Best Places to Visit on Your Summer Vacation In and Around Amarillo

I know I blog about the museum a lot, but it is the biggest history museum in the state of Texas.  Frommers included it in their top museums in Texas.  If you look at the list all the other museums listed are in the big cities including DFW and Houston.  So I say Yay!  for the PPHM.  Make sure you include that in your list of places to visit this summer.

Admission:

$10 - Adults
$9 - Seniors 65+
$9 - Groups over 20
$5 - Children (4-12)

Hours:

June - August
9 am - 6 pm, Monday - Saturday

The Discovery Center is a wonderful place to take the family to learn about all sorts of things.  From science to machinery, weather to bubbles it is a fun and fabulous place for fun and learning.

My favorite thing about the DHDC is you can stand and have a giant bubble made around you.  That is just one of the cool things.

Right now they have an amazing exhibit on African Dinosaurs.  The exhibit lasts through August 31st.

Admission:

Adults: $10.00
Children (ages 3-12): $7.00
Seniors (ages 60+): $7.00
Under 2 and Members: Free

Hours:

Monday: Open summer and school holidays
Tues-Sat: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 4:30 pm

If you have a child that is interested or loves dinosaurs then you definitely need to make the short drive to Tucumcari, NM and spend a few hours in this awesome museum.

The dinosaurs featured in the museum are from the Mesozoic Era.

See a giant brontosaurus footprint and more.  Plus fun activities for the kids like hunting for dinosaur bones.  Plus hop on a dinosaur and take a picture.

Admission:

Adult (12-64) $6.50
Children (5-11) $4.00
Children (under 5) Free
Senior (65 and over) $5.50
Active Military (ID Required) $5.85 / $3.60 child

Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday through Labor Day
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday

Best known as "The Grand Canyon of Texas"  we are lucky to have one of the prettiest of God's creations in our backyard.

Take the family down to Palo Duro Canyon for a hike, a picnic or to camp.

You can find so many activities and events going on this summer in Palo Duro Canyon.

If you are able and have kids that are able, make sure you take the hike to the Lighthouse, one of nature's unique creations.  The trail is over 6 miles round trip with little shade.

If you are planning a trip down to Palo Duro Canyon make sure you realize that it will be hot down in the Canyon during the summer months.  You need to bring plenty of water for you and your group.

Or if you want to learn more about the history of the Texas Panhandle then make plans to attend the musical drama "Texas" in the Pioneer Amphitheater with the canyon as the backdrop.

Admission:

$5.00 per person.
Children 12 and under are admitted free.

Camping is a extra fee
No entry fee with tickets to the Texas Musical Drama

Hours:
Daily 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

If you love to ride rides, then Wonderland Park is the perfect place to take the family.

Enjoy some of your favorites from your childhood including the Himalaya, the Log Ride, the Scrambler and Tilt-A-Whirl.

Ride the roller coasters and enjoy a good scream. You feel like you are about to fall off the world on the Cyclone, enjoy the drops on the Mouse Trap, or enjoy a ride on their family coaster the Hornet. Feeling brave, the Texas Tornado, the only double loop rollercoaster in the Texas Panhandle.

Get wet on the Pipeline Plunge, Shoot the Shoot, the Thunder Raft Races or on the Rattlesnake River Raft.

Enjoy the view of Amarillo as you swirl in the air on the Rainbow, or a slower ride on the Wonder Wheel.

Wonderland also has rides for the little ones.

Don't forget to get a good scare on the Fantastic Journey.

It's the World of Wow at Wonderland Park.

Admission:

42" & Taller

Tues-Thurs $16.95

Friday $18.95

Weekend $24.95

Under 42"

Tues-Thurs $13.95

Friday $15.95

Weekend $19.95

**Ride Pass includes all rides except the Texas Tornado, Fantastic Journey, and Drop of Fear.

Or $5 for those who want to enter the park but not ride

Hours:
For a list of hours click here.

Don't forget their miniature golf course $5 per game

The Pampa H20 Aquatic Center has  three slides, a lazy river, a splash pad, and competition pool with two diving boards and a shallow end.

Admission:

Admission Prices:
3 and under- Free
4-17- $6
18 +- $7

Season Passes are available.

Hours:
Monday-Friday 10-7pm
Saturday 12-10p
Sunday 1-7p

So we have one of the hot tourist spots in the country.  Yet, a lot of people who have lived in Amarillo all their lives or many years have never actually taken a drive out to the Big Texan.

I'll admit that if it wasn't for my job I would probably have never gone out there, however, I'm glad I have.

So sometime this summer just take the kids out there for a meal and let them run around.  No, your 7-year old probably won't be able to put away the 72oz steak and he will beg you to try, but you should go out for a meal none the less.

Let the kids sit in the big rocking chair, tour the Big Texan grounds.  It'll kill a couple of hours in the day and you can finally say, yes I have been to the Big Texan.

Yes, Amarillo has a zoo.  It has a very nice zoo with tigers, lions and monkeys among other awesome animals and creepy crawlies.

Admission:
Adults (13-61)        $4.00
Senior (62 and up)    $3.00
Children (3-12)       $2.00
2 and under           Free

Hours:

Monday-Sunday  9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Plus they have special events throughout the year.

Splash Amarillo is a fun water park great for the entire family.

Relax while floating on the lazy river.  Take a thrill ride on one of their high speed slides, catch a wave in their wave pool, or relax in the shade with a cool drink and snack.

Plus, the little ones have their own little areas.

Admission:

General Admission: $22.00
(48 inches and up)

Senior Citizen: $15.00
(62 years and up)

Half Day Admission: $17.00
(After 3:30 Daily)
*Sun. Half Day starts at 3pm.

Junior Day Pass: $18.00
(Under 48 inches)

Age 2 and Under: Free

Military Admission: $15.00
(with valid military I.D.) Spouse & Children only

Hours:

Monday-Saturday 12:00 P.M - 7:00 P.M. / Sunday: 12:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. through Labor Day
Weather Permitting.

Take the family out to the AQHA Museum and learn all about the quarter horse and western life.  Enjoy all the educational and interactive exhibits.

Admission:

AQHA Members: FREE
Youth (ages 6-18): $2
Adults: $6
Seniors (55 and older): $5
Children (5 & under): Free

Hours:

Monday through Saturday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.