AmericaTheBeautiful.com © 2015

- All Rights Reserved.

Peter’s Travel Log

• Travel Blog
• See America
• Travel Videos

"Affordable" and "value" are two words tourists and tour operators want to hear when planning tours. North Dakota has been selected by the American Automobile Association for a third year as the "most affordable vacation destination."

A new adventure in North Dakota begins as soon as you step out of the motorcoach, RV or bus or slide off a motorcycle. Participate in one of the many group activities, attractions or special events where culture and heritage comes alive. This legendary memory will last a lifetime.

1. Medora: Musical and Cowboy Hall of Fame would be best bets.  Or the Chateau De Mores has a new visitor center.  If time allows, ride a horse, a bike or take a hike on the Maah Daah Hey Trail (western ND.) This 97 mile trail has been deemed an epic ride and will challenge some of the most skilled while offering breathtaking views of North Dakota’s badlands.

2. Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park (near Medora and Watford City) and see the badlands view the wildlife and shoot the buffalo (with your camera of course.) They may be close enough for you to pet them, but wouldn’t recommend it! Painted Canyon Visitor Center on I94 or the Visitor Center at the park entrance are good quick stops.

3. View some of the most unique species of birds on the planet at one of the 63 national wildlife refuges.  Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, near the Garrison Dam in central ND, is a must-stop to check out their new visitor center.

4. Kayak the Pembina River and take in the beauty of the Pembina Gorge in Northeast North Dakota. And while you are there, check out the State Museum in Pembina at North Dakota’s first settlement.

5. Stop at the National Buffalo Museum (Jamestown) and view not one, not two, but three albino buffalo. You might also want a picture with “Dakota Thunder” on the hill.

6. Take in a UND Hockey game at “The Ralph” in Grand Forks. From the marble floors to the leather seats, this $104 Million dollar facility is described as one of the finest of its kind in the world. (A little known fact, there are 2200 logos throughout the complex.) Also check out the vibrant downtown used for weekly events.  

7. Visit Fargo- Downtown is a destination for visitors from Canada and smaller towns in MN and SD.  Must sees include:  Plains Arts Museum, Fargo Theater, Hotel Donaldson and all the new shops and eateries.

8. Travel to the International Peace Garden where you can have one foot in America, and one in Canada! The Gardens are located near the Portal border crossing.

9. See where Lewis & Clark met up with Sakakawea, on their journey through North Dakota at Fort Mandan near Washburn ND and visit the Lewis and Clark interpretive Center.

10. Take the triple challenge and golf three top-rated courses:  Bully Pulpit- Medora, Hawktree- Bismarck and The Links near Williston.

11.  Visit North Dakota’s 14 state parks offering unique recreation.  All are worth seeing but a few unique ones:

 Fort Ransom State Park along the scenic Sheyenne River valley- great events

 Little Missouri State Park- This Park is geared towards horseback riders who travel with their horses.  The Badland Trail Rides offers guided trail rides (on their horses) and rustic cabins with unbelievable views.

 Cross Ranch State park now offers year-round activities with cross country skiing and Yurts- for winter lodging.

12. Take in some of the 50+ state historic sites across the state.  Some trip-worthy ones would include:

 The Heritage Center Expansion is going excellent.  I can arrange a tour anytime.

 Fort Abercrombie also has a new visitor center and is a fun stop

 Ronald Regan Minute Man Missile State Historic Site – or Oscar Zero as us marketers like to call if is fascinating.  It is near Cooperstown

13. National Historic Sites to see.

 Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site – Williston (also see State sites- Fort Buford and the Missouri Yellowstone Confluence Center)

 Knife River Indian Villages near Stanton

14.  Off the Beaten Path fun finds:

 Bagg Bonanza Farm – near Mooreton

 Sullly’s Hill National Game Preserve – Devils Lake

 Dakota Dinosaur Museum – Dickinson

 Pioneer Trails Museum – Bowman

 Long X Visitor Center – Watford City

 Pembina State Museum – Pembina

 Chahinkapa Zoo- Wahpeton

15. Major Events to Consider:

 Fargo Marathon May, 2014

 United Tribes Powwow – Sept. 2014, Bismarck

 Norsk Hostfest  - October, 2014

 ND State Fair, July, 2014

16.  See the Big Stuff:

 Check out the sculptures along the Enchanted Highway from Regent to Gladstone

 Salem Sue New Salem– World’s largest Holstein cow

 Dakota Thunder Jamestown- World’s largest Buffalo