AMARILLO, TX
Attractions

• Amarillo Botanical Garden
• Amarillo Livestock Auction
• American Quarter Horse Museum
• Big Texan Steak Ranch & Opry

  Most cities have made access to their Interstate-side businesses awkward or even difficult. Amarillo has done an excellent job of making it easy and efficient. The frontage roads are ONE WAY: the eastbound on the eastbound side of the Interstate and the westbound similarly on the westbound side. There are special u-turn lanes for exiting traffic to zip over to the other side of the Interstate and reach the business (or hotel) they just spotted from the Interstate. To get back on the Interstate, just come back to it, get on the side for the direction you wish to go and follow it to the next on-ramp. Neat.

Visitors Center - From I-40 take exit 70 to I-27 and US-87 North. Follow US-87 (ignore street names) to 10th Avenue and turn left. The Amarillo Convention and Visitors Council is at the corner of 10th and Polk in the Bivins Mansion on the second floor (1000 S. Polk Street).
  If you will be attending a convention at the downtown convention center, there is another Visitors' Center at entrance #2 of the Convention Center (Buchanan and 4th Avenue).
  For more information, phone 1-800-692-1338 (toll free). Web site: AmarilloCVB.

Amarillo Botanical Garden - This small, 2-acre garden within the 51-acre Medical Center Park is bursting with blooming plants from about mid-May to well into October. There is a special fragrance garden - intended for the visually challenged but enjoyable by all. Also a greenhouse which is usually open to visitors.
  For more information phone 1-806-352-6513. They do not seem to have a web site but the Visitors' Center does have a page with a little information: ABotGarden.
  From I-40 take exit 65. If eastbound, turn left; if westbound, turn right. Head north on Coulter Drive to Amarillo Blvd (I-40-D Business). Turn right, drive to the next street and turn left on Hagy Blvd. Go one more block and the Amarillo Botanical Garden and the Harrington Regional Medical center are at 1400 Streit Drive - right on the corner.

Amarillo Livestock Auction - Just like in the old days, cattle are brought into Amarillo and auctioned of. The Amarillo Livestock Auction transacts over 300,000 cattle a year making it the largest independent cattle auction house in Texas. No tours are conducted but visitors are allowed to walk through the auction house between 9a and 5p daily. Auctions are only held on Tuesdays, though.
  Also on the premises is the much heralded Stockyard Cafe serving breakfasts and lunches.
  For more information phone 1-806-373-7464.
  If eastbound on I-40, take exit 72-B. Stay in the left lane and do the double left turns which takes you to the other side of the Interstate and on the westbound frontage road (these are one-way streets). Bear to the right where the westbound I-40 exit ramp becomes US-287-B (Tee Anchor Blvd) and follow 287 to Manhattan Street (the next street on your right after 12th Avenue). Turn right and follow Manhattan (there is a little jig to the right and a jog to the left at 10th Avenue) to the end of the street at the stockyards. (On Tuesday, auction days, you may have to park on 3rd Avenue.)
  If westbound on I-40, take exit 74-A and, bearing right, get on US-287-B (Tee Anchor Blvd) and follow 287 to Manhattan Street (the next street on your right after 12th Avenue). Turn right and follow Manhattan (there is a little jig to the right and a jog to the left at 10th Avenue) to the end of the street at the stockyards. (On Tuesday, auction days, you may have to park on 3rd Avenue.)

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Big Texan Steak Ranch & Opry - the one and only Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the free 72oz steak! Think of Texas and you think of cattle. Think of cattle and you think of steaks. Amarillo is big on steaks - the billboards tell you that as you approach town. The Big Texan's is among them promising a 72 ouncer FREE - if you can finish the five pounds of meat AND the potato and the salad, and even a shrimp cocktail, all within one hour. They say over 35,000 folks have attempted the feat and, so far, over 5,500 have actually earned their free meal. Will you be the next?
  Eatin' isn't all you get at the Big Texan, though. They have a wild variety of live entertainment - including, occasionally, some big-name stars. Shows and other special events start at various times. They post coming shows and entertainers and schedules on their web site. (see: SpecialEvents)
  For more information, phone 1-800-657-7177 or visit their web site: BigTexan.
  From I-40 take exit 75. (If you were eastbound, do the double left turns at Lakeside Drive to get on the frontage road on the other side of the Interstate.) Follow the frontage road to the Big Texan.

American Quarter Horse Museum - The American Quarter Horse Association is the largest equine breed registry in the world. The American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum mission is to preserve and exhibit the many photos and artifacts of the history of the American Quarter Horse. A 12-minute, multi-media presentation in their modern, 70-seat theater, allows you to, "...experience the emotion of owning and riding an American Quarter Horse."
  Open 9a to 5p Monday through Saturday; noon to 5p Sundays except from September through May, inclusive, when they are closed Sundays. Admission $4; kids 6 to 18: $2.50.
  For more information phone 1-806-376-4811 or visit their web site: AQHA.
  If eastbound on I-40, take exit 72-A and stay to the left so you can pass under the Interstate and get on the westbound frontage road. The museum is at 2601 I-40 East.
  If westbound on I-40, take exit 72-B. Stay to the left on the exit ramp so you can continue westbound on the frontage road. The Quarter Horse Museum is a few blocks ahead at 2601 I-40 East.

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