The First Reason to Visit North Dakota: Nature Wild as It is Meant to Be

 

Reasons to visit North Dakota? There are so many reasons. But here are eight of the best.  First off, North Dakota has the only national park named for a person, Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Furthermore, it immortalises President Theodore Roosevelt who put national parks on the agenda (and on the map).

The two separate units of this spectacular tract of nature, north and south, remain pristine, with no buildings or man-made structures. However, the wildlife abounds in its natural habitat, including buffalo, horses, elk, white-tail and mule deer, prairie dogs. Over 186 kinds of birds can also be found here. Take the loop road to view the wildlife best, but take it slow and enjoy the spectacular scenery without the crowds. You’ll encounter more wildlife than you believed possible, but don’t forget, it is WILD! Stay your distance and stay safe.

The Second Reason: The Best Little Cowboy Town in the West

Undoubtedly, Medora is one of the best places in the continental USA to channel your inner cowboy or girl.  Here’s why: it has original wooden sidewalks, the National Cowboy Museum, a place to stay called the Badlands Motel (or alternatively the Rough Riders Hotel); horses are still used as town transport and the Pitchfork Fondue is a popular dining option. What more could you possibly want?

Oh, you like a five-star golf course? Check! Bully Pulpit Golf Course is a challenging course. Surrounded by the spectacularly rugged scenery of the Badlands. It is rated one of the 100 best public courses in the U.S. THis comes as no surprise to locals.

 

You’d like a national park on the doorstep? Check! Medora is literally the gateway to the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

You need a running/hiking/biking trail to challenge the best? Check! The Maah Daah Hey trail is 150 miles of some of the best single-track in the world. It traverses the Badlands, Little Missouri Grasslands, private land and the North and South units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Finally you want a nightly entertainment spectacular? Check! The Medora Musical  is held in a natural amphitheater outside town every evening in summer and is a living slice of Americana. It’ll have you hootin’ and hollerin’ in your seat.

The Third Reason: Authentic American History you Always Wanted to Learn

History is only as old as yesterday’s birding adventure in North Dakota or  a Badland’s trail ride. Reach back to the Jurassic Period or into Lewis & Clark’s exploration of the West to discover the stories of great leaders like Sitting Bull and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Fourth Reason: Forts and Five Tribes

You can visit many of the forts around North Dakota along the itinerary of your next road trip. They are historically accurate relics of an earlier age of the cattle barons, railroads, the push west and conflicts between settlers and Native American tribes. Here are a few of the most interesting:

Fort Abraham Lincoln  

is conveniently located outside North Dakota’s capitol, Bismarck. Its an excellent choice for a one-stop history lesson. The Native Americans’  authentic On-A-Slant Village recreation allows visitors to get an up close and personal glimpse of the way of life of the Mandan people and their cultural heritage. And on the ‘other side of the fence’, step inside the faithfully recreated General and Mrs Custer’s house with an army aide. He will show you around while they are out; all taking place as if you are really back in their day (rookie tip: don’t mention mobile phones).  Ask all the questions you want and check out exactly how a General lived back in the 1800s.

Forth Berholdt Indian Reservation

is located in the central West of North Dakota. Home for the federally recognized Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.   They are also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes. The reservation includes lands on both sides of the Missouri River.

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

is considered the grandest fort on the Upper Missouri River. Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur trade post in the area. Here, the Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains Indian Tribes exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world, including cloth, guns, blankets, and beads. A fortress of peaceful coexistence, the post annually traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise.

Fort Buford State Historic Site Fort Buford

built in 1866 became a major supply depot for military field operations. Fort Buford, located near present-day Williston, is one of a few military posts established to protect overland and river routes used by immigrants settling the West. However, it is best remembered as the place where the famous Hunkpapa Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, surrendered in 1881.

 Lewis and Clark

Explorers Lewis and Clark were among the earliest visitors to North Dakota. The expedition spent 214 days in North Dakota on two separate visits. The group spent 146 days on its outbound trip in October of 1804, when it set up a winter camp near Washburn. The second visit was on its return from the Pacific. The expedition stopped again in August of 1806. This was when Sakakawea was returned to her home. One quarter of the expedition was spent in what is now called North Dakota. They have mapped out a trail for you to follow that takes you on their route.

The Fifth Reason: Native American Tribes and Experiences

North Dakota is home to five federally recognized Native American Reservations and tribes. These include: Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes), the Spirit Lake Nation, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation.

Check out some of the enriching experiences you can enjoy:

The United Tribes Powow

draws tribes from around the U.S. to take part in drumming, dancing and costume displays based on a rich tribal culture and tradition. The event runs over three days in early October and is an eye-opening way to immerse in living, evolving, Native American culture. Be sure to respect the people and the traditions and you will be richer for the experience.

Stay in a yurt or a teepee (you know you want to!)

When it comes to ‘yurting’ North Dakota has you covered! Three state parks feature yurts as part of their lodging packages: Cross Ranch State Park near Washburn, Lake Metigoshe State Park near Bottineau and Fort Ransom State Park near Fort Ransom. So when it comes to finding a unique winter stay you will be spoilt for choice. Yurts fall somewhere between a tent and cabin and they have transformed winter camping in the state. The yurts in North Dakota’s state parks are luxurious with a rustic backwoods charm. They have heat and electricity, meaning there’s no need to stoke the fire after returning from a chilly hike.

Ranch Stay with Brad Pitt (OK not really, but close second).

Black Leg Ranch, just south of Bismarck, is one of the oldest working cattle ranches still in operation today. Additionally, it is home to over 17000 acres of grassland prairie near the Missouri River. With buffalo wallows, the ghost town of Brittin, abandoned farmsteads, post office foundation, quicksand, 1800’s wagon trails, abandoned railroads and trestles, native American teepee rings and artifacts and much more. Equally important to note is that it is a family-owned ranch with a rich and legendary history including outlaws.

When I first visited, the Doan family’s three sons, were hardworking cowboys (the real deal) and one, Jay, had even had a starring role in a movie (and, to me, was the nearest thing to Brad Pitt).

The ranch offers cabin accommodation for visitors keen to fish and hunt, and ‘dudes’ like us wanting to learn the arcane arts of the cowboy; ropin’ ridin’ and ranchin’.

Over the years since then, the ranch has grown and diversified and gone from strength to strength with a new lodge, a brewery and many significant awards under their collective belt. Now it’s renown as the place to enjoy the local brew, locally-raised grass-fed beef or buffalo …or to even get married (once yout find your own cowboy or girl)

 

The Sixth Reason: Fargo (Seen the Movie? Now visit for real).

Yes, fans, the real woodchipper from the movie can be viewed at the art-deco theatre in Fargo. But this should be an added extra. Fargo the town has much more to offer from a quirky Frostival festival held in winter with more fun family activities than the temperatures suggest, to the Fargo Air Museum, loads of breweries and craft beers, the Hotel Donaldson, a boutique gem.

After some outdoor adventures? Be sure to check out Lindenwood Park. This is the largest multi-use park in Fargo, and it is located on Roger Maris Drive along the Red River. The Universal Playground is a large playground that is accessible to all children. It features several shelters fitted will amenities that can be used for picnics as well as baseball fields. There are several trails in the park including skating trails, and bicycles can be rented during the warmer summer months. The park also has a scenic campground.

For family fun pack up the kids and head to the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm. Located on 28th Avenue North in Fargo, the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm offers hands on exhibits and many other attractions that keep curious children entertained while learning.

The best part… it all comes neatly summarised best by the town slogan: Fargo: North of Normal!

The Seventh Reason: Agritourism (Fun with Farming)

Agritourism, the combination of agriculture and tourism, is the practice of inviting guests to visit and/or participate in normal farm or ranch activities. It is growing in popularity and diversifying. It now includes working farms and ranch visits, vineyards, wineries and breweries, pumpkin patches, orchards for farm festivals, corn mazes and u-pick fun. North Dakota has become a standout destination for agritourism. This is no surprise with the region ranking first in the production of spring wheat, durum wheat, sunflowers, barley, honey and other crops.

The Eighth Reason: Nordic Dakota; the Scandinavia of the US (and we don’t mean IKEA)

One in three North Dakotans; 38% of the populations has Nordic heritage, the highest percentage in the US.  They settled along the main line of the Great Northern Railroad ,

immigrating from the 1870s to the north and central part of the state,

The Scandinavian Heritage Park   in Minot (rhymes with Why not!) North Dakota is the only living outdoor museum in the world to feature all five Nordic countries: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. It’s free, spread over parklands and features a Norwegian wooden stave church and a Danish windmill; well worth a day’s exploration.

And if you arrive in fall, be sure to check out Norsk Hostfest; the largest Scandinavian event on the continent, celebrated in Minot.

 

Moreover one thing is certain, the people in North Dakota are incredibly hospitable and proud of their state.

Your Next Road Trip in North Dakota: Fast Facts

• You can fly into Bismarck from LA via MSPB or Denver and hire a car, motorbike or campervan
• An east-west road trip across the i90 highway will touch on many of the above reasons to visit but our tip: get off the beaten path and explore scenic byways. Head up north for much of the history, Native American and Norse culture experiences
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park was named the #5 on the New York Times’ list of must-see places in 2016
• In Rugby, North Dakota, you will find the geographical center of North America. That is right, the center to the entire continent is here in North Dakota!
• Jamestown, North Dakota is home to the world’s largest buffalo (statue)
• More info com and greatamericanwest.com.au