For those interested in a Middle America road trip from Manitoba, the state of North Dakota has some nifty options. From interacting with Mother Nature and exploring some Lewis and Clark history to seeing a show or exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park, it’s easy to find something to enjoy.
Arriving:
If you enter through Pembina, you can take advantage of the free access offered by the Pembina State Museum on your way to the Rendezvous Region, which encompasses the communities of Cavalier, Langdon, Pembina and Walhalla, among others. If you have a few days to enjoy the area, you may want to start your journey by spending a day or two in Walhalla. While it’s a tiny community to be sure, it’s conveniently located near the Pembina Gorge, which is a large state recreation area for tourists who enjoy mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding and extreme racing. Tetrault State Forest is in the immediate area, which also offers reasonably easy driving access to four golf courses. Bonus? It’s only 85 miles from Winnipeg.
Walhalla also has a summer play series at the Frost Fire Amphitheater. Visitors can enjoy a catered meal and a show as an evening break from a day on the trails. The town also has some of the oldest buildings in North Dakota, including the Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site, which houses two period buildings and interpretive displays. Admission is free and the site is open from mid May to mid September. Bed and breakfast accommodations in Walhalla can be obtained at the Holly Street Eatery and Sanctuary House, which offers nightly digs for less than $100. Those with pets can lodge at Forestwood Inn with fiber optic internet for a similar price, basic breakfast included.
Entertainment:
As you make your way down the state, take time to stop in Grand Forks, which has shopping, a river walk district with a Cabela’s store for outdoor enthusiasts, and the small but noteworthy North Dakota Museum of Art. There are also top-name concert and entertainment venues as well as the city greenway, which features 2,200 acres lining the Red and Red Lake rivers. It’s an interactive urban greenway enjoyed by locals, visitors and University of North Dakota students alike.
If you’re traveling with family and looking for value, consider booking a room at Staybridge Suites, which offers complimentary laundry, fitness infrastructure and a hot tub sized for large groups. The pool area is also of note, offering an area for grownups near a children’s splash pad and toddler-sized water slide.
Wi-Fi is screaming fast and the breakfast buffet is diverse enough to pack a small sandwich and fruit to go for mid day. Where some hotels offer wine and cheese as an evening value add-on, this place does a full meal with two-hour open bar for their selection of wines and beers. Pretty tough to beat. It’s a great way to leverage the savings into a longer stay if you want to catch an extra show or do some additional shopping.
Heritage:
The cultural heritage and history of North Dakota are significant. Some of the more interesting spots for families to visit are between Grand Forks and the greater Bismark area. In Jamestown for example, there’s the National Buffalo Museum which his housed next to a moderately-sized herd roaming on several hundred acres. It’s located next to a free-to-visit frontier village with period buildings and cabins housing things like dentist’s offices, sheriff headquarters and more all decorated in period artifacts for visitors to view. Jamestown is also the birthplace of Louis L’Amour, and the frontier village has a writer’s shack exhibit developed in his honor. Pets are welcome.
Seven miles south of the city of Mandan, you’ll Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, which is where the home of General George and Libbie Custer still stands, along with the barracks and commissary storehouse. Costumed guides lead visitors through the site, providing a living history lesson to those who make the trip. The park is also the original site of a Mandan Indian village, and the reconstructed earth lodges provide an interactive archaeology lesson for travelers. In Bismark proper is the North Dakota Heritage Center in the newly-expanded state museum. It contains the largest collection of Plains Indian artifacts outside of the Smithsonian, all housed in impressive galleries with interactive displays and on-site staff.
To get out of civilization a bit, head from Bismark to the Washburn area, where you’ll find the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. It’s placed on the edge of a stunning scenic overlook and is home to a wide range of vintage artifacts exactly like the ones the explorers would have carried with them on their military expedition. Plan on at least an hour to take in all the exhibits.
From there, head to Fort Mandan, a recreated structure decorated with replicated artifacts that the temporary home of the Lewis and Clark team would have had on hand. Furry, four-legged travelers can explore here as well. Those making their way through North Dakota with children won’t want to pass up on the chance to camp in an actual tipi along the Missouri River. Cross Ranch State Park has one available in a private spot along the banks of the waterway with groomed walking trails, waving grasses and a spectacularly private view. It’s rustic and a hike to the toilet and showers to be sure, but an authentic experience your kids will remember for years to come.
Inspiration:
No trip to North Dakota would be complete without a trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Filled with colorful formations, the impressive painted canyon, wild horses, big horn sheep and massive wild buffalo, it’s truly a sight to behold. Those who choose to camp in the park can make their way into the tiny town of Medora for things like coffee and baked goods, souvenirs, sit-down meals and more.
For those with limited time, be sure to drive the scenic loop to enjoy the unique topography, up-close buffalo viewing and a chance to see the wild horses. On the way into town, the visitor’s center for Painted Canyon is also worth a stop to enjoy the view, contemplate the vastness of the park and perhaps grab a picnic.
The state of North Dakota may be legendary for its wide open spaces, but there’s plenty of history to experience in the state, as well as entertainment venues and natural resources to explore. If you’re looking for a fun getaway south of the Manitoba border, consider a memory-making road trip through this massive state.
Photo Credits: Myscha Theriault