North Dakota destinations!

After a travel story I write about the Midwest is published, I often get invites from tourism folks in the Midwest (and beyond…my favorite was an invitation to a Bora Bora hotel….) Here’s some North Dakota ideas from a PR person there. The state is actually on my list because it’s one of the few I haven’t visited and it’s not that far from Iowa, where I live… One heads up: the U.S. News report mentioned below ranked Iowa as the Number One “Best State” overall. North Dakota was #4. (For what that’s worth…).

North Dakota’s rich history lends itself well to the emerging art scene found in nearly every corner of the state. Recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the number one state in the country for the highest quality of life, North Dakota is the perfect place to mingle with locals, stroll city streets and enjoy fascinating art and culture venues. Here are a few ideas:

• Bismarck: Experience the beauty and wonder of new art galleries and exhibits, including The Capital Gallery and the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. Spend an afternoon exploring the center’s interactive exhibits filled with high-tech displays, such as life-sized dinosaur casts, exquisite Native American textiles and early farming tools of European homesteaders.
• Fargo: The largest city in North Dakota, Fargo boasts a vibrant downtown fit for art lovers, craft beer lovers, film fanatics and curling enthusiasts. You can see Olympic gold medalist John Shuster and his team in action during the 2018 Curling Nationals in Fargo from March 3 – 10. A few weeks later at the Fargo Film Festival, a four-day celebration kicking off on March 20, you won’t want to miss the electric atmosphere and occasional peep of a movie star. You may even see Alison Becker – NBC’s “Parks and Rec” star – this year! After a day well spent at the festival, relax at Hotel Donaldson, an artsy boutique hotel with beautiful works of art, incredible food, rooftop yoga and some of the best views of downtown.
• Grand Forks: Grand Forks is a charming college town with remarkable art galleries and fascinating food venues. Get your caffeine-fix at Urban Stampede to sip on freshly brewed java while taking in the world’s smallest art gallery. Then, head to the North Dakota Museum of Art, where you can see one of the Museum’s permanent collections which includes more than $1 million in African, Egyptian, and contemporary art.