Accolades

​It’s not what we’re claiming. It’s what others are saying!

2020

11 Incredible Winter Vacations in Texas, Trips to Discover, January 2020

Amarillo Named 4th Most Generous City in America, OfferUp Good Neighbor Report, September 2020

Best Cities to Live and Work in 2020, Amarillo is top 10, Zippia.com, October 2020

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2019

​Least Expensive Cities in the U.S. to Live, Amarillo is #12, Yahoo Finance, August 2019


2018

​America's Best Small Cities, Amarillo is #50, Best Cities, June 2018

​Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, Amarillo is #7, WalletHub, April 2018

25 Best Small-Town Weekend Getaways with Kids, Amarillo is #2, Vacation Idea, April 2018

America's 10 Best Small Town Gems to Visit in 2018, Canyon is #1, Dish Network, January 2018
 
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​2017

Best Places to See Snow in Texas, Amarillo is #2, Trips to Discover, November 2017

Best Cities to Be Your Own Boss, Amarillo is #1, Entrepreneur, October 2017

Best Cities for People with Disabilities, Amarillo is #9, WalletHub, October 2017

Best Cities for Young Professionals,  Amarillo is #5, SmartAsset, September 2017

America's 15 Under-The-Radar Cities to Visit, Expedia, September 2017
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Best Large City to Start a Business, Amarillo is #9, WalletHub, May 2017

Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, Amarillo is #8, WalletHub, April 2017

2016

Best Place for Business Travelers​, Amarillo is #68, Churchill Living, December 2016 

Best Small City for Physicians & Surgeons, Amarillo is #23, GoodCall, November 2016

Best Midsize Cities for new College Graduates, Amarillo is #2, OnlineColleges.com, November 2016

Best Places for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, Amarillo is #27, GoodCall, October 2016

Best Places for Women Entrepreneurs to Launch a Business, Amarillo is #25, GoodCall, Sept 2016

​Best City for First-Time Home Buyers, Amarillo is #12 (#5 midsize cities), WalletHub, July 2016

Best Cities for New College Grads, Amarillo is #37, Zumper, May 2016

Best Large Cities to Start a Business, Amarillo is #10, WalletHub, April 2016

Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, Amarillo is #11, WalletHub, April 2016 

Top 50 Safest Cities for Driving in Texas, Amarillo is #35, The Obrella Insider, March 2016  

Top 10 U.S. Mid-sized Cities With the Shortest Commutes to Work, Amarillo is #6, Safeco Insurance,January 2016 
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Best City to Find a Job, Amarillo is #13, WalletHub, January 2016

Best Western Art Collection, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, True West Magazine, January 2016

Best Cowboy Art Restoration, Tex Randall Statue (Canyon, TX), True West Magazine, January 2016

Best Western Cowboy Town, Amarillo, True West Magazine, January 2016

​Best Ranch Rodeo, WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo, True West Magazine, January 2016

2015

Reader’s Choice Award, Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council, ConventionSouth magazine, December 2015

10 Best Places to Get Pecan Pies in Texas, Amarillo’s Biti-Pie is #7, Good things come in small packages, November 2015

17 Barbecue Joints in Texas You Need to Try Before You Die, Spicy Mike’s of Amarillo is #16, October 2015

10 Best Places to Camp in Texas, PD Canyon SP is #7, Caprocks Canyon SP is #6, September 2015

Hot 100 Pizzeria List from Pizza Today magazine, 575 Pizzeria is #68, October 2015

Ten Most Exciting Cities in Texas, Amarillo is #4, October 2015

2015 Best Small Places for Business and Careers, Amarillo is Second Among Texas Cities on List, Forbes, August 2015

 2015 Best Cities to Retire, Amarillo Ranks #14, August 2015

Top 10 Burger Joints in the U.S.,Coyote Bluff Café Is #6 On The List, TripAdvisor (ABC News item on rankings), July 2015

Readers Pick the Most Iconic Roadside Restaurants, Big Texan Steak Ranch Joins the List, Yahoo Travel, April 2015

2015’s Best Cities to Start a Business, Amarillo Ranks #12, April 2015

National Teacher of the Year is Shanna Peeples, English teacher from Amarillo’s Palo Duro HS, April 2015 

The 10 Texas Cities Safest from Severe Weather, Amarillo is #2, April 2015

The USA’s 12 Best Independent Coffee Shops, Palace Coffee makes the list, April 2015

The 9 Best Rest Stops for Food in America, Big Texan Steak Ranch makes the list, April 2015

17 Texas Barbecue Joints You Need to Try Before You Die, Spicy Mikes BBQ Haven in Amarillo makes the list, April 2015

The Texas Music Bucket List-Top 50 Music Experiences in the State, Greater SW Music Festival Ranks #14, Dallas Observer, March 2015

Top Destination Award, Amarillo CVC, Facilities & Destinations magazine, March 2015

10 Beautiful Towns in Texas, Canyon is on the list, CultureTrip.com, March 2015 

20 Best Cities for an Inexpensive Date, Amarillo is #14, DatingAdvice.com, March 2015

Texas’ Top 10 Bookish Destinations, Canyon is #9 because of play TEXAS, Top Indy bookstore and author Jodi Thomas, March 2015

40 Best Commuter Cities in Texas, Amarillo made the short list of best cities, March 2015

Most Diversified City Economies in the Nation, Amarillo is ranked 19th, Wallet Hub, March 2015

​Silver ADDY Award- AAF-Amarillo, Best Webisode, Makin’ Trails With Tuck @ Wonderland, February 2015

Best Banana Pudding in Texas, Top-ranked is Virdinski’s in Amarillo, February 2015

My Top 10 Mid-Sized American Cities to Visit, Amarillo Ranks #4, World Property Journal, January 2015​

The Best State Park to See in Every State, Palo Duro Canyon State Park Represents TX, Weather.com, January 2015

AISD Teacher Shanna Peeples Named Finalist for National Teacher of the Year, January 2015 

2014

Top 10 True Western Towns for 2015, Amarillo is #4,True West Magazine, February 2015 (released Dec. 2014)

Overall Best Pizza in the US, Omni Pizza @ 575 Pizzeria in Amarillo, December 2014

Amarillo in Top 50 US Best Value Cities for 2015,Trivago.com, November 2014

Amarillo in Top 10 Best Texas Cities to Raise a Family, November 2014

West Texas A&M University is #1 on list of America’s 30 Most Attractive Yet Affordable College Campuses, November 2014

America’s Best Coffeehouse, Palace Coffee of Amarillo & Canyon, October 2014

Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs,Amarillo is #18, September 2014

11 Affordable Travel Destinations in the U.S. for Family Vacations, Amarillo makes the list, Family Travel Magazine, August 2014

Playing Favorites- Some Writers Favorite Places in Texas, Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian by Kathryn Jones, TX Highways, September 2014

The Texas Top 40 Travel Destinations, Palo Duro Canyon State Park listed #10, TX Highways, August 2014

10 Best Cities for Newlyweds, Amarillo is #2, July 2014

Best Quirky Landmarks, Cadillac Ranch is #6, June 2014

Best Cities for Families, Amarillo ranks #10, June 2014

The Texas Top 40 Travel Destinations, Amarillo listed #34, Texas Highways, February 2014

South’s Best Destination Apps/Mobile Sites- ConventionSouth magazine, 2014

Gold ADDY Award- AAF-Amarillo, Amarillo CVC, Amarillo Is Where I’ll Be TV commercial, 2014

America’s 10 Best State Parks, Palo Duro Canyon State Park #1, Fodors.com, April 2014
   
13 Great Summer Weekend Getaways, Palo Duro Canyon State Park Makes the List, Texas Monthly, May 2014

5 Great Vacation Alternatives to the Grand Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State Park tops list, Minitime- Bring The Kids web site, May 2014 

Off The Beaten Park- 10 Lesser Known Wonders of the Western World, Palo Duro Canyon State Park makes the list, Cowboys & Indians, July 2014

Recession Recovery: Cities That Have Improved The Most- Amarillo is #10 on this list of over 500 cities, NerdWallet.com, June 2014 

2013

Facilities & Destinations Awards of Excellence, Top Destination Award-Amarillo CVC, Facilities & Destinations magazine

History Museums to Watch, Goodnight Historical Center-Claude, TX, True West magazine, August 2013

​The 50 Best BBQ Joints in the World, Tyler’s of Amarillo makes the list, Texas Monthly, June 2013

2012

Top 100 Events in North America, TEXAS makes the list, Destinations magazine, September/October 2011- American Bus Association

2011

20 Best Places to Live in the West, Amarillo makes the list, American Cowboy magazine, April/May 2011
 
Top 10 Places to Drink a Beer, Big Texan Steak Ranch makes the list, Draft magazine, May/June 2011

Best Meeting/Event Venue (500+) in the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo Civic Center Complex,Texas Meetings & Events, 2011

2010

Top 10 Western Museums, PPHM ranks #4, True West magazine, May 2010

83 Must See True West Destinations, Amarillo makes the list, True West magazine, March 2010

Before 2010

2005 4th Annual Best of the West, Amarillo- Best Wild West Town, True West magazine, 2005