Make the most of your trip to North Dakota
As one of the most sparsely populated states, North Dakota is the least visited state in the country. What’s surprising is how much one might miss out on if they don’t pay this state of natural wonders a visit. North Dakota known for its natural beauty and has played a vital role in American history.
The most popular tourist attractions in North Dakota are the state and national parks. Anywhere that allows visitors to explore the natural beauty of the state. Learning about the history of present and past Native American tribes in North Dakota is a visitor favorite as well.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
In the badland’s region of North Dakota, you’ll find the 110 square mile Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park’s North and South Units each have scenic driving routes as well as several natural and historical attractions.
The odd colorful rock formations, dramatic gorges, and vast plains, formed by 65 million years of geological instability, are home to elk, prairie dogs, and bison. There are more than 100 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding within in the park. Also, campgrounds and back country camping sites.
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site was created in order to preserve areas inhabited by the Northern Plains Indians. The historic site is on the location of where three villages once stood, known as the Hidatsa villages.
Visitors to this major Native American trade center can view the reconstruction of the Earth lodge. Walk the trails to explore all three village sites. Explore the museum and learn about the history and culture of the Hidatsa people. The exhibits feature artifacts recovered from the village sites as well as decorative arts of Northern Plains Indians.
Scandinavian Heritage Park
The Scandinavian Heritage Park located in Minot, North Dakota. You’ll find remembrances and replicas from each of the five Scandinavian and Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. To show more of Scandinavian history, statues of famous people originating from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland are located along the walk.
The main attraction is the Stave Church, beautifully designed after a similar church in Norway that is hundreds of years old. Walk around the 25-foot tall Swedish Dala Horse, to name a few of the most popular attractions.
Fargo Air Museum
The Fargo Air Museum is an aviation related museum in Fargo, North Dakota. It’s located at Hector International Airport in the northern part of the city. The museum includes many historic aircraft of which 90% are in flying condition.
Fargo Air Museum also houses one of the Midwest’s largest Aviation libraries. Also, the museum hosts educational day-camps, speakers and seminars for flight fans. The museum also is home to an extensive gift shop.
The Enchanted Highway
The Enchanted Highway a 32 mile stretch of highway features some of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures. The sculpture “Geese in Flight” is currently listed in the Guinness World Book of Records as the Largest Scrap Metal Sculpture in the world.
Sculptures include “World’s Largest Tin Family,” “Teddy Rides Again,” “Pheasants on the Prairie,” “Grasshoppers in the Field,” “Deer Crossing” and “Fisherman’s Dream.” The gift shop in Regent has miniatures of each statue and the Enchanted Castle motel and restaurant.
National Buffalo Museum
The National Buffalo Museum is a facility housed in a rustic log building at the Frontier Village in Jamestown, North Dakota. The museum is home to many art works, artifacts, and related Native American items. Tells the story of the North American bison through an introductory film, and interactive and rotating exhibits about the animal’s natural history.
The museum maintains two bison herds, located on either side of Interstate 94. Both are visible from the interstate much of the time. Events are held regularly at the museum, and exhibits are ever-changing stop by the museum’s store features unique bison related items.
Red River Zoo
For a close-up look at some of North Dakota’s wildlife, head to the Red River Zoo in Fargo. The zoo is home to more than 300 animals. You can spend hours visiting over 89 species, riding an antique carousel, and playing in the interactive children’s exhibits.
Fargo’s zoo features both native and exotic animals found in similar climate conditions as the Red River Valley. They have some of the rarest cold climate species on earth. You can visit unique species like Chinese Red Pandas, Pallas’ Cats, and Sichuan Takin. North American animals like deer, otters, fox, wolves, and prairie dogs, and other animals.
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum tourist explore thousands of artifacts, specimens. High-tech displays, and interactive exhibits. Four museum galleries trace North Dakota history from million years ago through current developments.
The Treehouse exhibit invites young children to discover and explore North Dakota life, past and present. Features a child-sized treehouse children can climb into for a bird’s-eye view of the area before sliding down to a variety of exhibits. including a bank, fire station, steamboat, locomotive, flight simulator and more.
International Peace Garden
The International Peace Garden is 2400 acres of formal gardens, a world class cacti and succulent Conservatory, prairies, forests and lakes nestled in the Turtle Mountains along the Manitoba and North Dakota border.
Peace Garden boasts more than 80,000 flowering annuals in unique settings. The Peace Garden is home to one of the largest unique species cacti collections in the world with more than 5000+ species, and the hands of peace sculpture.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park near Mandan, North Dakota, is home to the On-A-Slant Indian Village, and several other historic sites. The site dates to 1575 when the Mandan Indian tribe built a village and earth lodges in the area. Travel through time and explore rich culture and history of the area by investigating artifacts at the Visitor Center Museum.
Discover old Fort Abraham Lincoln, Fort McKeen and what life what like as a frontier soldier as you journey through the blockhouses and furnished barracks and participate in a living history tour of the commanding officer’s quarters.
Things to Do in North Dakota
Don’t let the fact that this big state with a small population isn’t high on many lists. Because that “off the beaten path” feeling is what North Dakota is all about. For a chance to explore some of America’s undiscovered beauty and delve into the little-known events of the country’s past, head to North Dakota.