Play, Drink and Relax Outdoors in Emporia

Quite possibly home to more disc golf baskets per capita than anywhere else on the planet, Emporia is a Utopia for fans of the sport. At Jones Park, pros play the Jones East and championship-level Supreme 18 courses, while Jones West caters to all skill levels.

Peter Pan Park offers a challenging 18-hole layout used during the annual Dynamic Discs Open, one of the most renowned disc golf tournaments in the world. The nearly 100-year-old park also attracts families with its splash pad, playground and lake surrounded by picnic areas.

Outdoor discoveries continue at David Traylor Zoo, a free zoo with lemurs, a mountain lion and nearly 300 other creatures.

Time your visit to late October or early November for the Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), complete with a Parade of the Living Dead downtown.

Celebrate life year-round with moonshine (varieties include butterscotch and blackberry) on the patio of Trolley House Distillery.

BRANCH OUT

COFFEY COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Burlington

42 miles from downtown Emporia
A well-organized mix of local artifacts (military items, quilts and the state’s largest doll collection) fills 14,000 square feet. Also at the free museum, peek into a restored one-room schoolhouse, Conestoga wagon and country church.

FLINT HILLS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Hartford

22 miles from downtown Emporia
On auto tours and along nature trails, spot migrating ducks and geese, white-tailed deer, and 100 bird species.

PIONEER BLUFFS

Matfield Green

36 miles from downtown Emporia
Embrace the simple life within this National Historic District preserving ranching heritage. Rock away on the front porch, have a picnic, and skip stones on the creek.