AMARILLO, TX & La Casita del Sol

Where to stay:    CASITA DEL SOL 

 

 

Look no further; this lovely inn near downtown Amarillo is the perfect place to spend a night or two!

Done in an eclectic southwest style, this historic residence maintains much of its original charm. The current owner has added her own special touches--featuring fun, bold colors and whimsical murals.

Bonnie, your seasoned innkeeper, has visited many Bed & Breakfasts over the years and draws from these travels to provide you with the most wonderful B&B experience.

Favorite part of the stay:  an incredible breakfast complete with fluffy biscuits and preserves made on-site! Raspberry Jalapeño gives just the right blend of sweet and spicy (other varieties available and many of the ingredients are grown in La Casita's organic garden). Bonus--take a few of Bonnie's home-made jams with you to enjoy later or gift to friends!

Breakfast starts with a plate of fruit--but nothing ordinary here! Broiled grapefruit, seasoned bananas, a shot of yogurt topped with homemade plum preserves... And then the famed eggs Casita (a savory salsa verde seasoned with bits of pork tenderloin gravy smothering two eggs cooked however you'd like) will have you returning to Amarillo for more!

Cozy up to the fire with a good book; you'll find plenty of options on the shelves in the living room.

(The painting above the fireplace is of Casita del Sol in winter--after a rare snow!)

 

Bonnie is a collector of local art.

 
Enjoy her diverse selection, and consider the option of purchasing one of these fine pieces of Amarillo art culture.

 

www.lacasita.freeservers.com

 

Rates from $105

   (includes a deluxe  breakfast)

 

 806-342-3444

 

Amarillo Adventures:

www.visitamarillo.com

Stop in at the amazing TRAVEL CENTER just off I-40 at exit 76. You'll find information on everything to see in Amarillo (and all of TX) in a beautiful, convenient setting.
 

 

Besides the Big Texan Steakhouse (see blog post), a few other fun finds in or near Amarillo are:

•             Alibates Flint Quarries:  explore the land of ancient civilizations and admire the colorful Abilates flint, strong enough to be forged into arrowheads, tools and weapons. www.nps.gov/alfl/index.htm
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•       Palo Duro Canyon, America’s 2^nd largest canyon:  this state park is one of the most scenic places in Texas. Formed by the Red River, this canyon was first discovered by early Spanish explorers. The name “Palo Duro” means “hard wood” in reference to the many mesquite and juniper trees in the area. On-site rental of cabins and horses available. www.palodurocanyon.com
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•  Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian:  this site features the crafts and cultures of the Pueblo and Plains Indian people. A performance area hosts live dance performances. www.kwahadi.com
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•       American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum:  from the settling of the U.S. to westward expansion, much of it has been accomplished on the back of an American Quarter Horse. Visible from the interstate, this gorgeous facility is a celebration of America’s favorite horse and of the Western lifestyle.  www.aqha.com/foundation/museum
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•             Downtown Amarillo: 
  
  Amarillo touts a vibrant downtown with plenty to see and do! A beautifully restored area with cobblestone streets, brick buildings and ornamental marble facades that grace the sides of the historic buildings lies just north of I-40. Cruise Amarillo Blvd./Old Route 66 to get a feel for the city’s pulse.  www.downtownamarillo.com
• Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum:

"From dinosaurs to conquistadors, you'll find it all in Texas' largest history museum.  Relive the stories of courage and hardship, victory and defeat over the past 14,000 years.  Step in and step back to the Old West in a life-size Pioneer Town, view one of the Southwest's finest art collections, experience the exciting history of the petroleum industry, and more." www.panhandleplains.org

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                          Splash Amarillo:  It’s all in the name. For summer fun under the sun, you won’t find a better place to cool off! Huge slides and lazy rivers provide hours of refreshing enjoyment for the whole family.  www.splashamarillo.com
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• Eat at ABUELOS,  the leading edge of Mexican cuisine, combining menu creativity, outstanding food and beverage quality, colorful plate presentations and superior service in an impressive Mexican courtyard-themed atmosphere. www.abuelos.com
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• Coyote Bluff Café for killer burgers and a little old West appeal! www.coyotebluffcafe.com
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• Still hungry? Stop in at SALTGRASS for one of the best steaks you'll every have! It is a Texas chain, and well worth the stop. www.saltgrass.com

*Heading West? Make sure you gas up in Amarillo. My experience is that prices go up as you head West, and opportunities become further and further apart.

 

THE BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH

Amarillo, TX

Home of the Big Texan Steak Ranch

Entering Amarillo, TX—the heart of the Texas Panhandle—you will finally get to see the well-announced Big Texan Steak Ranch which has long been a favorite stopping point along I-40 (as well as in its previous location along historic U.S. Route 66).The Big Texan is a memorable icon, attracting visitors from around the globe, and I personally have

stopped many times on a variety of occasions. From early family road trips to sharing the experience with my family as an adult, I have seen the steakhouse evolve over 30 years of road-tripping. It is a famous I-40 mecca that has only gotten better with time.

       In the late 1800s, Amarillo was a Wild West town.  The land was shared by cowboys, horses, cows, ranchers and the outlaws they loved to hate. The Big Texan has captured that spirit and happily hosts anyone who wants to come and experience it. A sign by the front door reads:  “In 1886 Texas was friendly, rustic and full of beef. The BIG TEXAN still is! Welcome.”

The Big Texan Steak Ranch

Front porch boards creak as you approach the well-worn entrance of the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Hungry families have been stopping here for years lured by signs posted over 500 miles out—like Texas-sized breadcrumbs meant to lure you to the infamous fattening-up table of the “Free 72-oz. steak.” The claim finds an average of three victims a day; their last words are written on a wall for all to see, announcing their hometown, age, weight and personal exclamation of victory or defeat:

·   “Can’t believe I ate the     whole thing!”

·    “What’s for dessert?”

·    “Lord, have mercy!”

·     “CAME, ATE, CONQUERED!”

The steakhouse is home of the ultimate food challenge to an endless stream of gamblers. Those not willing to enter the contest will enjoy a superb Texas-style meal featuring tasty steaks and other hearty ranch-style meals. You might even get to witness a 72-oz. steak show-down in progress. Be sure to encourage and applaud the daredevil with eyes bigger than his—or her—stomach and pocketbook. Defeat costs a whopping $72.

      

      Carnival-style shooting games, Wild West décor, a Texas-sized rocker, and an oversized cow in the parking lot are sure to please the traveler ready for a bit of Texan entertainment. 

    Children will be captivated by the wall of ghostly portraits which line the hall outside the bathrooms at the restaurant. 

    A Texas-shaped pool provides the opportunity to “swim across Texas.” 

     Kick back in the Big Texan Beer Garden and try one of their world famous margaritas; you’ll see why “the stars at night are big and bright.”

       Before continuing your journey, stroll back to the motel featuring rustic rooms filled with relaxing, cowboy-chic décor. 

   You’ll be glad you stayed; breakfast is one of the best times to enjoy the ambience of the restaurant as you prepare for a day of sightseeing around Amarillo or heading out on the next leg of your road trip. 

    After all, it is the best breakfast around—featuring a buffet loaded with omelets cooked before your eyes, biscuits, gravy and enchiladas galore!

 Need one last Big Texan slab of beef? Enjoy a meal of steak and eggs cooked to your satisfaction.

     Before leaving, be sure to stop in at the supersized gift shop featuring Route 66 memorabilia, John Wayne mementos and Big Texas treasures.

            BELOW:      pets are welcome, too! The Big Texan is a family and pet-friendly motel, providing a dog run and horse hotel for animal-loving travelers.

Live entertainment, seasonal dinner dances and tasty Texas beef make the Big Texan dining experience an unforgettable one. The saloon-style dining room sports an array of animal busts and longhorns. Memorabilia hearkening to the wild way of life that once ruled this prairie land line the walls and balconies of the cavernous room. There is nothing else like it in all the world. You will find yourself returning to this iconic steakhouse time and again as you travel the interstate heading into the setting sun. Let the Big Texan set the stage as you journey into the glorious nostalgia of the American Southwest.  www.bigtexan.com 1-806-372-5000        A little Bit Texan history:   founded in 1960 by the late R.J. “Bob” Lee and his wife Mary Ann, the family-owned restaurant began as a modest steakhouse alongside Amarillo Blvd. Although it was originally a BBQ joint, Bob’s dream was to own his own Old West themed restaurant. In its premier location, it was a favorite stopping place along U.S. Route 66. Road –weary travelers flocked to the Big Texan to refuel as they made their way west along the Mother Road. When Rt. 66 died, Bob and Mary Ann knew they had to relocate to I-40 or close their doors forever. The rebuilding of the Big Texan in 1970, announced to travelers by the huge, iconic Big Texan cowboy sign, was an opportunity to build upon Bob’s vision of a true steakhouse—featuring cowboys, big hats and huge steaks. The gigantic cowboy still stands at the new location, reminding guests of the restaurant’s unique history.         Creative side-income ideas financed the new building. Bob carefully designed it—part Indian trading post, Old West hotel and general store. The family even used parts of an old salvaged Air Force base barracks, and when the doors finally reopened, Bob continued to dream up ideas to draw the crowds in. One memorable scheme included purchasing a small herd of buffalo. When the pack got loose and created a roadblock along I-40, the restaurant incorporated them into the menu! Bob, in a gutsy advertisement scheme, even passed out $100 bills with a buffalo head on the front. Anything to promote business. Ever the zealous entrepreneur, Bob exhibited his keen business-sense in keeping regular hours—rain, shine or even blizzard. He wanted travelers to remember the place and count on returning with other friends and family.  **************************************************THE 72OZ STEAK LEGEND:      Table was placed at the center of the restaurant as the seat of honor for local cowboys. Bob loved to swap stories at the table with them, and their presence affirmed the ambiance he most wanted to share with travelers. Bob eventually hired cowhands to ride out in the front lot and college basketball players from a nearby university to dress up as cowboys and greet guests to the restaurant. From the moment they drove up to the steakhouse and entered the Big Texan, visitors felt they were in the Wild West. The 72-oz. steak challenge started at the roundtable in 1962 when one of the cowhands voiced the well-known hyperbole, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a whole cow!” Bob took the challenge and started cooking the steaks, seeing just how far the cowhand might make it. He loved to put on a show, and the travelers dining there enjoyed the steak-eating competition. At 4 ½ lbs., the cowhand gave up, but the gauntlet had been thrown. From that day on, the 72-oz. dare was for anyone willing to try. Billboards went up announcing the steak challenge. Years passed and the legend grew as travelers along I-40 wondered what it was all about.       Among the 72-oz. steak Hall of Fame winners are Frank Pastore (once the pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds)—who held the record at 9 ½ minutes (working his way down from 21 minutes in seven tries) until 2008 when a professional eater beat him at just under 9 minutes. The oldest competitor to succeed is a 63-year-old granny.

Heartland of America

West of Oklahoma City, you’ll cruise along miles and miles of prairie. This is the heartland of America.

Once just a vast of sea of tall grasses marked by a well-worn path of wagon ruts leading the traveler westward, the Great Plains were crossed by early settlers traveling in “prairie schooner wagons”—so called because they gave the allusion of white-topped schooners sailing on the sea.

Today, road-trippers can marvel at several I-40 over-sized icons that loom up out of the sea of green (both near Groom, TX):

•         World’s Largest Cross:
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•     The Leaning Water Tower—a Midwestern take on the leaning tower of Pisa.

Traveling west along I-40, you will see many Route 66 sites.

Ready for a stretch of the legs?            Snap a photo in Shamrock, TX, of the famous Route 66 U-Drop Inn (also called Tower Station).

Stope in McClean, TX, at The Devil’s Rope Museum, a fascinating collection of rancher brands, barbed-wire sculptures (cowboy hat, anyone?), and exhibits like the “Evolution of the American Cowboy.”