EXCURSIONS

Amarillo Excursions

Cadillac Ranch

Approaching Amarillo from the west on the 1-40 highway visitors will come across one of America's most noted roadside attractions, conceived and funded by an eccentric local man, helium tycoon Stanley Marsh 3. The Cadillac Ranch consists of 10 finned vintage Cadillac cars, buried nose first in a field about 12 miles (19km) from the town. They have been buried, allegedly, at the same angle as the angle of the sides of the Great Pyramid of Egypt. Marsh doesn't seem to mind the ever-increasing amount of graffiti that is spray painted onto the cars by visitors.

Address: On the old Route 66, south of I-40 between exits 60 and 62; Opening time: Open 24-hours daily; Admission: Free

Amarillo Excursions

Palo Duro Canyon

Starting about a million years ago a branch of the Red River carved a massive canyon through the northern Texas plains. The walls of the Palo Duro Canyon plunge down to 1,000ft (305m) at points, exposing the multi-layered coloured rock strata. The colours are particularly brightly picked out on the spires and pinnacles that the forces of nature have carved out on the canyon floor. The Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a few miles east of Amarillo, reached via Texas 217 highway. The park offers picnic and camping facilities, a visitor's centre with a shop, an amphitheatre where shows are staged, and horseback riding trips. The park also has a famous historic site where the last great battle between troops and Indians took place in Texas. In 1874 Colonel Ranald Mackenzie and his 4th Cavalry defeated a large band of Native Americans camped in the canyon and transported them to reservations in Oklahoma.

Address: The park is located about 12 miles (19km) east of Canyon on State Highway 217; E-mail: pdc@palodurocanyon.com; Website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/paloduro/paloduro.htm; Telephone: (806) 488 2227; Opening time: Gates are open daily: 8am to 5pm (November to February); 8am to 10pm (March to October); Admission: $4 (adults), children under 12 are free