Is it true that it's always cold and that the wind blows constantly?
Our winters are overrated and our summers are underrated. When it does snow, it melts within a couple of days. In the summer, temperatures do climb into the 90s but in the evening it is cool enough to require a light jacket.

Does it snow there?
Yes, Amarillo receives a few inches of snow each winter. But remember, the city also receives 270 days of sun each year as well.

What is the population of Amarillo?
The estimated population of Amarillo in 2003 is 177,000. The Amarillo area, including Potter and Randall counties, is home to over 225,000 people.

Isn't it hard to get to Amarillo?
No. Amarillo is located on Interstate 40, one of the nation's busiest east-west highways. Amarillo has non-stop flight service to Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport, which offers connections to major cities around the world, and Bush-Intercontinental Airport in Houston, which provides extensive connections to Central and South America as well as the continental U.S. Other cities served non-stop include Albuquerque, Denver and Las Vegas.

What is there to do in Amarillo?
Amarillo has attractions for the outdoor enthusiast, the arts connoisseur and the western history buff: for families and senior travelers. Attractions include Palo Duro Canyon, the nation's second largest canyon, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and the American Quarter Horse Museum, TEXAS Legacies, Cadillac Ranch, Big Texan Steak Ranch, Historic Rt. 66, Wonderland Amusement Park and professional ballet, opera and theater companies and a professional symphony.

Is Palo Duro Canyon open all year?
Yes, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is open and campsites and RV hook-ups are available all year. However, some outdoor activities, such as horseback riding, may be curtailed in the winter. Better yet, the canyon is fully accessible, from the rim to the floor, by car or RV.

What is there to do in Palo Duro Canyon?
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Activities include camping, hiking, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, and rock climbing. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is also home to the outdoor musical TEXAS Legacies, which runs nightly in the summer.

How far is Palo Duro Canyon from Amarillo?
30 miles south of Amarillo via Interstate 27 and Texas Highway 217.

What does Palo Duro mean?
Palo Duro is attributed to Spanish conquistadors who traveled through the region in the late 1500s. While  they may not have passed through Palo Duro Canyon, it is a fact that they did visit several other canyons on the east side of the Llano Estacado in the Texas Panhandle. The words mean hard wood, a reference to the juniper trees that remain prevalent in the canyons of the area.

Why is "TEXAS Legacies" performed only in the summer?
TEXAS Legacies relies heavily on college students for acting and stage hand talent. Also, TEXAS Legacies is performed outdoors in the evenings in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Even in the summer, guests may require a light jacket.

Are there any hotels downtown?
No, most of Amarillo's hotel and motel properties are along Interstate 40 and Interstate 27.

Are there any toll roads or parking meters in Amarillo?
There are no toll roads in the Amarillo area. And parking in downtown Amarillo is on the street, plentiful and without parking meters!

When is rush hour?
There is no rush hour in Amarillo. Traffic throughout the city moves at speed throughout the day. One of the pleasant facets of living in, or visiting, Amarillo.

Where can I find Amarillo souvenirs?
Stop by the Amarillo Visitor Information Center, located in the Amarillo Civic Center in downtown Amarillo, for a wide assortment of items with the official Amarillo logo. Also, find an assortment of gifts produced by Amarillo companies. The Amarillo VIC is at the corner of 4th & Buchanan Sts, right next to entrance 2 to the Amarillo Civic Center.

What's the elevation of Amarillo?
Amarillo is located on the high plains at an elevation of 3,676 feet above sea level.

Why was the city named Amarillo?
Amarillo means yellow in Spanish. The name was probably chosen because of the color of the soil in nearby Amarillo Creek. In the city's early days, most houses were painted yellow in honor of the name.

How can vendors learn about upcoming consumer events in Amarillo?
First, make sure you review the Calendar of Events on this web site. Many events will be listed months in advance.
Second, many major consumer events will be at one of two public facilities in Amarillo; the Amarillo Civic Center (806-378-4297) or the Tri-State Fairgrounds (806-376-7767). Staff at these offices can refer you to the organizers of specific events, and those organizers can answer your questions.
Third, the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council does not sponsor or promote any consumer events and therefore can only provide referral help to vendors.