In search of the best and most fun things to do in Lubbock, TX?
Famous for being the motherland of the Lengendary Buddy Holly, Lubbock is located in the northwestern side of Texas, United States.
Lubbock is the eleventh largest city in Texas, with a population of nearly three hundred thousand.
The city was renowned for its thriving farming sector, particularly cotton production. Lubbock is a city you would love to explore in Texas.
Lubbock features several fascinating attractions such as the Bayer Museum of Agriculture, Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Silent Wings Museum, Joyland Amusement Park, and more.
Are you planning an exploration of Lubbock, TX? Check out this list of top things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Things to Do in Lubbock
1. MacKenzie Park
MacKenzie Park
MacKenzie Park is a great place for outdoor lovers and thrill seekers in Lubbock. One facility that makes this park stand out is the two premium 18-hole championship golf courses.
There is a gorgeous sculpture garden with sculptures that are bigger than the usual life-sized sculptures, and they were made by Steve Teeters, a famous artist.
Visitors get to also watch adorable animals present a show in the Prairie dog habitat. In addition, the park consists of trails perfect for horseback riding.
McKenzie Park is a nice place to visit, loosening up and integrating into the natural habitat while enjoying the fresh air.
Address: 301 Interstate 27, Lubbock, TX, United States
2. American Wind Power Center
American Wind Power Center
The American Wind Power Center was established by Billie Wolfe in Lubbock because she was hardworking and passionate about what she did.
Billie Wolfe was a home economics teacher in Texas who put a larger part of her life into studying, finding, and taking pictures of windmills.
She had one goal, which was the preservation of the great history and showcasing the significance of the windmills in the livelihood of the first prairie pioneers.
Billie spent almost thirty years acquiring numerous windmills in a bid to open a special museum focusing on windmills.
Her dream was brought to life in 1998 and grew larger in 2001. Currently, the American Wind Power Center showcases almost two hundred windmills in different sizes and shapes.
Address: 1701 Canyon Lake Dr, Lubbock, TX 79403, United States
3. Museum of Texas Tech University
Museum of Texas Tech University
The Museum of Texas Tech University is located in Texas Tech University’s educational as a study mechanism.
The Museum is open to everyone for free regardless of their age, offering a large collection of public exhibitions and programs.
The collection touches on numerous essential themes such as natural sciences, history, clothing & textiles, fine arts, paleontology, and more.
The Museum of Texas Tech University houses more than seven million items with a Research Laboratory for Natural Science which conserves essential collections of natural history ranging from genetics, invertebrates, birds, and mammals.
Guided tours are also offered in the museum, which include gallery tours and highlight tours that involves a brief excursion of the whole facility.
The Museum of Texas Tech University features a mood Planetarium, making it a favorite place for aspiring astronomers.
Address: 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX, United States
4. Lubbock Veterans War Memorial
Lubbock Veterans War Memorial
Founded in December, 2003, Lubbock Veterans War Memorial is one of the most outstanding and the biggest memorial site aside from the United States’s capital.
Lubbock Veterans War Memorial was built with a whopping sum of 1.2 million dollars in honor of the Armed Forces men and women who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Visitors are allowed to acquire a brick, in remembrance of the time they served or for a loved one who lost his life during service.
Lubbock Veterans War Memorial features a marble wall area designated to the Department of Defense, for those who died during service.
Address: 4008 82nd Street, Henry Huneke Park, Lubbock, TX, United States
5. Lubbock Memorial Arboretum
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum
A historical site of ninety-three acres, Lubbock Memorial Arboretum, offers visitors many opportunities to get outside and have fun.
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum is home to a wide range of natural amenities such as plants, tall trees, flowers, vines, and shrubs.
You will also see different species of wildlife, including birds and butterflies, making it an excellent place to watch wildlife.
There is a beautiful red brick building called “The interpretive Center” this is the place where classes are conducted.
Loosen up and explore the scenic 1.18-mile trail perfect for walking and the gorgeous and soothing Plays Lake.
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum is open for guided tours of the property for those interested in learning about plant life and wildlife.
Address: 4111 University Avenue, Lubbock, TX, United States
6. Caviel Museum of African-American History
The Caviel Museum of African-American History is owned and managed by Alfred and Billie Caviel, an African-American couple.
They singlehandedly managed the company for almost fifty before giving it up to the Roots Historical Arts Council.
The business was donated with a sparkling hope that it would someday become a museum promoting African-American culture.
In 2015, it was successfully converted into a museum, the first African-American museum in West Texas.
The Caviel Museum of African-American History features walls, designed with white and black pictures of dentists, nurses, and doctors from African-Americans, which also includes a NASA astronaut, M. D. Bernard Harris, who broke the record of being the first African-American to travel to space.
It is housed in what was the first pharmacy in the United States, showcasing a wide variety of artworks, antiques, and more.
Address: 1719 Avenue A, Lubbock, TX, United States
7. Moody Planetarium
Moody Planetarium
If you are an aspiring astronomer or want to explore the celestial bodies, add a visit to Moody Planetarium to your list of fun things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Moody Planetarium offers visitors insights into the unimaginable and broadens their knowledge about the astronomy and science world.
It is located in the Museum of Texas Tech University as an educational outlet with the main goal of stimulating passion for sciences by effectively balancing education and entertainment.
There are more than forty shows available to watch here, offering diverse options to cater to the needs of all interests and ages.
Moody Planetarium is a sure place to learn more about the planets and stars and get a closer view of the sun.
Several laser shows are held here, staged by artists such as Pink Floyd, Micheal Jackson, and Metallica into incredible hits, making it a fantastic place for music fans.
Address: 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States
8. Science Spectrum Museum
Science Spectrum Museum
Are you ready to try out new and thrilling activities? If yes, add a visit to Science Spectrum Museum to your list of fun things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Science Spectrum Museum is a family-friendly destination consisting of over two hundred and fifty engaging science collections and science shows.
The Museum occupies three floors packed with various exhibits relating to physical science, offering a better knowledge of physics.
Science Spectrum Museum features a science platform that displays electricity and chemistry shows, plus a Demo Deck, which offers a closer view of live animals.
Address: 2579 S. Loop 289, Suite 250, Lubbock, TX, United States
9. Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark
Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark
Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark is located in a region of the historic valley Yellowhouse Draw. It was formerly a source of water to the Citizens in the Southern High Plains until the early 1930s, when it was used up.
Later on, some activities of the early immigrants were discovered, which led to the exposure of bison kills from way back by an unidentified group of Paleoindians which resulted in the first radiocarbon period.
Currently, annual events are held to preserve the proof of the Southern High Plains being a residence for many people for close to twelve thousand years.
You can go for a hike on a trail of three miles that leads to the Yellowhouse Canyon. Make sure you attend one of the events held here so you can uncover more facts.
Address2401 Landmark Drive, Lubbock, TX, United States
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10. Time Crunch Escapes
Time Crunch Escapes is a fun center that tests your ability to remain calm and relaxed under intense pressure.
This is a popular escape location in Lubbock by many families, friends, and colleagues who want to strengthen their bonds and ability to walk together.
The escape facility consists of four separate rooms with distinct themes available for visitors to pick from, and each of the rooms offers more than twenty riddles to solve.
Time Crunch Escapes offers players only sixty minutes to solve riddles or puzzles and search for details that will help them escape the room.
The rooms offered include the Pyramid, the Shady detective, Turntable Diner, and Think or Swim, which require a minimum of 2 players to eight.
Time Crunch Escapes is a perfect place for friends reunions, family get-togethers, birthdays, cooperate meetings, and more.
Address:8004 Indiana Avenue, Ste A-16, Lubbock, TX 79423, United States
11. National Ranching Heritage Center
National Ranching Heritage Center
One fun thing to do in Lubbock is visiting the National Ranching Heritage Center, established in 1976.
The National Ranching Heritage Center preserves and educates visitors about the history of North American ranching.
A home to closely fifty historic buildings in which at least thirty are about one hundred to one and seventy-seven years.
The park was founded to showcase the evolution of the ranch system dating back to the early 1700s to the mid-1990s.
The National Ranching Heritage Center hosts several events throughout the year and during the holiday season, including Candlelight at the Ranch during the Christmas period.
Take a walk down the well-paved 1.5 mile routes and enjoy the sights of the beautifully renovated buildings as you walk passed, every one of them has its uniqueness.
Address: 3121 Fourth Street, Lubbock, TX, United States
12. Buddy Holly Center
Buddy Holly Center
For travelers who might have never heard of Buddy Holly or are clueless about his life story, here is your chance to find out.
Add a visit to Buddy Holly Center to your checklist of places to visit in Lubbock, TX, a place where you get to learn all there is to know about Buddy Holly.
The center is only concerned with the collection, preservation, and displaying of Buddy Holly’s legacy as well as the western Texas and Lubbock music.
Buddy Holly Center showcases several artifacts, including pictures and manuscripts from when he was still a child to when he became famous.
Do well to check out the huge statue of Holly plus the “walk of fame of western Texas,” where he was the number one to be listed.
You will also see his two acoustic guitars, period black glasses, and famous Fender Stratocaster guitar.
Address: 1801 Crickets Avenue, Lubbock, TX, United States
13. Joyland Amusement Park
Joyland Amusement Park
Located in McKenzie Park, Joyland Amusement Park contains over thirty exciting and exhilarating rides.
Some of the rides include bumper cars, the madhouse, a carousel, rollercoasters, a little coaster, the galaxi, and more.
There are arcade games to cater to the needs of all kinds of gamers, and an upgrade was recently made with an addition of a drop tower of 140-foot tall called the Dare Devil Drop.
The Joyland Amusement Park offers an impressive list of local American dishes, including greasy & funnel cakes and other homemade food.
Address: 500 Canyon Lake Dr, Lubbock, TX 79401, United States
14. Prairie Dog Town
Prairie Dog Town
Prairie Dog Town was founded in the 1930s by Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy N. Clapp, and it is a highly secured site.
Directly overlooking the Meadowbrook golf course, Prairie Dog Town initially began with only four dogs and two tunnels.
The dog park grew greatly and later earned an enormous grant under the Meadowbrook golf course management company.
Prairie Dog Town is presently one of the city’s most popular attractions It also features a Pavillion in an amazing environment with high fences and interpretative symbols.
The park offers a safe environment for dogs to explore by providing an irrigation system that forms native grasses.
Address: 301 Interstate 27, Lubbock, TX, United States
15. The Cactus Theater
Cactus Theater
The Cactus Theater has been in business since the 1930s and is a significant historical landmark in the city.
During its opening, it was highly recognized as the first theater in Lubbock, although it was later shut down for numerous years before its opening after the renovation in the 1990s
The Cactus Theater is a venue for many exciting shows such as concerts, Broadway shows, dramas, and more.
Addresss: 1812 Buddy Holly Ave, Lubbock, TX 79401, United States
16. Silent Wings Museum
Silent Wings Museum
Silent Wings Museum is a public establishment concerned with conserving and promoting the history of a program actively used during WWII, called the “glider program.”
The Museum’s main purpose is to research, collect, and showcase artifacts and information for visitors to explore and learn new things.
One of the major highlights of the Silent Wings Museum is a nicely refurbished WACO CG-4A glider entirely enclosed by many fascinating exhibits.
Silent Wings Museum offers a 90-minute guided tour throughout the corners of the museum, built as a replica of a World War II zone.
Visitors are given insight into the history of the men who worked tirelessly for their country as American Glider Pilots using a large collection of interactive exhibits.
Address: 6202 N. Interstate 27, Lubbock, TX, United States
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17. Lubbock Cultural District
Lubbock Cultural District
If you love the culture of Lubbock, add a visit to Lubbock Cultural District to your list of fun things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Lubbock Cultural District is a special region focused on entertainment, arts, and culture to enhance economic and community growth.
The district features several spots such as The Legacy, the Charles Adams Gallery, Lubbock arts alliance, Allen Theatre, Civic Lubbock, and more.
Here, you will find the museum of Texas Tech University, the Buddy Holly Center, the Bayer Museum of Agriculture, and the American Windmill Museum.
Lubbock Cultural District is also a popular place for dozens of musical performances and other events & festivals held here.
Address: 5601 19th Street, Lubbock, TX, United States
18. Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts
Whether you’re an aspiring artist or not, visiting Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts is one of the top things to do in Lubbock, TX.
The art center consists of nine fascinating buildings, a non-profit organization that officially opened its doors to the public in 1997.
Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts specializes in promoting, encouraging, and uniting professional and emerging artists.
It showcases a dynamic mix of exhibits and presentations all through the year basically to publicize the artworks of international and regional artists, including Tina Fuentes, an artist who is based on the Eastern New Mexico plains as well as Western Texas’s beautiful landscapes.
They also encourage visitors to come in and participate through captivating displays which require their responses.
Address: 511 Avenue K., Lubbock, TX, United States
19. Bayer Museum of Agriculture
An eye-opening center that uncovers lots of facts you probably haven’t heard of, should be at the top of your list of things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Bayer Museum of Agriculture is focused on educating the people on the important roles of agriculture in their day-to-day life activities.
The Museum displays a rising collection of intriguing exhibits, which gives visitors a chance to see firsthand, listen and feel how farm life truly is.
Also known as the American Museum of Agriculture, featuring a wide variety of antiques, including a 1920s blacksmith studio and the typical ancient pedal tractors.
Bayer Museum of Agriculture features a few galleries specially for preserving the cotton cultivation history and more about the general agricultural history of Lubbock.
You will be taken on an amazing journey back to the ancient days, and visitors are also allowed to get on a modern cotton stripper.
Address: 1121 Canyon Lake Drive, Lubbock, TX, United States
20. Antique Mall of Lubbock
Do you need a perfect location to go shopping? Then, add a visit to Antique Mall of Lubbock to your list of best things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Antique Mall of Lubbock was founded in 1985 and has managed to remain on the chart as one of the best malls for more than forty years.
The mall is housed in a 24, 000 Square foot facility with more than fifty stalls and over one hundred varieties of items showcased yearly.
You can shop for the best sports relics, pottery, books, vintage clothing, arts, glassware, jewelry, china, toys, and more.
Antique Mall of Lubbock consists of a fantastic collection of drug stores, pharmacy, and general store offering items like soda, jars, signs for adverts, tobacco, and more.
If you want to change your home decor, this is the right place for you; they offer Victorian mahogany furniture and, American oak furniture & walnut.
Address: 7907 W. 19th Street, Lubbock, TX, United States
21. Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center
Are you looking for an educational center? Then, add a visit to Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center to your list of best things to do in Lubbock, TX.
Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center was founded in 1960 with the primary aim of providing a center for arts, garden, and music to the community.
The center is open to everyone, both locals and tourists, offering them a wide range of photography & art competitions, exhibits, garden lessons & shows, and educational art classes.
Most of the classes offered here are done by experienced artists and distinguished gardeners.
Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center offers visitors a chance to explore the Rose garden, the Tea Terrace, and Lubbock Arboretum Gazebo
Address: 4215 University Avenue, Lubbock, TX, United States
22. McPherson Cellars Winery
Finally! For lovers of good wines, visiting McPherson Cellars Winery is one of the fun things to do in Lubbock, TX.
McPherson Cellars Winery has been one of the leading brands in Texas for over forty years after it was founded in 2008.
The winery is owned and operated by the McPherson family, who are highly knowledgeable about their wines and have successfully carried on with the family’s traditions of making great wines.
The family concentrates more on growing grapes which flourish in the high plains weather of Texas main reason for the delicious and unique wines produced.
There is a classic tasting room where guests learn a lot about the winery and sample some of the notable wines, rose, red and white wines.
Address: 1615 Texas Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79401, United States
23. Caprock Cafe
Caprock Cafe
Your list of fun things to do in Lubbock, TX should include a visit to Caprock Café, one of the best cafeteria in the city.
Caprock Café was established in 1997 and has rapidly grown into creating an outstanding reputation for serving delicious meals.
They offer an impressive food menu that offers delectable dishes made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
This place is usually a bomb during the night with amazing live music entertainment plus delicious chilled beers.
Address: 34th and Indiana, Lubbock, TX, United States
24. Caprock Winery
To your list of fun things to do in Lubbock, TX, add a visit to Caprock Winery, especially with your family and friends, for an exceptional experience.
Caprock Winery has continuously blown the minds of citizens and visitors in Texas with the quality of wines offered, which showcases the authentic texas taste.
They have been producing delicious and quality wines for over thirty years, ever since its opening in 1988.
Caprock Winery offers varieties of award-winning wines made with unique ingredients and techniques. Visitors are welcomed into the gorgeous vineyards, and the winery is well-known for its remarkable architectural design.
The tasting room is open for tours where visitors get to enjoy different samples of some of the most delightful wines on a cozy patio for better relaxation or by the fireplace.
Address: 408 East Woodrow Road, Lubbock, TX, United States
25. Cooper Drive-In
Cooper Drive-Inn
Cooper Drive-In is a perfect location for all your breakfast meals in Lubbock, offering only healthy and delicious meals.
Cooper Drive-In offers an extensive food menu offering different kinds of delicacies, both Mexican and American fares.
Some of the meals served include grilled chicken salad, Nachos, burritos, bbq sandwiches, hamburgers, chili dogs, cheeseburgers, and more.
Address: 3225 114th St, Lubbock, TX 79424, United States
26. Adventure Park
Enjoy a fun-filled vacation in Lubbock, TX, when you visit Adventure Park. This fun attraction brims with many exciting things to do that will keep you active throughout your visit.
The Adventure Park features more than 20 acres of exciting outdoor and indoor zip lines. You can also have something to eat at the Expedition Cafe.
There is plenty of fantastic stuff to do. At the same time, the park has fun amenities such as miniature golf, Bumper Boats, a putting green, Go Karts, pedal boats, adventure towers, ninjas, climbing walls, and Expedition Mining.
You can visit Adventure Park on Fridays and Saturdays to enjoy the live music at Thirsty Garden. Adventure Park is a perfect place to have a great time with family or friends.
Address: 5110 29th Dr, Lubbock, TX 79407-2618, USA
27. National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration
National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration
The National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration is a yearly event allowing people to discover and experience the rich heritage and traditions of the American West.
This annual National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration display Cowboy poets, storytellers, a chuck wagon cook-off, musicians, exhibits, authors, native American activities, horse training, and historians.
Visitors will witness special presentations, 70 plus musical performances, 80 cowboy poets, 30 plus storytellers, and over 200 exhibition spaces brimming with the most outstanding Western art and products.
Address: Lubbock, Texas, United States
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Plan a Trip to Lubbock
Lubbock is a city that gives visitors wings to explore the four corners of the city through the diverse options of recreational opportunities offered.
During your stay in Lubbock, get ready to sink into the rich history and amazing culture of the community. Start planning a visit to this beautiful city today.