Traveling with the Jones

Moving from Emporia to Winfield in the summer of 2010 had me concerned–I was moving away from home for the first time to a town I had never heard of before. Winfield seemed great, but it also seemed tiny, especially considering Emporia has twice the population than Winfield. Where was I going to find food like I was used to in this new town?

I shouldn’t have been concerned, because here is certainly no shortage of great food to find in this small Kansas town.

4 Fun Food Finds in Winfield, Kansas

1)      Burger Station (Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Saturday. 620-221-9773.) “The Best Burger In Town”, as it has been crowned by many towners, Winfield’s Burger Station is a crowd-pleasing favorite. While there may be a lack of accommodations (carry-out only, no dine in), there is certainly no lack in flavor.

The Burger Station is easy to miss, as it looks like a small shack on the side of the road, but the station has been around for several decades, (it opened in 1952), a testament to its status among Winfield residents. Located at 113 East 7^th Avenue, the food is cooked fresh right in front of you, and the carry-out bag you take away will be start out white, but will eventually turn transparent by the time you get home.

There are only a few menu items, including burgers and fries, both of which you can get with chili. The station prides itself on its no-nonsense burgers – nothing fancy, not a bunch of choices, just straight to the point and delicious. It’s fairly cheap, and certainly well-known, as many people who come through Winfield make sure to stop at this locally famous burger joint, which definitely makes it a crowd pleaser for both Winfield natives and college students alike.

2)      El Maguey’s (Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 620-221-4940.) El Mags, as it is affectionately called by Winfield residents, is the restaurant to stop at if you’re in the mood for delicious Mexican food. Authentic, friendly, and fun, Maguey’s offers not only excellent food but an exciting experience. The waiters and waitresses are all either related in some way, or are friends – which makes the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. Not only is all the food fresh, but the service and cooks are fast. My personal favorite menu items include the tamales and the taquitos – both of which are delicious choices.

At Maguey’s, the owners take pride in the fact that all meals are delivered hot, all meals are freshly prepared, and customers don’t wait a long time to receive their food. In Winfield, Maguey’s is definitely the place to go before the Southwestern football games on Saturday afternoon, or for a friendly dinner date any other day of the week. Dependable, reliable, and always a town favorite.

 

3)      College Hill Coffee (Open Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) is not only one of my personal favorites in Winfield, but a favorite of many local Winfield residents as well. The coffee house boasts a comfortable atmosphere, and wonderful aromas of fresh ground coffee, and made from scratch breads and cookies. They have a vast variety of specialty drinks to order from (including the Tiger Spice Chai Tea Latte, a favorite of many), as well as light sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items like quiche and waffles.

All baked items are homemade, including the cakes, cheesecakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins, scones, and pies–just to name a few items! The coffee house is filled with comfortable chairs, local artwork, and of course the heavenly smell of coffee.

4)     Hunter’s Café (Open 5:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., every day. 620-221-6222.) Located on 1020 Manning Street, Hunter’s is the place to be on Sunday morning. It is a local favorite of after-church goers, as well as college students looking for a large meal on a small budget. Serving pancakes larger than dinner plates, as well as a variety of home-style foods including burgers and fried chicken, Hunter’s offers an open and friendly atmosphere. The portion sizes are gigantic; for example, a full size omelet is made with a dozen eggs, and a side of bacon consists of 6 strips.

All menu items are available all day, which is convenient for those who enjoy a cheese burger and fries at 6 in the morning. While the wait is often long, and the food preparation can take longer than you may be used to, Winfield residents find the wait to be worth it. The waitresses are open and friendly, and the food is made to order. Definitely worth the stop! 

While Winfield may not have as many options as a larger-sized town, it certainly has quality food that satisfies different people. Give some of the local cuisine a try if you’re ever in the area!

Have you ever visited any of these restaurants? What was your experience? Share in the comment section below!

This article is written by Hannah Watkins – writer, traveler, and grand-scale dreamer – as well as a senior studying communications at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.

She is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with her pug named Cookie.

Hannah is currently completing an internship with VentureTime Travel and she hopes to someday work in the Public Relations field.

 

Interested in local cuisines? Here are some more food discovery posts:

• Destination Discovery: Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and Steakhouse
• Destination Discovery: The Cruise Room in Denver, Colorado
• Visiting One of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in Jacksonville, Florida
• Mother’s Restaurant – A True New Orleans Gem

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Traveler Interview:  Hannah Watkins

Hannah Watkins is a senior Communication student at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Although she is only 21, her immense love of travel has led her to 12 different countries across the globe – Scotland, Canada, Italy, France, England, and Austria – to name a few.

Traveling has been an important part of Hannah’s life since the day she was born, and she hopes to continue traveling for the rest of her life.

At Left: Hannah tests the legend that throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain in Rome with the right hand over the left shoulder brings good luck! 

We wanted to learn more about Hannah’s travel experience and insights.

The Jones: What inspires you to travel?

Hannah: I think the possibility of meeting new people and trying new things are both incredibly appealing to me. Connecting with others who are completely different from me, who come from a different background, and who believe in different things are all unique experiences that are so beneficial.

Learning from others who have lived in a different way than you’ve ever experienced can teach you things no text book or professor can; learning about others and their culture are some of the most fascinating experiences I’ve ever had.

I’m also an adventurous person, so the excitement of trying something new – whether cuisine, exploring a new place, or learning about a different country – has always had a special pull on me.

Have you always enjoyed travel? What contributed to your love of travel?

I have not always enjoyed travel, which is a surprise to many who know me well, as I love it so much now. As a younger girl, I did not have much confidence in myself to try new things or meet new people. I also struggled with motion sickness, so traveling anywhere of great distance was something I dreaded. Even taking a car ride to a different part of Kansas made my physically ill.

I think I’ve overcome these barriers, in large part thanks to my parents. They both enjoy travel, so they continually encouraged me to do the same. I never had the opportunity to let my fears fester into a full-blown problem. After much persistence, and lots of practice, traveling has now become one of my favorite past-times.

What is your favorite destination?  Why?  

This is a question I’m asked quite often, and it’s always a question I struggle to answer. I’ve loved every single place I’ve traveled, whether it was the native people, the local food, or the inviting atmosphere. However, in my mind, I think Switzerland is a place that will forever hold a special place in my heart. It is one of the most beautiful and inviting countries I have ever been to.

I learned a lot about myself on my visit to Switzerland, and I owe that to the wonderful people I met and the fantastic experiences I had there. Switzerland is truly “picture perfect”–I felt at home in Switzerland, and I would love to go back someday. 

Pictured in front of the Matterhorn is a group of students who took a trip to Europe, including Zermatt, Switzerland. Hannah is 7 over to the left, in the second row.

What destination has surprised you the most, either good or bad?

I have never been so shocked as I was when I visited the Dachau concentration camp during my time in Germany. It was a devastating shock to my system and a real eye-opener; I felt as though it was brutally awakening and truly one of the saddest things I’ve ever experienced. This was one of those situations where I had learned about the Holocaust in a classroom and in a textbook – but until I experienced it for myself, I truly had no grasp on how devastating it actually was.

Reading and learning about travel is one thing, but actually experiencing a new country is completely eye-opening.

Why do you consider travel important?

Through all my travel experiences, good and bad, the chances I’ve had to learn about myself are undoubtedly important to who I am now. Every place I’ve visited and every person I’ve met have had an impact on the way I view the world and all those around me. Travel experience isn’t something you can just go out and buy or just hear about in a classroom – you have to do it for yourself.

You have to put yourself in those situations in order to learn from them, even if it is uncomfortable and terrifying at first. I have never once regretted a trip or travel experience, which is why I think I will continue to travel for the rest of my life.

Above is Hannah and her family enjoying exploration in the Grand Cayman Islands.

From your travels, do you have a practice or insight that makes your travel experiences more enjoyable?

Be confident in yourself! Although I may have been scared to look stupid or say the wrong thing in many foreign countries, I have never let that stop me from interacting with someone. You shouldn’t let that affect you either. Go into every travel situation with the mindset that you want to get everything possible out of your trip – and the only way you can do that is by putting yourself in uncomfortable situations sometimes.

So many missed opportunities come from not allowing yourself to make a couple mistakes. It’s okay to mess up sometimes, how else are you supposed to learn? Saying the wrong thing or taking the wrong turn is not the end of the world, it just teaches you – and the more you learn from traveling, the easier it gets!

Do you have any wisdom for those apprehensive about travel? Share your own insights in the comments below!

Other traveler interviews from student travelers:

• “There are so many beautiful countries and cultures in the world, why not explore them?” A Travel Chat with a Communications Student
• “Travel is refreshing and rejuvenating for me.” A Travel Chat with a University of Arkansas Grad Student
• “It’s one thing to read about the world and another to actually experience the world for yourself.” A Travel Chat With a New Mexico State University Student
• Travel Insights from 25 Travelers

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Following graduation from high school, many 18-year-olds take a “coming of age” road-trip. This trip tends to mean late nights, wild times, and feeling like an adult – making choices concerning where to go, what to do, and how to take care of yourself.

Massive trips were being planned in the spring of 2010 at my high school – all of my friends and people my age were ready to take on the world, with a new feeling of responsibility and freedom. These trips were the times in which we were supposed to find ourselves, as well as a new sense of purpose.

The proverbial senior road trip. Where was I to go? My group of friends and I couldn’t decide. How do you even begin to plan the trip that will set the tone for the best summer ever–the summer following graduation?

Ironically enough, my group decided on a road-trip across Kansas. While others were making grand escapes to warm, sunny coasts filled with beaches and ocean water, we chose to explore our very own, flat-as-a-pancake Kansas; wheat, sunflowers, and all. Initially, I have to admit, I thought this trip would be a joke. Our classmates were off to Miami, Padre Island, and Los Angeles, and we chose Kansas? I felt as though this trip would not only not live up to the expectations of a senior road trip, but would also be a waste of time. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

My road-trip across Kansas will forever be remembered as one of my favorite weeks of all time. But there were five stops in particular that I will never forget.

Who says driving across Kansas is boring?  5 Fun Places to Stop While Road Tripping Across Kansas

1)      One of our first destinations on our “Road Trip Across Kansas” was Mushroom Rock State Park, located in the Smoky Hills region of north-central Kansas is an ideal spot to stop if you’re thinking about visiting Kansas. Always open to the public, and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, these rock formations are the perfect place to explore, appreciate the beautiful Kansas wildlife, and also take a few quick pictures.  There is tons of space to have a picnic and enjoy the outdoors. There are 5 acres to explore, and the unusual shapes of the rocks are something you definitely don’t want to miss.

Pictured above is one of the “Mushroom Rocks” at the Mushroom Rock State Park in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas. Photo credit: Nationalparks

2)      Another great place to visit while in Kansas is the Underground World in Ellinwood, Kansas. Ellinwood itself is a beautiful, historic Kansas town, but underneath main street lies a whole different city. Settled by German immigrants in 1870, the original townspeople built an entirely separate set of businesses, including 11 saloons, a barbershop, and a blacksmith shop. Almost the entire underground area is original; and many of the businesses are set up much like they would have been during the peak time of usage. Filled with interesting history, props, and stories, this unique feature of Kansas is a must-see. Today, the Ellinwood Museum Association offers tours to the Ellinwood Underground World.

When I visited this quaint town, I not only had a blast exploring an older part of American history, but I also felt like I learned so much. The people of Ellinwood, especially those who were showing us around were incredibly welcoming to tourists!

Left is one of the main corridors of the underground city, with several doors leading off to the left and right.

3)      Cheyenne Bottoms, located between Hoisington and Great Bend, is 41, 000 acres of wetland, and one of the eight Wonders of Kansas. There have been at least 320 species of birds recorded here, and it is a favorite among Kansas travelers, with approximately 60, 000 people visiting here yearly. The entire reserve has 5 large pools, which are all interconnected by canals and pathways, with several higher dry spots for people to settle in to watch nature take its course. This is a prime chance to see several different species of native Kansas animals, as well as hundreds of species of vegetation. If your travels have any emphasis on the natural beauty of Kansas, Cheyenne Bottoms is a necessity on the list.

Pictured above is an expanse of the marshlands located in Cheyenne Bottoms.

4)      The Monument Rocks, located in Gove County, is another spot located on the 8 Wonders of Kansas list. These magnificent chalk monoliths are often called the Chalk Pyramids, and the beds offer up many different fossils and even shark teeth! The Monument Rocks are located on private property, but the landowner is cooperative with visitors, and no special permission is necessary. This is a great place to stop for a photo opportunity, as well as some rock climbing, if you’re feeling adventurous. My group stopped here for a long time, climbing on the rocks and searching for fossils in the chalk. The rocks provide a wonderful backdrop to some Kansas exploring, as they represent the beauty of Western Kansas.

Above is one of the many beautiful views at The Monument Rocks in Western, Kansas

5)      The Sternberg Museum of Natural History, located in Fort Hays is an ideal education stop for a trip through Kansas. If you are looking to get out of the Kansas heat, and into a learning environment, “The Stern” is a great place to look around. The museum is huge, with several different collections–ranging from fossils, to live animals, and the museum’s most popular exhibit, the “Fish Within a Fish”. Many of the fossils are from the Great Plains, but there are many discoveries housed here from other areas of the world. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m., to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Of course, you need music for a road trip.

What could be more fitting to listen to than the American rock band Kansas, that hails from Topeka? The band’s hit singles such as “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind” are both on The Best Of Kansas album. 

Two references to help you plan your road trip across Kansas:

Kansas Off the Beaten Path®: A Guide To Unique Places

Kansas Trail Guide: The Best Hiking, Biking, and Riding in the Sunflower State

This article is written by Hannah Watkins–writer, traveler, and grand-scale dreamer–as well as a senior studying communications at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.

She is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with her pug named Cookie.

Hannah is currently completing an internship with VentureTime Travel and she hopes to someday work in the Public Relations field.

Taking a road trip? Check out these other posts: 

• 3 Emotional Stages of a Road Trip
• Weekend Wandering: America’s Heartland with a Presidential Twist
• 4 Reasons Why Should You Travel While You Are Young
• Traveling with Dogs? 7 Tips to Make Your Trip Easier
• 6 Tips For A Better Travel Driving Experience

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