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By Holly Martin If a quiet family getaway is what you are looking for, off the beaten path in Kansas you'll find the Winfield and Sedan communities. The two communities lie just south and east of Wichita near the Oklahoma border. Spend a day or two in each of the communities with an easy and beautiful drive of 60 miles through the Flint Hills. Winfield, Kan. Located in Cowley County on Hwy 160, Winfield has a population of 12,000 people and was voted #56 in the Best Small Towns in America. It is a mid-sized community with just the right combination of history and progressiveness. Historic Home tour and Caton Home tour The Winfield Convention and Tourism group has developed two separate guides showing off some of Winfield's most interesting homes. The guides list the homes and give a short description of the history of the homes. Color pictures and maps help you self-guide through the tours. Bill Caton, a Winfield architect, designed many homes throughout the community. But Caton wasn't just known in the Kansas community; he designed many small buildings throughout the world. The guide shows 21 buildings in Winfield alone, with his characteristic stonework. Many are located on 10th Street where he lived nearly all of his life. |
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Quail Ridge Golf Course Golfers rejoice! Winfield's public Quail Ridge Golf Course garners a 4-star rating from Golf Digest. Bluegrass fairways are sure to please, along with the challenges of tall trees and water hazards. Quail Ridge also has a fully stocked golf shop. Green fees for 18 holes are $16 for the weekend and holidays, less for weekdays, seniors, juniors and active military. www.golfquailridgeonline.com or 620-221-5645 Music, music, music This internationally known Walnut Valley Festival is a bluegrass music lovers' delight. This year's 37th annual festival is planned for Sept. 17 to 21 at the fairgrounds on the western edge of the town. Music happens all hours of the day and night, on stages and off stages. People travel from all over the United States to meet their friends, camp and share their gift of music. Food vendors, as well as arts and craft exhibitors, are set up throughout the grounds. Tickets are $80 for the full festival or $35 for one day of non-stop entertainment. www.wvfest.com or 620-221-3250 The Country Roundup has also found its home in Winfield. The country music extravaganza is scheduled this year May 28 to May 31. Legendary country music stars like Randy Owen and Lorrie Morgan will be hitting the stage. The list of entertainers also includes Pat Green, Eric Church, Jason Jones, Lady Antebellum and many, many more. Tickets are $85 for all four days. Package deals are also available. www.winfieldcountryroundup.com or 877-221-2114.
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Parks Take the kids or the dog and enjoy a few hours at Island Park located on the north end of Main Street. Entrance to the park, over the water, is a driving and walking bridge. Several walkways criss-cross the park to pavilions for picnicking. An extensive playground will be an attraction for children. Take a bag of bread to feed the ducks and a fishing pole. Near Island Park is an aquatic center with slides for big kids and little kids alike. It is sure to keep the family entertained for an entire afternoon. Located on 9th and Fuller Streets, Memorial Park is home to a Vietnam War Memorial, a replica of the Washington, D.C. memorial. Winfield City Lake Located eight miles northeast of Winfield, Winfield City Lake offers outdoor recreation for camping, boating, swimming and fishing. 620-221-5635 Murals Be sure to take in all of the murals throughout Winfield. They are on the sides of buildings, covering buildings-everywhere. Bed and Breakfasts Winfield is home to several bed and breakfasts in their many historic homes. Harris House Inn (www.harrishouseinn.com or 620-229-8545); The Barns at Timber Creek (www.timbercreekbarns.com or 620-221-2797); Iron Gate Inn (www.irongateinnks.com or 620-221-7787); Bluestem Bed and Breakfast (www.bluestembedandbreakfast.com or 620-221-0735) Southwestern College Winfield is home to Southwestern College, a private four-year school. The campus has the feel of a much larger university, with beautiful buildings and many areas for walking. More things to see Winfield Community Theatre: Located in Baden Square, it is in a newly renovated building that was formerly a part of St. John's College. www.winfieldcommunitytheatre.com or 620-221-6270. Cowley County Historical Museum: Historically enriched exhibits give visitors a taste of the past. www.cchsm.com or 620-221-4811 Fun Barn: Music, food and fun are to be had south of town on the second Saturday of the month. www.thefunbarn.com or 620-222-2154. Sedan, Kan. This small community is an up-and-comer. Thanks to the hard work of local citizens, Sedan has a thriving downtown and many places to visit. Yellow Brick Road This Yellow Brick Road is a sidewalk through downtown Sedan with 11,790 bricks sold to community members and supporters to revitalize Sedan. The project began in 1988 and bricks have been sold to supporters in every state in the U.S. and 28 foreign countries. There's even a celebrity section of stars such as Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Whoopie Goldberg, Brooke Shields and others. A festival every year is the town's annual celebration. This year, the event will be held May 24. It includes an arts festival, parade, bluegrass music and mountain oyster cook-off. Emmett Kelly Museum Open May 1 to the end of October, this museum pays tribute to one of the most famous clowns, Wearie Willie, played by Emmett Kelly. Kelly was a native son of Sedan and the memorabilia showcases his life and career. The museum is also home to a number of historical collections of community members including a 1,500 piece decanter collection, a historic print shop, and war memorabilia. Admission is a volunteer donation. www.emmettkellymuseum.com or 620-725-3470 or 620-725-3121 Downtown Shopping and Park The downtown district is alive and well in this little community. Shops line the streets for visitors, with unique gifts, antiques and even a hunting supply store. The Hollow park, located on the eastern end of Main Street, is a beautiful little park, with a wooden walkway and water features. Red Buffalo Ranch Owned by television personality Bill Kurtis, the 10,000 acre ranch offers an opportunity for a serene getaway. Kurtis has been instrumental in the revitalization of Sedan. Raised in nearby Independence, he fell in love with the area and has been working to provide opportunities to the community. He has purchased and renovated several downtown buildings and then worked with local entrepreneurs allowing them to buy the buildings. The ranch also is a destination for weekend getaways, including lodging, nature hiking and fishing. Two of the attractions on the ranch are Prairiehenge and Butcher Falls. Prairiehenge is an original earthwork by Stan Herd that is two interlocking circles of native limestone rock. Butcher Falls is a 14-foot waterfall in prairie limestone that marks the entrance to the ranch. Both offer natural beauty and a great opportunity for photographers and artists. Red Buffalo is also the name on an antique store in Sedan, as well as a meat company owned by Kurtis. www.theredbuffalo.com or 620-725-4022 |