Destination: Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland and Odessa

1. Take to the trails in Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the Texas Panhandle, about 30 minutes outside Amarillo. The nation’s second largest canyon is a veritable playground for mountain bikers with more than 10 trails that explore the park’s landscape, from flat plains to deep canyons.
2. If it’s the authentic Texas food you’re looking for, check out Coyote Bluff Café. A staple on the Amarillo Globe-News’ Best of Amarillo list, this small hole in the wall serves up burgers that are an experience in and of themselves.
3. Cadillac Ranch is, of course, known as a highly Instagrammable living art installation, but if classic cars are your passion, Bill’s Backyard Classics may be more your speed. Owners Bill and Linda Pratt turned their love of classic cars into a family friendly museum with more than 90 vintage automobiles on display.
4. Lubbock has long been known as a popular destination for sports in Texas, and that reputation is reaching new highs after a $7 million renovation to the Berl Huffman Athletic Complex. The complex includes more than 50 fields on 150+ acres, and now features upgraded facilities, as well as increased parking and a location for food trucks.
5. Located in the heart of the city, the new DoubleTree by Hilton Lubbock University Area offers a comfortable place to lay your head right Odessain the middle of the Hub City. The 140-room hotel, which opened in January of this year, also offers four meeting rooms with 3,800 square feet of total event space.
6. Take a step back in time at the Haley Memorial Library, where you can learn about Texas and southwestern history including the cattle industry and those behind it. The library features more than 30,000 volumes covering western exploration, early railroads, and the development of ranching, mining, petroleum, and politics.
7. Brew St. in Midland offers baked goods, coffee and tea in a welcoming atmosphere (at two locations) meant to bring people together – its cozy seating, functional tabletops and bar seating makes interacting one-on-one or with a small group convenient and flexible. Plus, they have a private meeting space and catering menu for gatherings.
8. Brew St. in Midland offers baked goods, coffee and tea in a welcoming atmosphere (at two locations) meant to bring people together – its cozy seating, functional tabletops and bar seating makes interacting one-on-one or with a small group convenient and flexible. Plus, they have a private meeting space and catering menu for gatherings.
9. It wouldn’t West Texas without the rodeo. Odessa is host to a number of events throughout the year, including the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo and the Odessa College Wrangler Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum. The 8,000 seat coliseum also has about 145,000 square feet of exhibit space, plus there are more than 2,000 hotel rooms within a 10-minute radius.
10. The pandemic brought back the drive-in! The Big Sky Drive-In in between Midland and Odessa features six films every week on three screens, so there’s something for everyone in your group. They also have a full concession stand, as well as four playgrounds on site.

Sources: Visit Amarillo, Visit Lubbock, Visit Midland, Discover Odessa

Photo Credit: iStock.com/Cheri Alguire