Past the urban sprawls and into the open, the Texas Panhandle offers travelers an insight into what is traditionally thought to be the Texan way of life. Windmills on dusty fields and herds of cattle are sights often seen, maintaining a landscape and cultural context that existed over a hundred years ago. The ranching and cowboy haven is a getaway for those looking to escape the city crowds and explore the back country of the Lone Star State.
Geography
The Panhandle is the northwest corner of the state bordering Oklahoma to the north and east and New Mexico to the west. This region is noted for having very hot and dry summers while also having freezing cold winters with the occasional blizzard. The majority of the Panhandle is constructed of country roads and ranch roads which pass through the sparse rural towns as well as ghost towns. Aside from Palo Duro Canyon, this region of Texas is mainly consisted of flat, dusty plains. The Panhandle can be subdivided into four different regions.
High Plains: Northwestern portion of the Panhandle with an endless horizon of sky and flat surface. This region has one of the lowest population densities in the United States.
Llano Estacado: One of the largest mesas in North America, encompassing the western portion of the Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico.
North Central Plains: Slightly more elevated and vegetated than the rest of the Panhandle, these plains begin within the eastern portion of the region and encompass the cities of Abilene and Wichita Falls.
Northern Edwards Plateau: On the southern edge of the Panhandle, this area is mainly made up of limestone and has numerous caves dotted throughout.
Culture
The people of the Texas Panhandle are noted for being extraordinarily friendly while at the same time fiercely independent. This is an attitude that can be traced back to the region's beginnings when settlers rode through the virgin landscape to settle their own homes and agricultural/ ranching businesses. Life also most often revolves around agriculture and cattle ranching and the cowboy way of life is well and alive. Politically, residents of the Panhandle are at all levels of government conservative, but differences in political views do not tend to induce unfriendly behavior. Like most Texans, those in the Panhandle are warm and inviting.
Major Cities
Amarillo: Amarillo offers a look into Western heritage while providing all the amenities of an urban area where a mix of Mexican, European and Native American cultures still thrives. As far as national rankings go, Amarillo is noted for having some of the cleanest air in the United States.
Lubbock: The largest city in the Panhandle, Lubbock is the center of the agricultural industry in the region. This city is also a place of sophistication as it has three universities and three Texas wineries.
Natural Attractions to Visit
Palo Duro Canyon: Canyon about thirty miles south of Amarillo that is second in size only to the Grand Canyon in the United States. It stretches 120 miles in lengths with the average width being ten miles.
Lake Meredith: A major source of drinking water for Amarillo and Lubbock, this reservoir is fed by the Canadian River and has a national recreation area surrounding it.
Route 66: A portion of this historic route parallels Interstate 40, which passes through Amarillo and through the middle of the Panhandle.
Cuisine
The best food in the Texas Panhandle is found within the many family-owned diners and restaurants that dot the region. These tend to give visitors more than a stomach fool for cents on the dollar compared to other areas of Lone Star State and the rest of the country. These spots usually serve Texas style barbecue, traditional Mexican or Tex-Mex meals. The best way to track down these well hidden paradises is to obtained information from locals, which should not be difficult considering that many towns in the Panhandle may have five or fewer restaurants.
Things to Do
- Visit the Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo. The sculpture is a stretch of land with half-buried Cadillacs.
- Watch a movie at the Sandell Drive-in Movie Theater in Clarendon.
- Camp and/or hike in one of the many state and national parks.
- Eat a 72-ounce steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Finish it in an hour and it is free.
- Visit rodeo arenas in the area's many small towns, which host competitions usually every weekend.
- Attend a high school football game. These are of high importance in small towns in the Texas Panhandle. Games are usually held on Friday nights, during which all the businesses are closed and the entire town's people fill the bleachers.
- Visit Bar H Dude Ranch in Clarendon to gain an insight into the inner workings of the cattle ranch industry.
- Enjoy the many rides at Wonderland Park in Amarillo.
- Indulge in local cuisine at many of the family owned diners that are set within the region's small towns.
Elizabeth Pelz - This aspiring visual anthropologist utilizes her research, travel, cultural interests and love of writing to relay information to ...
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