives in the Texas Panhandle without visiting the Kawhadi Musem – don’t you be one of ’em!
Did you know that Amarillo has an amazing zoo? And even if you visited 10 or 20 years ago, you owe it to yourself to spend an afternoon with your crew out at Thompson Park, visiting the animals in our zoo! Monkeys, lions, exotic reptiles, bison, birds, and lots more are on-hand to entertain your restless, out-of-school kiddos.
The Amarillo Zoo is open 7 days a week, 9:30am-5:00pm, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Admission is $4 for Adults, $3 for Seniors 62+, Kids 3-12 are $3 and toddlers 0-2 are free. Also, enjoy FREE ADMISSION on Mondays! You’ll love it…your kids will love it…and it will instill a love and respect for animals that will last a lifetime.
Located at 10001 American Drive in Amarillo, Amarillo’s Texas Air and Space Museum is dedicated to inspiring the youth of the Texas Panhandle in pursuit of careers in science and technology, and, to assemble, document and share the aviation history of the area, state, nation and world! Visitors will see aircraft, explore the heritage of aviation and enjoy the wonders of flight. Young and old can explore the past and anticipate the future of flight. The museum welcomes the support of aviation enthusiasts around the state, nation and world. Come share with us the power, the marvels and the beauty of flight!
Hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call (806) 335-9159 with questions or for visitation info. Follow IH-40 east approximately 7 miles to exit 76, upon exiting turn left onto Airport Blvd and drive north/northeast approximately 1.5 miles, turn left and follow Tiltrotor Dr to 10001 American Dr.
Panhandle Plains Historical Museum:
The Panhandle Plains Historical Museum is a palce where our area’s entire history is represented…under on roof! From the Oil Boom to farming and ranching, and everything in between. PPHM invites you to take a moment out of your hot summer day and craft something with us! Each Monday, Thursday, and Friday throughout the entire summer there will be an in-gallery activity from 1-3. Monday will be held in the Art galleries, Thursday in the People of the Plains gallery, and Friday in Paleontology gallery. These programs are free with regular admission. Located at 2503 Fourth Avenue in Canyon, PPHM is easy to find and fun to experience!
Wellsir, there you have just a few things we can enjoy without ever leaving the Panhandle! And don’t get me started on our great restaurants and local Arts & Entertainment! Maybe we’ll do another story about that. Until then, have an awesome summer! And keep rockin’ your radio on 100.9 The Eagle…
Coming soon: Checking Out Our Amazing Art Galleries; and Amarillo’s Must-Try Restaurants!
-Johnny
