Moving to Amarillo in December 2012 (San Antonio, Canyon: appointed, apartment complexes, crime rate)
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Hello everyone I am moving to Amarillo in December of 2012 for a job opportunity. I am a 23 year old male living in the rural outskirts of San Antonio, Texas who spent the first 19 years of my life being born and raised in the city of San Francisco, California. I have also lived in the heart of the city of San Antonio but have since relocated to the edge of town to be closer to my job. Anywho. I noticed that Amarillo has a pretty high crime rate for a city it's size. Is it dangerous to walk outside there at night? What are some areas to avoid? What are the nicest areas of town? Does anyone feel like they're in danger 24/7 living there? I need to know everything I can about living there before I make the decision to go. Furthermore I'd like to point out that I've been in Texas for the past 6 years almost and the heat and humidity suck but I am used to it and extremely cold temperatures and snow don't bother me at all lol. What is the coldest it gets on average during the winter in Amarillo? and How much does it ususally snow and does it snow in Amarillo every year? Sorry that I have a lot of questions but I am really excited/anxious to try something new and get the heck out of San Antonio. Any honest input from anyone who truly knows about the city of Amarillo would greatly help me in making my decision a little bit easier on my mind. Thank you all in advance.
We lived there 6 years.....well, outside of town for 6 years and had a business on the East loop there. The crime in Amarillo is mostly confined to certain sections of the city.....east, north and northeast mainly.....and is generally among their own neighbors and mostly at night, mostly weekends. The rest of the city is quite safe, altho I probably wouldn't want to hang out too much at night the big truck stops on I-40. Amarillo Blvd is not somewhere you'd want to be after dark, either, altho in the daytime there are very few problems, lots of good ethnic restaurants....Asain and Hispanic.
There is very little humidity in Amarillo, makes for pleasant summers....even when it's quite hot, the evenings are not bad. There is quite a lot of wind, but very little sand/dirt storms like there is farther south. There are usually a few snow storms in the winter but the next day the sun is shining - people have been known to go snowblind from the white snow and the bright sunshine!!...the temp may stay low and the snow not melt completely for a few weeks, but they are good about keeping the streets cleared.
The most desirable neighborhoods are in the west, southwest part of town....the medical district area. Amarillo is very much a medical center and that's where all the hospitals and clinics and professional buildings are....also the mall, the nicer apartment complexes and restaurants.
The 'culture' there is going to be quite different from California, even from San Antonio...it's still a western town... lots of educated, sophisticated people there that you will mistake for cowboys - don't make snap judgements about people by their manner of dressing or attitude. I'm not sure what young people do for fun there (I wasn't one of them!)...don't seem to be many clubs or concerts..... but it's near enough to the mountains of New Mexico for a great ski weekend now and then.
Is it dangerous to walk outside there at night? What are some areas to avoid? What are the nicest areas of town? Does anyone feel like they're in danger 24/7 living there?
There are parts of town to avoid for sure. That way in every town I think, so doubtful different than where you live now. If you look on South, or SW, or West part of town, there are real nice areas, and you won't feel in danger.
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I need to know everything I can about living there before I make the decision to go. Furthermore I'd like to point out that I've been in Texas for the past 6 years almost and the heat and humidity suck but I am used to it and extremely cold temperatures and snow don't bother me at all lol. What is the coldest it gets on average during the winter in Amarillo? and How much does it ususally snow and does it snow in Amarillo every year?
It snows every year in Amarillo. Seldom stays long but several times a year there is snow, and almost every time there is ice with it. If you prefer a winter wonderland though, you will be disappointed. It seldom stays real cold for very long either, but it will dip down in the teens and single digits a few times every year. Really, the snow is no big deal, but the ice sucks. Beats the humidity though, IMO.
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Sorry that I have a lot of questions but I am really excited/anxious to try something new and get the heck out of San Antonio. Any honest input from anyone who truly knows about the city of Amarillo would greatly help me in making my decision a little bit easier on my mind. Thank you all in advance.
Well, I currently live just outside of Amarillo, and have spent the last 30+ years in the Texas Panhandle, so I hope you got some info here to help. If you come to town with an open mind, you will find a very nice place to live, work, and play.
I have only eaten there one time, when a whole bunch of family was down and they all wanted to try it out...
Did get to watch a couple guys try the challenge, and that is some sort of eating. One guy bailed about 20 minutes into it, the other probably would have finished if he had another 10 minutes. That is a *BUNCH* of food there.
I was disappointed in my own steak, both quality and cost. There are a number of other places better IMO.
For Mexican, I prefer The Plaza on Soncy just north of I-40, El Patron 1 block east of Bell on I think 54th, and La Fiesta just south of I-40 on Ross, across from the backside of Sams. Most times I eat out, it is Mexican.
The Hoffbrau is a good place for steak or Dr Pepper chicken. It is on the south I-40 service road just east of Coulter.
Ordering pizza, try La Bella, it is pretty good. Italian would be Pascara's (sp??) on 54th and Bell maybe? I have eaten there several times and it is real good, but I just drive to it, can't remember which numbered street intersection it's at.
Everyone has their favorites, these are just the ones I like.
The last time I was in The Big Texan, the musicians were in the dining room playing from table to table. Of course, I had them play a Bob Wills tune. The fiddler did pretty well.
The Big Texan is just a place to take your Yankee relatives when they come visit....it's a fun place, good decor, the food is passable, service is usually good. And I've had two cousins that successfully ate the 72 oz steak (not something I'm proud of actually....they do the same thing at family reunions). I always enjoyed going early on the Saturday mornings that the cowboy poets performed at breakfast.
In the summer you must attend the outdoor musical "Texas" that they do in Palo Duro Canyon. Good music, good atmosphere, and a good history lesson to get you acquainted with your new home.
Don't forget the Cadillac Ranch, the site of the Battle of Adobe Walls and Turkey, Texas home of Bob Wills. You may be too young for western swing music but it's a major part of music history in Texas.
I've never been to Adobe Walls but always wanted to.
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