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I'm going to be traveling to Minnesota over Memorial Day Weekend and beyond (Minneapolis and Lake Superior area) and going to be actually staying in Fargo for a few days. Going to spend one day in Fargo/Moorhead, but sort of on the fence on which of two itinerary to do for my other day unless there's something in Fargo I want to do for a second day. One idea is to travel I-94 between Valley City and Jamestown; the other is to head north on I-29 to Grand Forks and UND. Just asking for suggestions for which of these to go to...and if you have ideas for Fargo, willing to hear them. (know I want to see the viking ship at least)
Grand Forks would be the better of the two to visit. Not really a ton of must do's in eastern ND in my opinion though (western is the more interesting part to visit, which is not where you will be). If you get up to Grand Forks, Turtle River State Park is pretty nice though. UND is completely under construction right now so getting around the campus area will be a mess.
Grand Forks would be the better of the two to visit. Not really a ton of must do's in eastern ND in my opinion though (western is the more interesting part to visit, which is not where you will be). If you get up to Grand Forks, Turtle River State Park is pretty nice though. UND is completely under construction right now so getting around the campus area will be a mess.
Yes, the Badlands are the showcase. No question. But the Rendevous Region in northeastern North Dakota is gorgeous, with the Pembina Gorge and the wooded hills. You mentioned Turtle River State Park. I've been to many state parks in many states. TRSP is a great state park, period. Further south, the drive along the Sheyenne River from Valley City down to Fort Ransom is great. The land north of Bismarck, along the Missouri River, like at Cross Ranch State Park, feels like the West, among the cottonwoods. You go up north again to the Peace Garden area, in the Turtle Mountains, that is also quite pretty.
I chuckle when people who don't know anything speak of North Dakota as if it has nothing to see. Meanwhile, I've been to many of the places these people live and actually know what it's like in their stomping grounds.
Yes, the Badlands are the showcase. No question. But the Rendevous Region in northeastern North Dakota is gorgeous, with the Pembina Gorge and the wooded hills. You mentioned Turtle River State Park. I've been to many state parks in many states. TRSP is a great state park, period. Further south, the drive along the Sheyenne River from Valley City down to Fort Ransom is great. The land north of Bismarck, along the Missouri River, like at Cross Ranch State Park, feels like the West, among the cottonwoods. You go up north again to the Peace Garden area, in the Turtle Mountains, that is also quite pretty.
I chuckle when people who don't know anything speak of North Dakota as if it has nothing to see. Meanwhile, I've been to many of the places these people live and actually know what it's like in their stomping grounds.
There is quite a bit to see. If you like history this is where Lewis Clark spent the most time. I get the same chuckle from my Iowa family. They like to say it's desolate even though they've never been here. They're the same ones who think Nebraska looks like the western third in its entirety. God forbid they leave their damn state.
I'm not a huge fan of Pembina Gorge myself. I also really like the Devil's Lake area in general, but was just thinking specifically about where the OP would be. Once you get to Bismarck/Minot and west, there is tons of natural beauty (more so west of Bismarck than Minot). Turtle Mountain is probably the second prettiest area in the state after the Badlands IMO.
I don’t know, I really enjoyed driving the farm roads in SE North Dakota, around Jamestown & Ellendale, a couple of years ago. It was peaceful, uncrowded, and people were friendly. Some of the little farm towns were fun to photograph. But then, my family is from there, they were farmers, and I was tracing my roots and reliving parts of my childhood. But, it was a relaxing place to travel.
I’ve been poking around the back roads of the Rendezvous Region, lots of neat places to see if you like that kind of stuff. It’s not on the tourist brochures.
There is quite a bit to see. If you like history this is where Lewis Clark spent the most time. I get the same chuckle from my Iowa family. They like to say it's desolate even though they've never been here. They're the same ones who think Nebraska looks like the western third in its entirety. God forbid they leave their damn state.
I spent most of my junior high and high school years in Iowa and married a gal whose grandparents helped settle Iowa in the later 1800s. To say they're proud of Iowa is quite an understatement. I moved to Wyoming in my mid-20s and haven't left, and my wife's parents just couldn't quite understand WHY anyone would want to live in the Cowboy State. Denmark would be fine, Iowa a little better. Anywhere else is kind of a shame.
I spent most of my junior high and high school years in Iowa and married a gal whose grandparents helped settle Iowa in the later 1800s. To say they're proud of Iowa is quite an understatement. I moved to Wyoming in my mid-20s and haven't left, and my wife's parents just couldn't quite understand WHY anyone would want to live in the Cowboy State. Denmark would be fine, Iowa a little better. Anywhere else is kind of a shame.
I've never been anywhere where people like the sound of their state name so much. If you're there just listen to how many times you hear someone say the word Iowa. It's something else.
eat at the casinos. look for the $1 breakfasts 'only one please.' wall drug is in south dakota but a great tourist trap. i didn't think much of rushmore. but the close encounters tower was spectacular.
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I spent most of my junior high and high school years in Iowa and married a gal whose grandparents helped settle Iowa in the later 1800s. To say they're proud of Iowa is quite an understatement. I moved to Wyoming in my mid-20s and haven't left, and my wife's parents just couldn't quite understand WHY anyone would want to live in the Cowboy State. Denmark would be fine, Iowa a little better. Anywhere else is kind of a shame. 
