There was a time in US history when Amarillo served as an important tourist center as the US routes 60, 87, 276, and 66 merged here. As a result, Amarillo Hotels flourished and dominated the area while the city became a meeting point of many people across the country.

Today, the city is an important economic center for the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, as well as Eastern New Mexico. At the center of this economic boom is the cattle meat-packing industries, which also heightens the curiosity of the occasional tourist.

Much of the recreation options here are traditionally associated with the state, like horseback riding and camping at Canyon State Park, while the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will take you down the long winding road through Amarillo’s history. Then, for dinner, you can visit any of the various ranches that serve fresh native Amarillo meat.

Amarillo is probably not the kind of place that you will intentionally visit all the way from the other side of the country. Amarillo hotels and other accommodations may not dot the place anymore. However, making a stop if you pass by it is definitely a must for anyone wanting to experience the real Texas.