With unique sites honoring music legends, preserving history and inspiring passersby for generations, these quirky and captivating roadside attractions of the Panhandle will check all your adventure-seeking boxes.
Buddy Holly Center
When you arrive at the Buddy Holly Center, you’ll be greeted by a massively oversized (and totally photo-worthy) pair of Buddy Holly’s signature horn-rimmed glasses. Inside, you can gawk at a permanent collection of artifacts from the rock ’n’ roll pioneer’s life and music, including his Fender Stratocaster. Rave on.
Lubbock Wineries
Take a daylong Texas wine tour to sip award-winning vino at five local wineries. With its massive grape-growing region, Lubbock produces about 90% of the grapes used in all Texas wines. For a DIY tasting tour, visit Pheasant Ridge Winery, McPherson Cellars and Llano Estacado Winery.
Historic 6th Street
Pop in and out of 13 vibrant blocks of art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, coffee houses, restaurants and bars on the Historic Route 66. This vintage stretch of commercial property lies due west of Amarillo’s central business district and is definitely worth a day of wandering.
Cadillac Ranch
Grab a can of spray paint and head west out of Amarillo for Cadillac Ranch. This iconic, technicolor art installation is a road trip must for anyone in the area. Here, you’ll find 10 Cadillac models dating from 1949 to 1963 all taking a nosedive into the dirt. Each is at an identical, specific angle, rumored to match that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, and they’re yours for the painting.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Head down to “Texas’ Grand Canyon” for a stunning view of its million-year-old caprock formations. An excellent day trip could include a hike up the famed Lighthouse Trail, a trip to the Cowboy Dugout and saddling up for a horseback ride through vibrant canyon draws.