Route 66 Historic District, Amarillo, TX

Route 66 was the definitive highway throughout the United States in the early days of automobile travel. People cruised along this highway in their new cars seeing the country. The Route 66 Historic District is the only historic district that Amarillo has. The area has more than one hundred home owned antique stores, restaurants, and bars within uniquely designed buildings. The streets are tree lined, have cobble stones for sidewalks and sport vintage lights.

This fun district is devoted to ensuring that locals and tourists have fun shopping, eating and visiting the many drinking establishments. Visitors are encouraged to pull off the highway and enter a more relaxed time. Guests can spend the entire day and into the evening taking in all that Route 66 Historic District has to offer.

The original Route 66 highway was more than two thousand miles in length. It marked the beginning of what would become super highways in the United States. Most of the roads prior to Route 66 were nothing but dirt roads.

Visit the shops that make up the Route 66 Historic District in Amarillo, Texas. The 6th St. Antique Mall has two levels of shopping with more than forty five vendors and is filled with many splendid antiques. Old 66 Quilts has new and antique quilts; the hours at the shop are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Other shops on this historic street include: The Muse, The Mustard Seed, Apple Annie's Bridal, Route 66 Costume Castle, Copper Horse and San Jacinto Antiques. If visitors are looking for more interesting shops stop by the Texotica Pet Shop, Pink Flamingo, Town n Country Antiques, Pam's Quilting Corner, Wilson's Electric Lamp Store and Whispering Pines.

Eating along Route 66 in Amarillo is a gastronomical delight. Check out Barnabies Beanery, Blue Gator, Ribs n More, J's Drive-in for a real fifties experience, Aldaco's Tacos and Carmen's. The Golden Light Cantina is the place for music with headliners from around the world appearing as well as new up and coming bands. The cantina has been in operation since 1946 on Route 66. Annette's serves up cakes and other homemade desserts along with coffee and other drinks. For visitors that still need contact with the 21st century step into The 806 Caf,. They serve snack food and music. They keep late hours and offer Wi- Fi internet service. Artists display their artwork on the walls and poetry readings happen on open mike nights.

Interested in photography? Visitors to the district will want to take time to stop in at Gray's Photography, Rand McNatt's Photography, Blue Sage Art Gallery and Blue Sage Pottery for souvenirs of their trip to Route 66.

There are several events that take place along Amarillo's Route 66 Historic District. They have the Annual Texas Route 66 Festival in October, Santa Clause on 6th St., Texas Route 66 Annual Fall Festival and Car Show and Spring Fling on 6th. There may be more events so travel to the Route 66 Historic District in Amarillo, Texas and see what's new.