For me, like most who grew up in southcentral Kansas, Winfield has always just been… there. It had the necessities (Dillons, Walmart, JC Penney), and apart from that and the drug store, I never gave it a second look. However, now that I have returned to the area as an adult, I am seeing it with different eyes. Now I can recognize the beauty, the character, and… well, the things that are, quite frankly, out of place in this rural area.

Winfield is ranked #56 in the top 100 Small Towns in America, according to its community website. Though I never would have made this leap on my own, it’s easy to see why a judging committee would appreciate this tiny city. As you enter Winfield on Highway 77, you will be greeted by Island Park, which has a beautiful driveway winding through the playground equipment and by the Walnut River. It’s a delightful mix of shade and views of the sky, with activities for all ages. In the summer, the Winfield Aquatic Center offers a large swimming pool with diving pit, water slide, and kiddie pool complete with water-spraying dragon.

Next on your tour will be a pit stop at The Burger Station, a tiny hut of a house on 7th Street just off of Main. If you think you’ve had the best burger of your life, you have not unless you’ve been to The Burger Station. However, said burger must be consumed within five minutes of eating, or the bag that it is in will turn clear and may fall apart. Take it to Island Park and make a picnic. That is the way this delicacy is meant to be enjoyed.

While discussing eateries, I must mention the fine Mexican food offered in Winfield. I don’t know how they acquired such authentic cuisine, but it is the best I’ve found in the area. El Maguey, on 9th Street, is a hit for both lunch and dinner for the working crowd. There is no substitute for this quick stop (and a refreshing beer) after a long day’s work. However, if you’d like a more family-friendly, sit-down experience, please try Neives’ at the corner of 9th and Millington. It is, by far, the best Mexican cuisine to be found in southcentral Kansas, and it is not to be missed.

While in the area, make note of the beautiful building housing The Winfield Courier and walk across the street for some coffee and a pastry at Cuppa Joe’s. Bucking the Starbucks trend, Winfield has embraced this small coffee shop and maintained its loyal patronage.

Shopping in Winfield is a lesson in shopping local. Besides Maurice’s and JC Penney, there are no chain stores to be found. Instead, for the best flowers and home decorations around, go to Donna’s Designs. For modern fashion with a little local flare, go to Josephine and Co., but also stop next door at Eagle Nest thrift shop to ensure you’re getting the best deals the town has to offer. The town also boasts three liquor stores (to my knowledge) that each offer drive-thru service. If that’s not shopping at its greatest, I don’t know what is.

As far as bars and taverns are concerned, Winfield has its own hopping establishments, all conveniently located within a block of one another! O’Kelley’s is not your traditional Irish pub; you will find more two-stepping than dancing jigs, but it is an ideal small-town setting for drinking the worries of the field away. Across the street is PC’s, which offers karaoke on the second Saturday of every month. And just up the road lies my personal favorite, if for name alone: The Jumping Jukebox. If you can’t have fun there, you’re just not trying.

The last, but perhaps most important, thing to do when daytripping to Winfield is to admire the gorgeous architecture. Many downtown buildings are originals only slightly refurbished since the town’s inception. Many of the tree-lined streets also boast houses from the 19th century, in various states of repair and paint, but for the most part, breathtaking. Be sure to travel the length of both 11th Street and South 7th; you will not be disappointed. Also, take in a glimpse of the Southwestern College campus; its original stone buildings make for a stunning educational setting.  Stop by the caffeine-monger of choice for Southwestern students, College Hill Coffee Shop, then burn off your mocha calories by climbing the seemingly endless campus stairs.  On your way out of town, pause to admire the mental institution-turned-veterans’ hospital and the fabulous correctional facility by its side. Don’t be afraid; it’s minimum-security. Just be sure to follow the signs – don’t pick up hitchhikers!

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