On a rig here in wheeler and was wondering if there was anything in the area (within an hours drive) to do around here. I have been to Elk City, canadian, and amarillo a few times, but I am running out of ideas. I should be up here for a few more weeks so wanted to see if there was anything I am missing out on (restaurants, museums, bars, sites, etc.)

Thanks for any help.

Amarillo is your biggest entertainment center.
If you have been to Canadian, then I'm sure you have already been to the Cattle Exchange to eat. If not, try it.
The Panhandle Plains Musemum is in Canyon, just south of Amarillo.
Its a full day tour and one of the best historical museums you will find. It focuses on the history of the Texas Panhandle area.
If you're into fishing, I understand that they have stocked both the "stilling basin" located just under the Lake Meredith damn and Lake Fryer, near Perryton, with trout.
Enjoy your stay. Be safe on the rig.

Second PPHM in Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon

Caprock Canyons

CC Rails to Trails, South Plains Texas to Estelline, Texas

Citadelle Art Museum, Canadian

Square House Museum, Panhandle

Fort El Reno, Oklahoma

Bricktown, Oklahoma City

Devil's Rope Museum, McClean

Ft. Sill Museum, Lawton, OK

Quartz Mountain Park, Lake Altus, OK

Bonnie and Clyde bridge, Wellington

I second Quartz Mt in Altus. Call the park service over there and reserve a cabin for a night. It is a really neat place. And it will show you how far behind we are with our state parks in comparison to Oklahoma. They have great inexpensive facilities.

If you would have posted last week, I would have told you about the Beaver, OK World Champion Cow Chip Throwing contest on the 17th (this past Saturday). Otherwise, Canyon Ag nailed it.

Well we are on standby for the next few days. Went and played virtual golf in elk city and tore up the pool competition at sherry's state line tonight. The museum in canyon sounds pretty cool so i'll try to make it there in the next few days.

My summary of the area so far:

Cattlemens in canadian is by far the nicest restaurant I have found in the general area. I would have thought there would be better bar-b-que in the area with the cattle trade and all.

Even the good mexican food places in the area don't stand a chance to even the hole in wall places in houston. That is the one thing I miss(other than family).

Big TX sucked but that was kind of expected. Cattlemans is by far my diamond in the rough place to eat.

Being from the big city, I am glad i get to experience the small town atmosphere. My wife came up over easter weekend and she can't wait to come back. Definitely nice to get away from it all.

I could never live up here full time, but the last 40+ days I have enjoyed. Nothing but good kind folks no matter where you turn. I wish the city, yet alone my suburb was like that.

Looks like I'll be around every other month, so what I don't get a chance to check out now, hopefully I'll get a chance eventually. Really looking forward to bringing the mountain bike next time and checking out Palo Duro.

Anyways, thanks for the tips. If you guys have anymore feel free to let me know.

Fetch - I used to say the same thing about H-town. Then I lived there for 12 years.
Bar-b-q ? Its not "Luthers" up here.
Have you tried Dyers in Amarillo or Pampa ?
Its the best "knock off" on what the Sutphens (Borger) that I grew up on used to be. Different by far than what you are used to down south, but isn't that how it goes with regional tastes?
Agree on Big Tx - more show than quality - but it makes the "yankees" happy when they travel through from NY to LA. Try the County Barn on the other end of I-40 in Amarillo. Better by far in my opinion. There still may be better, but I have not been to the "better" places yet. (prefer my back yard)
Mexican - try Abuelos or Leal's in Amarillo.
Its not the same as Lupe Tortia's, but again that's a regional thing. I believe they are some of the best we have up here (I might give Leal's the egde for "classic" type dishes - and Abuelo's for the non-enchilada menue)
Enjoy your stay - come back often - you're always welcome.

Tacos Garcia is my favorite Amarillo Mexican food. I have yet to try EL Tejevan, but lots of folks brag on it.

If you come to Canyon for the museum, eat some Thai food at Sayakorman's on the courthouse square, or go to Feldman's for a good all-around American style restaurant.

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Really looking forward to bringing the mountain bike next time and checking out Palo Duro

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I'm not a cyclist, but I really think that the best cycling option would be the Caprock Canyons rails to trails deal. It's an old railroad grade from the top of the caprock down to the Red River at Esteline. If you can find someone to drop you off and pick you up, you can do it all down hill, and through some really neat scenery. Caprock Canyons is not as large as Palo Duro, but it's more interesting in some ways.

I've hiked some of the CC rails to trails. It all depends on what kind of mountain biking you do. The R to T has some nice scenery, but it is obviously a flat cinder track. If you're into climbing and descending hills and challenging terrain, then PD is the way to go. Or go to the CC area, and you can have the flat rides on the R to T, and move into the park for the more challenging stuff.

Check with the folks at CC, there used to be some businesses in Quitaque who would let you leave your car at Quitaque and take you to the trailhead at South Plains.

I second the Tacos Garcia, definately good food.
If you have even the slightest interest in "old" tractors and equipment you might check out the Window on the Plains Museum in Dumas, TX (North of Amarillo). My wife's family donated several tractors to that museum and it is a neat 2 hour walk through.

If you are a golfer you should go play McLean Municipal. It has the old style sand greens. Supposedly the only one in Texas.

Definitely an experience.

http://www.pasturegolf.com/courses/mclean.htm

Canadian has some of my favorite places to eat. The Fillin Station, the Cattle Exchange, and the Railhead are always pretty good.

Since you are in Wheeler, I'm assuming you've tried the chicken fry at Maxey's.

Pampa isn't bad if you like slow service and marginal food. The Plaza is about the best thing in town. Dyers is hit and miss, as are the Dixie Cafe and the Rose.

The Red River Steakhouse in McLean is pretty good.

fletch,

are you looking for some golf?

Maybe next time I make it up. I didn't bring my clubs this time. Typically we only have a few days to kind of do whatever we want. But this well is having all kinds of problems so I have been on standby for most of the last 3 weeks. So I have really had a lot of time to check out the area this trip.

I notice there was a rodeo area on the north side of canadian. Do they have something that goes on there during the weekends or anything? I wouldn't mind changing it up a little bit and try to catch a local rodeo or something.

Canadian has a pretty good rodeo in July.
You will find a lot of local rodeos in the area over the summer.

Are you on one of the Blasdel wells just north and east of Wheeler? Are you handling the drilling for Forest Oil?

stay until the largest free bbq in the world in dalhart at the XIT rodeo!! used to love going up there for that.

This thread has some good info too.

i.e. dances in Lipscomb, etc.

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Americans for Fair Taxation!

The Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles are just not known for good food. I never knew what good food was until I went to A&M.

I thought Duncan and Sbisa Dining Halls served better food than just about any restaurant around here. Of course, that was back in the days when Colonel Dollar was in charge.