Looking for fun family activities in the Amarillo area? Will you be passing through northwest Texas soon? Or, are you moving to Amarillo and wondering about local entertainment? Here are a few fun things for kids to do in Amarillo.
Visit the Discovery Center.
One fabulous stop in Amarillo is the Don Harrington Discovery Center. It is a children’s science museum. The kids will enjoy playing with a humongous ball contraption and other exciting exhibits. They have an area just for kids under 6 where they can climb, paint, and build towers. The museum was completely renovated just a few years ago and is definitely worth a visit. They also have a “space theater” where you can enjoy watching educational films on the ceiling.
Check out the website here to learn more about the Discovery center. If you live in the Amarillo area, a membership is a great choice. You can use it to for free admission to other museums such as the Science Spectrum in Lubbock. They also offer summer camps and seasonal activities. The museum is located at 1200 Streit Drive. Their phone number is (806) 355-9547. It is near a great children’s playground as well.
Stop by the Amarillo zoo.
Another idea is to visit the Amarillo zoo. It is small, but it makes for a nice excursion. The park consists of 15 acres and features over 60 animals. There is an African lion, monkeys, bison, turtles, and other various animals. They also have fun camps during the summer and various family programs throughout the year. The zoo also has a playground.
It is located in Thompson park, by 24th Avenue and Martin Luther King Blvd. Visit the website here for complete details.
Take a stroll through the botanical gardens.
A third activity is to visit the botanical gardens. It is located right next to the Don Harrington Discovery Center at 1400 Streit Drive. It is a giant showcase of exotic plants. The botanical garden’s mission is “serving the community by inspiring interaction with plants and the environment, creating adventure and conveying knowledge.” Admission is free for children 12 years and younger. (It is 5 dollars for adults, however, sometimes during the winter it is free.) Visit the website here for complete details.
Visit the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
A fourth educational experience is to visit the Panhandle-Plains Museum in Canyon. It is just a quick fifteen minute drive from Amarillo. Your children will enjoy seeing a replica of a small town in the 1800’s, antique cars and bicycles and much more. One favorite spot is a small room that is created to look like a house in the early 1800’s. It has “windows” (that are actually television screens) to show the seasons changing, snakes appearing and more. There’s also a dinosaur exhibit. While it is not as entertaining as the Discovery Museum, it’s still an enlightening experience. To get there, simply travel south on I-27 until you reach Canyon. It is located at 2503 4th Avenue in Canyon. Visit the website here to learn more.
Visit Jump ‘n Jive.
One activity your kids are sure to love is a trip to Jump ‘n Jive. It is an old store converted to a giant inflatable playground. It is filled with inflatable jumpers. Your kids will enjoy pretending to be popcorn, and you’ll be thrilled they’ll be worn out for a good nap. They have been voted “Best of Amarillo” for four years in a row. The address is 7302 W. 34th Street. For more details, check out their website here.
Hike Palo Duro Canyon.
Palo Duro Canyon is a beautiful landmark just a short 45 minute drive from Amarillo. Sometimes called the “Grand Canyon of Texas”, this outdoor adventure will be an exciting trip for your children. They have easy trails located at the bottom of the canyon, that are very safe and perfect for kids. Your children might spot deer, and possible see a fox or two. The canyon is 120 miles long and about 20 miles wide. Take a look at the website here for more information. Also visit their Facebook group here.
Hike Caprock Canyon.
Another fun idea is to visit Caprock Canyon. It is located roughly 45 minutes southeast of Amarillo. You can hike, fish, camp, look for animals, and take great family photos. The park opened to the public in 1982. Visit the website here for complete details.
Check out Wonderland.
More than 200,000 visitors stop by Amarillo’s Wonderland amusement park each year. It began as “Kiddie Land” in 1951. It has four roller coasters such as the Texas Tornado, water rides such as the “Rattlesnake River Raft Ride”, and numerous attractions for young children. It also has miniature golf, bumper cars and much more. Visit their website here for full details.
Stop by the RV Museum.
Last, but not least, you can check out the vintage RV’s at the Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum. It’s free, and very enlightening. You can walk through many RV’s from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. All of the RV’s are furnished with items from that time, including cameras and board games. It’s a great spot for unique Facebook photos! Even if you have never been in an RV, you will learn something new. You can also check out the modern RV’s for sale in the adjacent building. For more details, visit the website here. They are located at 4341 Canyon Drive.
These are just a few fun things for kids to do in the Amarillo area. If you will be heading south on I-27, consider stopping by Kidsville in Plainview. It is near the Interstate by the flagpoles. Kidsville is a large wooden play area, great for kids ages 3 to 12. This site here provides detailed directions to the golf area next to it.
Happy Parenting! Enjoy!
Sources:
http://www.wonderlandpark.com/
http://dhdc.org/index.php?page=plan-a-visit
http://www.amarillozoo.org/
http://www.jnjama.com/
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/caprock-canyons
http://www.palodurocanyon.com/
http://www.panhandleplains.org/pages/home.asp
http://www.rvmuseum.net/1962-bethany.htm