Amarillo attractions

Travel America, Sept-Oct, 2004 by Nancy Baren Miller

Those passing through the Texas Panhandle should plan to stop in Amarillo. Start at the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center and Museum. Via videos, exhibits, and hands-on displays, learn everything from how to select your own horse to how this popular breed is used in rodeos, ranching, and racing.

Hungry? Try eating a 72-ounce steak in one hour. If you succeed, it's free at Big Texan Steak Ranch & Opry. On Tuesday nights, enjoy country singing and Texas two-stepping at the restaurant. In nearby Canyon, Texas, spend at least a half day at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Billed as the "Smithsonian of the West," it's the largest historical museum in Texas, covering subjects from petroleum to paleontology. Palo Duro Canyon, near Canyon, is the site of the outdoor theatrical production Texas Legacies as well as the Cowboy Breakfast. For tourist information, contact the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council, (800) 692-1338, or browse www.visitamarillotx.com.