The Explore All 50 States Project
Let's Go!
While North Dakota is probably not high on your destination list, if you have the time and are touring South Dakota, I highly encourage you to visit. Granted many of the activities are a little spread out, you will enjoy the scenery getting from one place to the next. Along the road we did a little unorthodox sightseeing getting up close and personal with a herd of black cows, checking out some bales of hay, and … [Read more...]
The NorthDakota State Capitol Building does not conform to norms of state capitol architecture particularly since it is 19 stories tall. There is no dome or rotunda but still my kids could not wait to race inside and see what treasures it held. Inside we did see some historical artwork and carvings, but they most enjoyed checking out the state seal. Personally, I found the sculptures on the grounds really … [Read more...]
Visiting The National Buffalo Museum and Frontier Village was a memorable and moving experience. Before entering the museum there is a small frontier village with a few shops that sell arts and crafts made by the local tribes of the Sioux and the Lakota. I got a really great pair of handmade buckskin moccasins that I love so much I am afraid to wear them for fear of ruining them. Isaac got a little drum that … [Read more...]
We arrived in Medora in the early afternoon and had a little time to explore the town before the Medora Musical that night so we decided to do a 1 hour trail ride at the Medora Riding Stables. Everyone got saddled up on our trusty steeds, even Avrille, and we set out on the trail on a gentle and leisurely ride. Heading out, our guide gave us a brief history of the area and it's connection to President Teddy … [Read more...]
I once met Senator Kent Conrad from North Dakota. When I told him we would be visiting his state and asked him what were the top three things we should see, he listed them in this order, 1. Medora, 2. Medora, and 3. Medora. Well, I guess you could say Medora was not to be missed and after visiting there myself I can totally understand the Senator's response. The town of Medora is charming and beautiful but … [Read more...]
The Valley City Fish Hatchery was one of those places where we needed a stop to break up a long car ride and there wasn't much else to see or do in the area. We checked it out and were really surprised at how unexpectedly cool, interesting, and educational it was. Apparently, fish hatcheries like this one grow baby fish to release into the lakes and rivers in the surrounding areas to help the ecosystem and to … [Read more...]
Driving up from South Dakota up to Fargo, we stopped at Bonanzaville, a pioneer village with 12 acres, 43 historic buildings, 400,000 artifacts, and millions of memories. It is the region’s largest historical attraction. Bonanzaville is kind of a museum whose exhibits are old buildings. We found out that most of these buildings were not here originally but were painstakingly moved here to create this sort of … [Read more...]
What is there to do in North and South Dakota, you ask? Plenty! When people ask me which trip was my favorite, I always think of this one, mostly because I was surprised by what I took away from it: a new appreciation of the American spirit embodied in the homesteaders and pioneers who toughed it out for a piece of land to call their own. It’s tough to imagine my kids and me coming out on a covered wagon to settle … [Read more...]
