Restaurants

There are a multitude of delicious places to get a bite to eat in Burlington. Fun fact - the town is home to three Mexican restaurants; Cilantros, Across the Borders, and Señor Patron! All three of them are excellent choices for dinner or a great lunch. There are also two lovely coffee shops in town to get a hot (or iced) cup of joe – 11^th Lane Roastery and Vintage Sisters. Burlington is additionally to home to the Donut Shop, which hands-down has some of the best donuts I have ever tried. Give their donut-holes a try and you’ll agree with me.

Outdoor Recreation

Burlington is home to several bodies of water that are perfect for fishing, with catfish being a particularly prevalent fish in the muddy waters. Running north-south on the eastern side of the town is the Neosho River, there are a couple of parks along the river that are popular fishing sites. Drake Park is my favorite of them, with it having a large waterfall created by an old dam on the river.

Along with the Neosho are John Redmond Reservoir and Coffey County Reservoir (aka Wolf Creek Lake). John Redmond is a man-made lake, created by the United States Corp of Engineers for flood control on the Neosho. There are a variety of nature areas all along the coast of the reservoir that are perfect for fishing. A particularly popular area is at the foot of the dam itself, where you set up at if the river is low enough.  

Wolf Creek Lake is the other great water body of the county. This reservoir was initially created to provide a source of cool water for the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station. Today it has an additional role as a great local fishing area. There's also the nearby Wolf Creek Environmental Education Area located in Waverly.

For those who love to camp, there are a couple of excellent sites nearby, such as John Redmond. Riverside east and west hug the Neosho River. They are a well-shaded campsite with a couple of sweet walking trails! The Dam Site Park sits north of the latter two campsites, and it too has nicely shaded campsites with close access to the Cross County Course, perfect for an evening walk or run.

Additionally, there are several public parks in the town. Two of them, Kelly Park and Jones Park have playgrounds for children to enjoy. The local elementary school has two playgrounds that are open to the public during daylight hours.

Manmade Attractions

If you need a place to cool off, the Burlington Outdoor Pool is the place to be. It is traditionally open from Memorial Day weekend to the weekend before the local school year begins. There are a lot of great activities for kids to do while they are there. The facility has three waterslides, high and low diving boards, basketball goals, and a splash park.

If it is stormy or cold outside, then the Burlington Recreation Center also has quite a few activities for people to enjoy. First, there is a large indoor swimming pool with a few lanes and a general swimming area. Additionally, there is a hot tub in there as well., perfect for relaxing after strenuous exercise. Along with the pool the rec center has a full gymnasium, an excellent place for a game of pick-up basketball or general shooting. If you enjoy weight lighting, then stop by the rec center’s newly renovated weight room!  

History lovers will greatly appreciate the Coffey County Museum! On its grounds are several historic buildings, including an old school and church. The interior is full of artifacts ranging from Native American artifacts to old medical tools. It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon to learn more about the community. You can also stop by the Burlington library, with a wide selection of books and movies to enjoy!

Stop By!

Despite its small size, Burlington has quite a bit to do and more than enough to enjoy an afternoon or relax over the weekend.