North Dakota

Energy

When you drive to the store or flip on a light switch, the energy has to come from somewhere. see how energy is produced in north dakota by visiting the energy related attractions.

Adventure Activities

Turn off that reality tv and visit a place with real life adventure: north dakota. when it comes to outdoor activities, north dakota is hard to beat. golf the lewis & clark trail, sail across lake sakakawea. no matter if it's bicycle or binoculars - an adventure awaits you. search for activities like hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, boating, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, wildlife viewing and horseback riding. from serene to extreme - north dakota has it. don't let all that fresh air go to waste, go out and have some fun!

American Indian Experience

They are the mandan, hidatsa, arikara, the yanktonai, sisseton, wahpeton, hunkpapa and other dakotah/lakotah commonly known as the sioux tribes, along with the pembina chippewa, cree and mã©tis.

Though the individual tribes have distinct and different origins, histories and languages, Plains Indians are united by core beliefs and values that emanate from respect for the earth and an understanding of humankind's relationship with nature.Visitors are welcome to explore the reservations and discover the beauty of Indian culture.

Archaeology and Paleontology

Millions of years before north dakota was a state, prehistoric creatures were living out their legendary adventure. today, you can visit - and excavate at - fossil-bearing sites ranging in age from 30-years to 73-million years.

Arts and Entertainment

Concerts, festivals, galleries and more abound in north dakota. see top-name acts at a casino, or at one of the larger venues, like the fargodome, bismarck civic center, minot all seasons arena or grand forks’ alerus center, ralph englestad arena and chester fritz auditorium. art, created by or simply appreciated by north dakotans, can be experienced in many ways. check out the north dakota council on the arts for a good overview. you’ll also want to visit the north dakota museum of art, plains art museum, and the many art and craft fairs you’ll find on the local cvb web sites.

Biking

North dakota’s varied topography offers mountain bikers many choices for riding. from the one million acres of rugged buttes in the little missouri national grassland to the rolling hills of the turtle mountains, north dakota has many areas for mountain biking, including the maah daah hey trail waiting to be discovered.

Birding

Nearly four hundred species of birds inhabit or visit north dakota.

Boating

North dakota’s lakes and rivers are well equipped with boat landings and great reasons to get out on the water, like legendary fishing.

With 17 State Parks and Recreation Areas and countless local camping facilities, North Dakota is a great place to camp. There is abundant activity available in every park. Pack the s'mores, sing some campfire songs, and keep an eye towards the sky in case the Northern Lights join your party.

Canoeing/Kayaking

North dakota’s canoeing waters are as diverse as the state itself. whether canoeists prefer the scenery presented by agricultural plains, rugged badlands, thickly wooded slopes or gentle river bluffs, north dakota’s rivers offer a challenge to beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

Casinos/Gaming

You'll find fun and excitement throughout the year in north dakota's casinos. enjoy a variety of gaming experiences, fine dining and accommodations. visit casino web sites for concert and event listings.

Education Vacation

One of the fastest growing travel trends is in education vacations. this is an opportunity for visitors to customize their north dakota experience - have fun and learn new skills - in a variety of areas, including:

Agri-tourism

In north dakota, one may answer a lot of questions about agriculture - like "where does milk come from?" and "how do you make spaghetti?". here, you can live out a real ranch vacation, become a cowboy, even get your hands dirty with some of the best soil in the world.

Family Fun

Building memories - that's what family fun is all about. in north dakota your family can follow the trail of lewis & clark, dig for fossils buried for millions of years, splash down at a water park, tell ghost stories around a campfire ... and that's just the first day!

Fishing

Fishing is good, but let's be honest. every one of us would rather be catching. fortunately, north dakota is famous for its productive fisheries. our plentiful lakes and rivers are teeming with game fish like northern pike, walleye, perch, trout and bass. water levels, species diversity, fish sizes and populations are up. so, if you're up for more action, more trophy catches and more fun, north dakota is your fishing hotspot.

Forts

Experience north dakota's legendary military history through a visit to a fort or state historic site. as settlers pushed west, forts were established to provide protection and central meeting places. the north dakota state historical society operates most historic forts in the state.

Geocaching

High tech treasure hunting with the help of a global positioning system gps, provides another opportunity for outdoor adventure the whole family can enjoy. the north dakota state parks system offers a wide variety of natural and historic settings, landmarks and architectural works, to make this state a great getaway for an enjoyable geocaching experience. come explore the state parks of north dakota and test your cache seeking skills in some of state’s most scenic and historic settings.

Golfing

North dakota has more golf courses per capita than any other state in the nation, almost 100 courses total.

Hiking

Public lands in north dakota, including state parks, wildlife management areas and refuges, grasslands, national parks, historic sites and recreation areas are open for day hiking of various lengths. hiking sites include trails with historic or natural features specifically marked for self-guided interpretive walks. these short hikes are excellent for individuals, families or large group learning experiences.

Horse and Auto Racing

If you have a need for speed, there's nothing like a friday night spent cheering for your favorite driver - or horse. the north dakota horse park opened in 2002, in fargo. catch thundering action on eight weekends in 2007.

Hunting

One of the problems hunters face here is the many options in fall. making a choice is tough. hunters can decoy ducks or geese in the morning, chase pheasants in the afternoon and be back in their decoy spread again for the evening flight. or they can bowhunt for pronghorn and mule deer in the drop-dead gorgeous badlands. north dakota is known as the duck factory in the lower 48 states, boasting some of the best duck hunting in the country for birds raised within its borders – and some of the best hunting for birds making southern migrations from nesting grounds in canada. upland hunters come from around the country for a shot at ring-necked pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and hungarian partridge. big-game hunts are available, too. record numbers of deer licenses have been issued in recent years. more often than not, hunters go home not only with game, but wonderful stories to share for years to come.

Lewis and Clark Trail

Captain meriwether lewis called them "the handsomest plains i ever beheld." north dakota still boasts breathtaking scenery and its hospitality continues to leave a lasting impression on visitors. lewis and clark did all of the hard work, charting and exploring the west, and now you can have all of the fun! take your own journey to a powwow, drape yourself in a buffalo robe or meander through remains of the home of sakakawea, the lewis & clark expedition's legendary indian interpreter and guide.

Motorcycling

There is nothing quite like motorcycling in north dakota. great highways dissect 70,000 square miles of rural bliss and take riders effortlessly between the state’s larger cities. you won’t find a lot of things here that you do elsewhere: smog, crime, traffic, headaches. but you will find things here you won’t find anywhere else: the nicest people, the north dakota badlands, pembina gorge, rolling hills and grasslands and the wide open farmland of the red river valley.

RVing

On highway, there are 350 miles of scenic byways and backways to lead you to some of our favorite “hidden gems.” create your legendary adventure by way of national park sites, state parks, city and county campgrounds, prairies, badlands, grasslands and valleys. there are how about discovering a museum made out of rock; or hike into a petrified forest; or discover a young teddy roosevelt’s cabin.

Scenic Drives

Take a break from it all and cruise on one of north dakota's many scenic drives.

Sporting Teams

Be a part of the action in north dakota. pound on the glass, feel each step before the slam dunk, hear the crack of the bat and ready your glove for the pop fly. here you can enjoy minor league baseball, basketball and hockey and never have to worry about the nose-bleed section. teams include: •northern league baseball redhawks baseball - fargo, •nba d-league basketball wizards basketball - bismarck, •nahl hockey bobcats hockey - bismarck, •ushl hockey fargo force - fargo

Western Experience

North dakota is often known as the place to visit for a "real american" experience. in fact, it's why north dakota is frequently ranked in the top five for u.s. destinations by international guests.

Wineries

North dakota is home to four wineries and one vineyard, and the popularity of north dakota wines is growing. from pumpkin to rhubarb, apple to honey - there's a variety to excite the palate. tours and tasting is available at all locations.