I just started checking out the panhandle board here in the last few months. I think there are some interesting things on here. It's a nice change from the football and premium board. Those can get a little cut throat.
Anyway nothing special just thought I'd say my favorite thing about the panhandle is the fall weather. Post a reply with what you like or miss about the panhandle.

The best 2 things in the panhandle are the sunrises, and the sunsets.

No one can hear my victims scream out here

Sunrise/Sunset
Fall & Summer (especially this year)
Good People

Clint and Sons Beef Jerky
Kabuki
Sam Hill BBQ in Clarendon (RIP)
Friday night HS football
hiking in Palo Duro Canyon
the comparative lack of hipster ******s

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Clint and Sons Beef Jerky

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This x1000

No more Sam Hill's, but if your in Amarillo you can eat at Tyler's.

Fall weather
Sunrises and sunsets
No traffic issues
Lots of good people

Been living in the panhandle for 2 years and it's not for me. Too windy and dry.

As someone who grew up in SE Texas, I must say that the Panhandle is not for everyone. I made the choice to embrace it and have now come to truly love this part of the world. Take time to speak with the people out here and you will have an understanding of what it means to folks from out here.
I didn't grow up here but it's now my home. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but give it a true chance and you might change your mind.

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Been living in the panhandle for 2 years and it's not for me. Too windy and dry. Boring ass hell, ready to move out of the arm pit of tx.

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So why are you bored?
What is not here that you wish was here?
What town or area are you in?

Truly curious, not trying to start a fight.

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Been living in the panhandle for 2 years and it's not for me. Too windy and dry.

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So why are you bored?
What is not here that you wish was here?
What town or area are you in?

Truly curious, not trying to start a fight.

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in gray county... I have yet to see an actual "park" nearby (within 20 miles). if you ever lived in college station, houston or austin; those are parks. Grocery stores have limited selection, I always end up driving to amarillo to get things. The gym is not well maintained, everything closes early, and I have never been on such poor maintained roads. rock chips are the norm out here, it's bad on hwy 60. The airport is limited on travel destinations regarding direct flights. Live music isn't popular (excluding country & rock music) or is poorly advertised. College station is way too far!

Canyon area may very well be nice but I don't live there. What recommendations do you have for sight seeing?

Okay, I understand a little better. Borger, Pampa, etc. aren't exactly hotbeds of night life or scenery. They are oilfield towns. While I understand your park comment, College Station has the advantage of being in a part of Texas where you have warm climate and rain. Makes it a lot easier to grow grass and trees than somewhere 500 miles further north and 3000 feet higher in altitude. Same goes with the tax dollars available to build and maintain parks.

Our roads are pretty good. I'd guess the oil traffic is probably killing the roads in your area. The shopping selection is going to be a function of small towns anywhere. Same with the airports. Unless you live next to Houston, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, LA, etc. the airline connections are going to suck.

Also, going by your username, I'll assume you're pretty young. Unless you are in a bigger town like Amarillo, or a college town like Canyon or Lubbock, there aren't going to be many single people your age. Certainly no nightlife. The Panhandle is a great place for family life. Not so much for singles.

Will get to the travel tips in a little bit.

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Canyon area may very well be nice but I don't live there. What recommendations do you have for sight seeing?

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Sounds like you are a little adverse to driving. Sorry. If you're in the Panhandle, you need to drive a while to get anywhere. And my preferences are heavily geared to history and scenery. Your mileage may vary. So I'll list things that float my boat, you can accept or reject as you wish, won't hurt my feelings. Reply back if you need more info.

I haven't been to McClellan Creek national grassland south of Pampa. But it is one of the battle sites from the Red River War, so I plan to take a look sometime. A lot of the RRW sites are on private land or open on limited days, but you're right in the middle of them, so you might investigate some of them.

If you've ever read or watched Lonesome Dove, it's based on Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, and happened in your back yard.



Speaking of Goodnight, his restored home is now open to tour.

I've enjoyed Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. Watch for special events like National Archeology Day, when they open the back areas to tours. There is some hiking in the Lake Meredith area. Sadly, the lake is almost gone.

Square House Museum in Panhandle is a very good small town museum.

I wouldn't make a special trip just to see it, but the airport at McLean is the site of a WWII German POW camp. Lots of foundations still visible. Red River Steak House is a good place to eat in McClean. While on the subjet of POW camps, Hereford, on the other side of Amarillo was the site of an Italian POW camp. The camp chapel, built after the war, can be seen here

Those POWs created some amazing art work in the Catholic Church at the tiny town of Umbarger, between Canyon and Hereford. The current priest is very knowledgable about the works, and would probably let you in to see them. News article Many of the Catholic Churches in the Panhandle were established by German immigrants. So sausage festivals in the fall are common. Watch the paper in October and November. Good food.

Canadian is a pretty town. A wealthy family there has given a lot back to the community, including the Citadelle Art Foundation once the Baptist Church, then a family home, now a world class art museum. Lots of cottonwoods in the area, drive over in the fall to enjoy the leaf colors. There's also something called the Texas Crown Performance Hall. I notice they are bringing in a performance of South Pacific soon, and have music acts scheduled, as well.

Western Oklahoma has some interesting stuff. Lake Altus, Fort Sill, Wichita NWR, Meers Store, etc. I did a thread about the area that you can see here.

Speaking of old threads:

Someone stuck in Wheeler, Texas, and also looking for entertainment

My old Panhandle Photos thread

Running out of time, so just a few quick additions, I'll expand later if I have time:

Going north, you're only 200 miles from Dodge City, Kansas. Some interesting sights there, and some Santa Fe Trail ruts nearby.

Going east, you're 140 miles from the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Wetherford, Oklahoma. And it's only a little further from there to old Ft. El Reno, Oklahoma. And a little south from there to all the SE Oklahoma sites mentioned in the previous post.

Sometime, you need to drive Highway 207 between Claude and Silverton. It crosses the Red River downstream of Palo Duro Canyon, and Tule Canyon downstream of Lake Mackenzie. Nice drive.

I can link photos or other info later, but for right now, just let me say you really need to come to Canyon, if you haven't yet. The Panhandle Plains Historic Museum is one of the best regional museums in the United States. Palo Duro Canyon is spectacular, and the only state park in Texas popular enough to pay it's own way. Come see the musical Texas this summer.

Caprock Canyons park at Quitaque is similar to PD, but unique and beautiful in it's own way. The state buffalo herd is there, and nearby is the rails to trails, which goes through what was the last active railroad tunnel in Texas.

Unique places to eat: Sayakormarns Thai in Canyon. El Camino Mexican in Tulia. Coyote Bluff hamburger in Amarillo.

ditto on Alibates flint quarry
also the Red River War sites
Adobe Walls
Palo Duro Canyon
Panhandle Plains Museum collection is unbelievable
add to that the Wash.ita battlefield and Mobeetie

I know all old historical sites
but all significant historical sites worth a visit or at least a drive by one afternoon

CanyonAg rocks! Excellent info.

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I've enjoyed Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. Watch for special events like National Archeology Day, when they open the back areas to tours. There is some hiking in the Lake Meredith area. Sadly, the lake is almost gone.

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Also, the highest peak of the Amarillo Mountains is reportedly in the Alibates Flint Quarries area.

Romanagg11, living in Pampa? Come have dinner with my wife and I. Pretty boring town, but at least there are a few of us Ags!

what's your email?

Teacher Ag - saw your post about your vet dad. He was our vet when we lived in Pampa 83-89. Loved your parents!! Miss living in the Panhandle. Great people up there!

Oh, that's cool! In that case you must have been a client when there was a wild little kid running around out there getting into trouble a lot (me). I'll tell them hi for you!

So to add to the "things to do" category, we went out to the Mullinaw Trail near Alibates Flint Quarries.

NPS photo:



The road there takes you by the historic McBride Ranch house, made from Alibates Dolomite. The road to the trailhead can probably be traveled in a car. It's paved as far as the McBride house, and dirt from there on. Probably 98% of the dirt road is smooth and flat, there is only a small section that is a little rutted and rocky, but you can take it slow. If you have a high clearance vehicle, there are several little side roads that lead to interesting views. Most of them are oil field roads, often steep, rocky and rutted.

If you walked the entire trail, it's about 5 miles. We only managed about 3.5 miles out and back. We found it interesting. You can find it and some other trails on the Lake Meredith web site.

My favorite thing about the panhandle is the people.