Things Every Lubbock Visitor Should Do Once – Our Top 5

There are quite a few wineries in the area, all offering their own unique take on the drink. Some of the wineries, particularly the Llano Estacado Winery, have created wines that have gained statewide renown. Llano Estacado Winery offers tours and wine tastings, in addition to sales of wine-infused chocolates, jellies, and sauces. The winery, created by a Texas Tech horticulturist, has created many award-winning wines, including the 2004 Viviano, which was named as the “Best Red Wine” in Texas at the Lone Star State International wine competition. The Llano Estacado Winery is located at 3426 East Farm-to-Market Road 1585. Other locally-owned wineries include Cap Rock Winery, McPherson Cellars, and Pheasant Ridge Winery.

Lubbock has a good number of museums to occupy oneself for quite a while. One of the most popular museums is the City-operated Buddy Holly Center, located at 19th Street and Crickets Avenue. Not only does this particular museum offer numerous exhibits on the life and music of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, but also showcases West Texas music of all kinds. They also offer a fine arts gallery, focusing on visual art as well. Some other Lubbock museums to visit are the American Wind Power Center and Museum, the Silent Wings Museum, which focuses on gliders used in World War 2, the Museum of Texas Tech University, and the Ranching Heritage Center.

Lubbock has some wonderful local fare, far and above the usual chain restaurants. These aren’t all your basic greasy spoon diners, and many offer top-notch dining. One longtime Lubbock eatery is Ranch House Restaurant, located at 1520 Buddy Holly Avenue. The food is hot, fast, and delicious, all for a price from the year 1968. They don’t take credit or debit cards though, so pack your wallet or checkbook. From their signature special Chicken Fried Steak, to their massive breakfast menu that includes grilled round steak and eggs, along with bunches of biscuits and gravy, you won’t be disappointed by eating here for breakfast or lunch. Fortunately, there are plenty of local places with excellent food to belly-up to, including the Pupuseria y Restaurante El Salvador (they’re located out in the sticks of far-west 50th Street, so look it up beforehand), Triple J Chophouse and Brew Company, Seoul Korean Cuisine, Bigham’s Smokehouse, Yamagata Japanese Steakhouse, Gardski’s, Orlando’s Italian Restaurant, Mi Taco Village (near the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport), and for a thick, juicy steak, 50 Yard Line never fails to please.

There are lots of great bars in this area to suit anyone’s interests. It’s now possible to spend an evening enjoying your favorite drinks while playing an old-school arcade game, thanks to Kong’s Arcade and Fun Bar at 17th Street and Texas Avenue. This place is for the truly geeky at heart, and the arcade prices are much cheaper than you would find at your average family fun game room. If you’re interested in hearing some good music at your request, hit up Louie Louie’s Piano Bar right next door. This is a dueling piano bar, so there are two pianos with two musicians to battle for your requests, and a good time can be expected. Round the corner, and you’ll find La Diosa Cellars, a relaxing atmosphere with Spanish-influenced cuisine, excellent house wines, and live music from some of Lubbock’s premier singers and songwriters. La Diosa Cellars is non-smoking as well. Live music abounds in the Depot District, and performers can often be found playing in Tornado Alley, the side yard of the Tornado Alley art gallery, as well as many other venues in the area.

The perfect cure for the hangover received at the Depot District the night before could be going and getting in touch with your religious side. After all, there’s no place better to repent for the past evening than at one of Lubbock’s historic downtown churches. There are sizable facilities to serve just about any denomination along Broadway. One of the most impressive churches in the area is First United Methodist Church, located at 1411 Broadway Avenue. The sizable sanctuary, swathed in stained glass and wooden beams, was opened in 1955 and the building’s gothic features have earned it the moniker of “cathedral of the west.” The center point of the sanctuary, other than the 3,355 pipe Forrest Memorial Pipe Organ, is the Rose Window, measuring over 26 feet in diameter. Other churches along Broadway include First Christian Church, First Baptist Church, Broadway Church of Christ, and St. Elizabeth’s University Catholic Parish.