Saturday, June 29, 2013

TEXAS-PANHANDLE

GARZA COUNTY (includes Post)
Post
Hotels
Hotel Garza – 302 East Main Street; 806-495-3962; hotelgarza.com; lovely; 1915 western feel; fine bed and breakfast; country-style hot breakfast served each morning.



GRAY COUNTY (includes McLean)
McLean
Sights & Sites
Devil’s Rope & Route 66 Museum – 100 Kingsley Street; 806-779-2225; barbwiremuseum.com; ●Phillips 66 station – 219 Gray Street (2 blocks west of Main Street); roadsideamerica.com/story/26409; Texas’ 1st Phillips 66 station, built in 1929.
World War II Prisoner of War Camp Site – Exit 146 off I-40 (2 miles east of McLean, go north along County Road 5280 (county line road) for 1 mile for Texas Historical Commission Marker); theroute-66.com/mclean.html; camp on grounds of current municipal airport; some building remains can be seen from marker sign at roadside; POW camp at McLean formally known as Permanent Alien Internment Camp; construction began in September 1942 & 1st German prisoners arrived in July 1943; camp had almost 30 buildings that accommodated civilian & military personnel, as well as 3 compounds for POWs; other buildings included bachelor officers & nurses quarters, hospital, barber shop, theater, laundry, Post Exchange & fire department; 1st prisoners were captured in North Africa & fought in General Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps; camp housed over 3K prisoners by October 1944; after war ended, camp closed in July 1945.



HEMPHILL COUNTY (includes Canadian)
Canadian
Restaurants
Cattle Exchange – Main Street (at 2nd Street, in Moody Building); 806-323-6755; cookya.com; try steak and fries, with bread pudding for dessert.
Sights & Sites
Canadian River – North River Road, US 83 to Highway 70 (near Canadian); 22 miles driving (1 hour minimum) along river’s north bank; often no water for floating; Arkansas River’s largest tributary; rises in Sangre de Cristo Mountains in south Las Animas County, CO, near Raton Pass and boundary line with Colfax County, NM; flows south and southeast, separating Llano Estacado from north High Plains; roughly 760 miles long, of which about 190 miles is in TX; dammed to form Conchas and Ute reservoirs in northeast NM before entering TX at about Oldham County’s west boundary’s midpoint; crosses Panhandle, flowing east and northeast through Oldham, Potter, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, and Hemphill Counties; most of river’s course across Panhandle passes through gorge 500-800' below plateau; particularly in its lower reaches in OK, riverbed contains great amounts quicksand; this and deep gorge make river difficult to bridge; after crossing state line back into OK, Canadian River flows generally southeast to its mouth on Arkansas River, 20 miles east of Canadian in Haskell County, OK; Texas portion noted for archeological sites where extensive Pueblo Indian culture remains found; dammed to form Lake Meredith 40 miles northeast of Amarillo (near Sanford, Hutchinson County).
Citadelle Art Foundation – 520 East Nelson Avenue; 806-323-8899; thecitadelle.org; wide range from private collection; make sure to listen to audiotour.



LAMB COUNTY (includes Littlefield)
Littlefield
Restaurants
Nopalito’s Restaurante – 1012 West Waylon Jennings Boulevard; 806-385-6263; only option around and actually pretty good.



LUBBOCK (includes Lubbock & Slaton)
Lubbock
Bars & Nightclubs
Crafthouse Gastropub – 3131 34th Street; 806-687-1466; crafthousepub.com; casual, modern bar serving microbrews & handcrafted cocktails.
West Table – 1204 Broadway; 806-993-9378; thewesttable.com; like California wine bar-restaurant; best place in town.
Restaurants
Abuelo’s Taqueria – 4410 19th Street; 806-368-7833; abuelostaqueria.com; longtime Lubbock chain has started new concept: fusion taqueria; upscale, certainly by Lubbock (or Texas taqueria) standards try Classic Carnitas tacos.
Cagle Steaks – 118 Inler Avenue; 806-795-3879; caglesteaks.com; adobe restaurant with outbuildings and general store; ranching murals on walls inside.
Crafthouse Gastropub – 3131 34th Street; 806-687-1466; crafthousepub.com; casual, modern restaurant serving New American fare; great hamburgers (try Texas Burger).
Christaki’s Burgers – 1111 34th Street; 806-744-6833; facebook.com/Christakis-Burgers-170962996278378; burgers.
Funky Door Wine & Bistro – 6015 82nd Street; 806-687-0505; thefunkydoorwineroom.com; wine bar that serves food, notable for fondue.
Jim Dandy Drive-In – 2601 Clovis Road; 806-762-4012; burgers & frozen, chocolate-covered banana for dessert.
Manna Bread & Wine – 2610 Salem Avenue (on Cactus Alley); 806-791-5600; mannabreadandwine.com; about as upscale as Lubbock gets; try Wild West Grilled Meatloaf (beef, buffalo & elk) topped with Jim Beam barbecue sauce.
Orlando’s – 2402 Avenue Q; 806-747-5998; orlandos.com; Italian but good hamburgers.
Pete’s Drive-In – 4156 34th Street; 806-792-2806; petesdrivein.com; hamburgers.
Pete’s Drive-In – 529 34th Street; 806-762-8995; petesdrivein.com; hamburgers.
Stella’s – 4646 50th Street; 806-785-9299; stellaslubbock.com; deli that originated in New York City.
West Table – 1204 Broadway; 806-993-9378; thewesttable.com; like California wine bar-restaurant; best place in town.

Slaton
Bakeries, Coffee, Ice Cream, Juice & Tea
Slaton Bakery – 109 South 9th Street; 806-828-3253; theslatonbakery.com; 94 years and going strong; try their vanilla wafers.



OLDHAM COUNTY (includes Adrian & Vega)
Adrian
Restaurants
Midpoint Cafe – 305 West Historic Route 66; 806-538-6379; route66midpointcafe.com; periodically closed so check website; notable for pies.
Shopping
Midpoint Cafe – 305 West Historic Route 66; 806-538-6379; route66midpointcafe.com; periodically closed so check website; notable for pies.

Vega
Sights & Sites
Milburn-Price Culture Museum – 1005 Coke Street; 806-340-5510; route66news.com/tag/milburn-price-culture-museum; usual array of artifacts & memorabilia from bygone days in west Texas.



POTTER & RANDALL COUNTIES (includes Amarillo & Canyon)
Amarillo
Bakeries, Coffee, Ice Cream, Juice & Tea
Palace Coffee Shop – 817 South Polk Street (at Paramount Theater); 806-476-0111; palacecoffee.co; nationally regarded craft coffee.
806 Coffee & Lounge – 2812 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-322-1806; the806.com; Cafe/lounge serving coffee, vegetarian fare, plus beer, wine & cocktails, with live entertainment.
Bars & Nightclubs
806 Coffee & Lounge – 2812 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-322-1806; the806.com; Cafe/lounge serving coffee, vegetarian fare, plus beer, wine & cocktails, with live entertainment.
Ohms Café & Bar – 619 South Tyler Street; 806-373-3233; ohmscafe.com; downtown “hot spot”; continental; nice bar.
Public House – 3333 South Coulter Street; 806-398-7777; publichouseamarillo.com; craft cocktails.
Hotels
Courtyard Amarillo Downtown – 724 South Polk Street; 806-553-4500; marriott.com/hotels/travel/amadt-courtyard-amarillo-downtown; occupies 1927 Fisk Building, Gothic Revival beauty among tallest buildings downtown.
Starlight Canyon Bed & Breakfast – 100 Brentwood Road; 806-622-2382; starlightcanyon.com; upscale rock house just 15 minutes north of Palo Duro Canyon; Aspen room has oversize wood-burning fireplace and window overlooking property’s 5 acres.
Restaurants
Big Texan Steak Ranch – 7701 Interstate 40 East; 806-372-6000; bigtexan.com; terrifically larger-than-life restaurant; blue and yellow exterior (fronted by giant bull, advertising notorious 72-ounce steak).
806 Coffee & Lounge – 2812 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-322-1806; the806.com; Cafe/lounge serving coffee, vegetarian fare, plus beer, wine & cocktails, with live entertainment.
El Tejavan – 3420 IH-40 West; 806-354-2444; eltejavan.com; Guadalajara-based menu; try pork adobada (with fried egg on top).
Golden Light Café – 2906 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-374-9237; goldenlightcafe.com; historic café on old Route 66; little changed over 66 years; limited seating.
Ohms Café & Bar – 619 South Tyler Street; 806-373-3233; ohmscafe.com; downtown “hot spot”; continental; nice bar.
Public House – 3333 South Coulter Street; 806-398-7777; publichouseamarillo.com; American; steaks.
Tyler’s Barbeque – 2014 Paramount Boulevard; 806-331-2271; tylersbarbeque.com; famous for pork ribs, in particular.
Shopping
Alley Katz Antique Emporium – 2807 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-342-5432; alleykatzantiquesamarillo.com.
NAT Antiques & Collectibles Antique Furniture Store – 2705 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-367-8908; thenatroute66.com.
6th Street Antique Mall – 2715 Southwest 6th Avenue; 806-374-0459; 6thstreetantiquemall.com.
Sights & Sites
Cadillac Ranch – 12601 West Interstate 40; 806-374-8474; roadsideamerica.com/story/2220; 10 Cadillacs nose first into a Texas wheat field.
Jack Sizemore’s Traveland RV Museum – 4341 Canyon Drive; 806-358-4891; ; rvmuseum.net; RV repair shop & museum; America’s oldest extant Airstream.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park – 11450 Texas Highway, Park Road 5 (Canyon); 806-488-2227; tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon; 2nd largest canyon in US.
Prairie Dog Town – MacKenzie Park Road (4th Street & US Highway 27); 806-775-2673 or 806-775-2687 (Lubbock Parks & Recreation); mylubbock.us/departmental-websites/departments/parks-recreation/prairie-dog-town.

Canyon
Bakeries, Coffee, Ice Cream, Juice & Tea
Palace Coffee Shop – 420 15th Street; 806-476-0111; palacecoffee.co; original location in 1905 building; nationally regarded craft coffee.
Rock ’n Roll Soda Shop – 404 15th Street; 806-655-3381; try key lime milk shake.
Hotels
Doves Rest Cabins – 10500 Lighthouse Trail; 972-880-3600; dovesrestcabins.com; stronghold of Fortress Cabin takes name for view centerpiece of Fortress Cliffs along Palo Duro Canyon State Park east rim, protected 6 miles of cliffs overlooking Grand Canyon of Texas; cabin is located only few minutes from main (only) entrance to Palo Duro Canyon state park; modern but rustic 2-bedroom, 2-bath cabin; immaculate & fully furnished; features wood burning fireplace, covered patio facing east with porch swings & BBQ; fully equipped kitchen; clean linens & towels along with extra blankets; 70" tv in living area; Doves Rest Cabins manages 4 private residences at Palo Duro Canyon (other HomeAway/VRBO listings : #723444 for SKYHOUSE, #739931 for CHAIRLIFT & #801442 for COMANCHE; 16-miles from Canyon.
Restaurants
Palo Duro Trading Post – 11450 State Highway Park Road 5; 806-488-2821; palodurotradingpost.us; burgers; grill closes at 5.
Services
Old West Stables – 11450 State Highway Park Road 5; 806-488-2180; oldweststables.com; horses.
Shopping
Down Home – 1517 4th Avenue; 806-655-8783; amazing collection of spurs.
Palo Duro Trading Post – 11450 State Highway Park Road 5; 806-488-2821; palodurotradingpost.us.
Sights & Sites
Palo Duro Canyon State Park – 11450 State Highway Park Road 5; 806-488-2227; tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon; Caprock Escarpment canyon system portion; 2nd largest canyon in USA (120 mi long, average width of 6.2 mi, with width of 32 20 mi at places, 820-997' deep; palo duro is Spanish for “hard wood”); formed by Red River’s Prairie Dog Town Fork, which initially winds along West Texas’ Llano Estacado’s level surface, then suddenly and dramatically runs off Caprock Escarpment; major signature feature is Lighthouse Peak, with multi-use, 6-mile round-trip loop trail dedicated thereto; Georgia O’Keeffe lived in Amarillo and Canyon early in 20th Century CE; Palo Duro Canyon Interpretive Center built by Civilian Conservation Corps.
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum – 2503 4th Avenue; 806-651-2244; panhandleplains.org; largest historical museum in Texas; extensive native American artifacts.



WHEELER COUNTY (includes Shamrock)
Shamrock
Shopping
U-Drop Inn & Tower Café – 1242 North Main Street; 806-256-2501; shamrockedc.org/u-drop-inn; also known as Tower Station; built in 1936 in Shamrock, Texas along Route 66 highway; inspired by image of nail stuck in soil, building designed by J.C. Berry; now place where can buy snacks & souvenirs.

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