Destination attractions things to do in north dakota

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

North Dakota is a place where adventures become reality. The mystical Badlands provide a perfect backdrop for exciting exploration in the northern reaches of the Great Plains.

With 18 national or state parks, North Dakota is definitely a great destination for lovers of the outdoors.

A visit to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora is a must when in North Dakota. The park, broken into three different units, is situated in the southwest portion of the state and is open year-round.

The park is named for the 26th president of the United States, who spent a lot of time in the late 19th century in the Badlands of North Dakota. The 70,000-acre park is home to many of the animals that roamed the Badlands when President Roosevelt did: bison, elk and prairie dogs. The park is open year-round, and tours are available.

Museum-lovers will find all they need in North Dakota, which is the home to the Plains Art Museum. The museum has more than 2,600 pieces of art on display, including works from some of the most prominent midwestern artists. Relics of Indian culture, depictions of turn-of-the-century scenery and exhibitions featuring work displaying in the Smithsonian are all a part of the museum, which is located in North Fargo.

North Dakota is also home to the Worlds Largest Buffalo, a hugely popular attraction in Jamestown in the southern part of the state. The buffalo, which was built in the 1950s by Jamestown art professor Elmer Paul Petersen, stands at a towering 26 feet tall and is 46 feet long. Its a fantastic place for a photo opportunity and sits in the middle of a recreated prairie town named Frontier Village.

Perhaps the biggest claim to fame for North Dakotans is their states part in the Lewis and Clark expedition. The trail Lewis and Clark cut sliced right through present-day North Dakota, and the people of the state know how to commemorate that.

Visitors can follow the trail through the state and find things the explorers found two centuries ago, including the Standing Rock Reservation near the banks of the Cannonball River, the Knife River Indian Villages where Sacajawea come to the expeditions aid and the confluence of the Missouri and Wyoming rivers, which Captain Meriwether Lewis called one of the most handsomest plains I ever beheld.

Fun is not just contained to the historic outdoors in North Dakota, however, as there are plenty of indoor sites for adventure-making. The state is home to several Indian casinos, including the massive Prairie Knights Casino and Resort 46 miles south of Mandan.

If youd prefer to bet on horses rather than the craps table, then the North Dakota Horse Park in North Fargo is the place for you. The park features live racing throughout August and September and hosts special events year-round.

Other sports can be found in North Dakota, as well. The University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University both field competitive NCAA Division I-AA football teams in the fall and excellent hockey clubs in the winter. Bismarck is home to the Dakota Wizards of the Continental Basketball Association and the independent Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks baseball team competes in the Northern League.

The major cities in North Dakota also offer traditional nightlife fun. Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse, with locations in three cities in the state, takes the cake as far as dancing and drinking are concerned. Borrowed Bucks perks up revelers all over the state with locations in Grand Forks, Bismarck and Fargo.

While in Fargo, be sure to check out the very cool Fargo Theatre. The theatre stands out as a glimpse into decades past with its classic architecture, neon lights and curtain draped in front of the screen. It sure beats megaplexes on atmosphere and style.

And when you finally (and inevitably) get hungry, the best place to stop for a great steak is Jacks Steakhouse and Saloon in Bismarck. North Dakota is a haven for meat-lovers, and its really quite hard to go wrong. Enjoy the red-meat culture of the Great Plains while youre there.