011 min walk01 · 1 min walk
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
- Family
- Rainy Day
The story of America’s favorite horse: hands-on exhibits, Western art and the Hall of Fame itself. It’s next door, so leave the keys.
Open Tue–Sat, 9 AM–5 PM
Fun Beyond the Cove · Amarillo, Texas
Things To Do Near Cactus Cove In Amarillo.
Eleven local favorites, timed from our front door. Ten are under 15 minutes, and Palo Duro Canyon is 35 minutes south.
See all 11 places ↓Minutes, not miles.
Drive times from our front door
Free hotel shuttle
Cactus CoveYou are here
1Quarter Horse Museum1 min walk2Starlight Ranch7 min3Route 66 on 6th8 min4Big Texan9 min5Amarillo Zoo10 min6Discovery Center10 min7Air & Space Museum10 min8Western Bowl10 min9Wonderland Park11 min10Cadillac Ranch12 min11Palo Duro Canyon35 minFrom the lobby outward
Eleven Places, Closest First.
All 11 places
011 min walk027 minFree shuttle
02 · 7 min · free shuttle
Slug Bug Ranch & Starlight Ranch
- Route 66
- Free
- Family
VW Beetles buried nose-down out front, free to visit. Behind them, Starlight Ranch hosts country and Americana concerts from the family behind the Big Texan.
Slug Bug Ranch is free and open year-round
038 min03 · 8 min
Route 66 Historic District (6th Ave)
- Route 66
- Free
- Eat & Drink
The original Mother Road through Amarillo: antique shops, vintage neon, live music and diners in old brick storefronts. Strolling is free.
049 minFree shuttle04 · 9 min · free shuttle
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
- Eat & Drink
- Route 66
- Family
Home of the 72-ounce steak challenge: finish the whole meal in an hour and it’s free. Everyone else gets dinner and a show.
0510 min05 · 10 min
Amarillo Zoo
- Family
- Outdoors
Big cats, reptiles, birds and more in Thompson Park. An easy morning with the kids.
0610 min06 · 10 min
Don Harrington Discovery Center
- Family
- Rainy Day
Hands-on science, space and weather exhibits built for curious kids (and their adults).
0710 min07 · 10 min
Texas Air & Space Museum
- Family
- Rainy Day
Aircraft, artifacts and the history of flight in the Texas Panhandle, out by the airport.
0810 min
08 · 10 min
Western Bowl
- Family
- Rainy Day
- Eat & Drink
Fifty-two lanes, a big arcade, laser tag and a sports bar. Rain or shine, somebody’s winning.
0911 min09 · 11 min
Wonderland Park
- Family
- Outdoors
Roller coasters, water rides, an arcade and mini golf, just up the road from the zoo.
Seasonal, so check the calendar before you go
1012 min10 · 12 min
Cadillac Ranch
- Free
- Route 66
- Outdoors
- Family
Ten Cadillacs buried nose-first along old Route 66. It’s free, and spray paint is welcome, so add your layer to history.
1135 min11 · 35 min
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- Outdoors
- Family
The Grand Canyon of Texas: hiking, biking, horseback rides and the famous Lighthouse Trail. It’s the longest drive on this page, so start early.
State-park entry fee applies
Ready-made day plans · paid in miles
Three Ready-Made Days From The Cove.
Three days we’d plan for our own family: a Route 66 classic, a canyon day and a rainy day. Each one prints like a receipt, with the stops, the drive between them and the total miles. Pick one and point the car.
Chrome, neon and a 72-ounce dare.
Stops 5Miles 30Driving ≈ 50 min
Morning
Breakfast at the Cove
Hot and free, 7–10 AM. Carl, our resident dinosaur, stops by at 9.
- 12 min
Late morning
Cadillac Ranch
Ten Cadillacs nose-down in a field. Bring your own can.
- 12 min
Lunch
Route 66 on 6th
Lunch, antiques and vintage neon on the original road.
- 8 min
Afternoon
Quarter Horse Museum
Next door to the Cove, open Tue–Sat until 5. Sunday or Monday? Swap in a swim in the heated pool.
- 7 min
Dinner
The Big Texan
Take on the 72-oz challenge, or just watch. Free shuttle from the lobby.
Red rock in the morning, heated pool by afternoon.
Stops 5Miles 59Driving ≈ 70 min
Early
Breakfast at the Cove
Breakfast starts at 7. Fuel up for the trail.
- 35 min
Morning
Palo Duro Canyon
Pay the state-park entry fee at the gate, then take Park Road 5 down to the canyon floor.
- in the park
Late morning
Lighthouse Trail
About six miles round trip. Start early, bring more water than you think and pack a picnic for the canyon floor.
- 35 min
Afternoon
Heated indoor pool
Back at the Cove to soak tired legs. Open until 9 PM.
- on site
Evening
Western Horseman Club
Dinner, drinks and live music without moving the car. Open until midnight Sun–Thu, 2 AM Fri–Sat.
Four roofs, zero boredom.
Stops 5Miles 33Driving ≈ 1 hr
Morning
Breakfast with Carl
Free hot breakfast, 7–10 AM. The dinosaur arrives at 9.
- 10 min
Late morning
Texas Air & Space Museum
Planes, artifacts and Panhandle flight history by the airport.
- 24 min
Afternoon
Discovery Center
Hands-on science, space and weather for every age.
- 12 min
Late afternoon
Western Bowl
Fifty-two lanes, a big arcade and laser tag.
- 11 min
Evening
Back at the Cove
Arcade, the two-story indoor slide and the heated pool.
Amarillo events · Fall 2026
Time Your Stay To The Good Stuff.
- Through Nov 1
Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival
Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm
Corn maze, hayrides and 30+ family attractions.
Event details ↗
- Through Jan 3
Ice Dinosaurs: The Lost World of the Alaskan Arctic
Don Harrington Discovery Center
Arctic dinosaurs, ten minutes from our own. Tell them Carl says hi.
Event details ↗
- First Thursdays
First Thursdays on 6th
Historic Route 66 District
Shops open late, with music on the sidewalks.
Event details ↗
- Tuesdays in Oct
Jazztober
Bivins Mansion Lawn
Free jazz on the lawn every Tuesday evening, all October long.
Event details ↗
- Oct 8
Good Times BBQ Cook-Off
Tri-State Fairgrounds
Panhandle pitmasters throwing smoke. Come hungry.
Event details ↗
- Oct 8–10
Amarillo International Film Festival
Arts in the Sunset
Three days of independent film from around the world.
Event details ↗
- Oct 17
Palo Duro Trail Run
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Canyon trail races from 25K to 50 miles. Fun to watch, too.
Event details ↗
- Oct 24
Día de Muertos Festival
Starlight Ranch Event Center
Altars and performances to close out October, seven minutes from the hotel.
Event details ↗
- Oct 24
Mad Scientist Ball
Don Harrington Discovery Center
A 50th-anniversary night of experiments and entertainment.
Event details ↗
- Nov 11–15
WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo
Amarillo Civic Center Complex
Working-ranch teams from across the West ride for the world title.
Event details ↗
Looking further ahead?
Visit Amarillo keeps the full city calendar.
See the city calendar ↗
Dates from Visit Amarillo and the event organizers, last checked Sep 28, 2026. Past events drop off on their own; confirm before you drive.
Quick answers
Before You Head Out.
What’s closest to the hotel?
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum is next door, a one-minute walk. Starlight Ranch, the Big Texan and Route 66 on 6th are all under ten minutes.
How far is Cadillac Ranch from Cactus Cove?
About 12 minutes west on I-40. There’s no ticket. If you bring paint, take the empty can with you when you leave.
Is Palo Duro Canyon worth the drive?
Yes. The “Grand Canyon of Texas” is about 35 minutes south. Start early for the Lighthouse Trail, carry plenty of water, and plan on a state-park entry fee.
Does the hotel shuttle go to the Big Texan?
Yes. The free hotel shuttle runs 11 AM to 9 PM and covers airport runs, the Big Texan and Starlight Ranch. Ask the front desk to save you a seat.
What can we do in Amarillo on a rainy day?
The Don Harrington Discovery Center, the Texas Air & Space Museum, the Quarter Horse Museum (open Tue–Sat) and Western Bowl, then back to the Cove for the arcade, the two-story indoor slide and the heated indoor pool.
Can you spray paint Cadillac Ranch and Slug Bug Ranch?
Yes, at both. Painting the cars is part of the tradition. Slug Bug Ranch sits at Starlight Ranch, seven minutes from the hotel.
Home Base,
Right Off I-40.
Spend the day out there, then come back to a heated indoor pool (open until 9 PM). Breakfast is hot and free in the morning, 7–10 AM.
“Location and atmosphere! Very lively.”
Check Dates & Rates4.3 on Google · 1,649 reviews
Opens our booking page with live prices for your dates. Need an accessible room? Call 806-905-6089 to reserve.
Photo credits
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, cropped: Quarter Horse Museum by J. Nguyen (CC BY-SA 3.0); Route 66 on 6th by Renelibrary (CC BY-SA 4.0); Big Texan by Cullen328 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Amarillo Zoo by Billy Hathorn (CC BY-SA 3.0); Discovery Center by SarahDHDC (CC BY-SA 4.0); Air & Space Museum by Richard Warner (CC BY-SA 3.0); Wonderland Park by Xnatedawgx (CC BY-SA 4.0); Cadillac Ranch by 좀비 브렌다 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Palo Duro Canyon by Fredlyfish4 (CC BY-SA 3.0). The Slug Bug Ranch and Western Bowl illustrations are our own.