Looking at Lubbock (Amarillo, Abilene, Canyon: house, universities, live in)

[mitraveler]

My husband and I are coming to Lubbock in the middle of August for a week. We are looking to eventually move to Texas and wanted to explore. We have a 19 y/o son and want to wait until after he finishes college.
We have only been to Amarillo, which we liked and was interested in Lubbock from this forum. Is there places that we should definitely visit and ones we should not waste our time?
Thank you for your help!

[GayleTX]

Lubbock is a lovely town but not exactly a tourist mecca (not a bad thing, IMO). You would want to visit the museum on the Texas Tech campus......it's very intereting, well done, and gives you a good picture of the history of that part of the country.

[mitraveler]

We're not into the tourist mecca, so that sounds great. We like to explore where the crowds don't! We like the outdoors and one of the things that we liked best about the panhandle was the openness and the sense of elbow room. We didn't feel crowded when we visited Amarillo. I know the flat land and sand are a turn off for some people, but we liked it alot! We're looking to move to Texas, preferable the panhandle. We live in Michigan now and we're getting tired of the gray and cold from October to April.

[case44]

Basically, now's the time to experience Lubbock, and now's also the time to make your move. The state's economy is still better than that of the rest of the country. This city is experiencing its biggest growth ever. You should see this. There's plenty of room, and dirt is still flying in a lot of places (and I don't mean dust storms). Lots of opportunities.

[GayleTX]

And if your son is starting college, there are two good universities in Lubbock (one private - Lubbock Christian, one public - Texas Tech) and one not far away in Canyon (West Texas A&M). He'd have to pay out of state tuition for one year but even at that it might be comparable to what he is paying in Michigan. Lubbock is a friendly, welcoming town.

[JamesAbilene]

South of Amarillo is Palo Duro Canyon which is worth a visit. The play, Texas, given at night in the Canyon is a little cheesy but lots of fun and an interesting way to find out about the history of the area. I grew up in the Panhandle and loved the cool summer nights--you might need a sweater in the Canyon at night. Check the predicted temperatures.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by mitraveler

My husband and I are coming to Lubbock in the middle of August for a week. We are looking to eventually move to Texas and wanted to explore. We have a 19 y/o son and want to wait until after he finishes college.
We have only been to Amarillo, which we liked and was interested in Lubbock from this forum. Is there places that we should definitely visit and ones we should not waste our time?
Thank you for your help!

You may want to take a short drive out to Lake Ransom Canyon southeast of Lubbock. You'll think you have left the High Plains as you drive through the tree-lined streets around the lake. Beautiful homes as well.

We have a small house at Muleshoe which is about halfway between Amarillo and Lubbock but, of the two cities, I've always preferred Lubbock. Also I should mention that my family lived at Lubbock in the 1980s and loved the town.

Amarillo and Lubbock represent the two distinctive sides of agriculture, ranching and farming, respectively.

Stay safe in your trip.

[case44]

Originally Posted by mitraveler

We're not into the tourist mecca, so that sounds great. We like to explore where the crowds don't! We like the outdoors and one of the things that we liked best about the panhandle was the openness and the sense of elbow room. We didn't feel crowded when we visited Amarillo. I know the flat land and sand are a turn off for some people, but we liked it alot! We're looking to move to Texas, preferable the panhandle. We live in Michigan now and we're getting tired of the gray and cold from October to April.

Still, tourism isn't so bad, and Lubbock has more to offer than people think. You'll get a big kick out of the American Wind Power Museum. The windmill images are something you'll find all over Lubbock. The area also has three wineries just outside the city, and now they have a fourth winery (La Diosa Cellars) that will have a rather unusual location. It's inside the city not far from Texas Tech. If you like sampling wine, you'll love Lubbock for its selections.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by mitraveler

My husband and I are coming to Lubbock in the middle of August for a week. We are looking to eventually move to Texas and wanted to explore. We have a 19 y/o son and want to wait until after he finishes college.
We have only been to Amarillo, which we liked and was interested in Lubbock from this forum. Is there places that we should definitely visit and ones we should not waste our time?
Thank you for your help!

And I forgot to mention the Buddy Holley Museum at Lubbock. I was a bit too young when the "Crickets" were playing but having had an older sister and brother during the bee-bop era of rock and roll music made the Museum very interesting for me.

[mitraveler]

Thank you James Abilene! We have visted Palo Duro and loved it. I do look forward to seeing it again. Its beautiful!

Case44 - It probably is the best time to move..... Now if I could sell my house! The average selling time in Michigan is about 370 days. Yikes!
My husband does IT and I'm an executive assistant (fancy title for secretary) so I'm hoping that we'd be able to get a job fairly easy.