10 Picture-Perfect Towns in North Dakota
Fun fact: North Dakota is the number one honey producer in the US, with 90% of the region solely for agriculture. But that is not to say that honey is the only sweet delight in North Dakota. Many of the small towns are prime locations for photography and memory-making adventures. Wild buffalos roam thunderously in towns like Jamestown and Devil’s Lake. Strange and whimsical structures adorn laidback towns such as Bottineau and New Salem. Most of all, each town promises unique surprises that are simply picture-perfect. Visit North Dakota's towns below to explore a land unchanged since the Sioux people first inhabited it.
Jamestown
Midway between Bismarck and Fargo, and located in the valley where the James and Pipestem Rivers, Jamestown is one of the best places to get summertime fun and photographs. Known as “The Pride of the Prairie,” the infinitely windy plains of Jamestown were once home to thunderous herds of buffalo. Today, one notable buffalo—the World’s Largest Buffalo—that visitors can picture is “Dakota Thunder,” a 26-foot-tall buffalo monument honoring and protecting the living herds. The National Buffalo Museum teaches travelers the values of buffaloes living in Jamestown. Aside from these roving herds, Jamestown boasts other amenities. Consider attending a Kite Fest every year in windy June or watching the James River Rodeo for wild horse action and racing.Visitors might be interested in discovering previous haunts of legendary author Louis L’Amour, who was born and raised in Jamestown. Do not forget to book rooms at the Gladstone Hotel!
Bottineau
Bottineau, situated at the foot of the Turtle Mountains near the US-Canadian border, is an excellent place to enjoy. It is rightfully called “The Four Seasons Playground,” as guests can revel in many activities any time of the year. Start adventuring by saying hello to Tommy the Turtle, a gigantic turtle statue riding a snowmobile. Afterward, go sightseeing at the Mystical Horizons, the "Stonehenge of the Prairie" near Turtle Mountain. Make a splash in Bottineau’s many lakes, such as Lake Metigoshe, Lords Lake National Wildlife Refuge, or Pelican Lake. And do consider a quick purchase at the Pride Dairy, the last small-town creamery in North Dakota. Bottineau may be situated in what looks like a middle-of-nowhere, but fine accommodations like Turtle Mountain Inn and Cobblestone Inn & Suites will provide homely environments.
Garrison
The small town of Garrison holds a spectacular position on the beautiful northern shores of Lake Sakakawea. Only about 47 minutes from Minot, take photos or selfies of the quirky Wally the Walleye, a statue of a walleye fish that marks Garrison as “The Walleye Capitol of the World.” Afterward, go fishing for walleye or other fish in Lake Sakakawea or in Lake Audubon. Tour the Custer Mine Interpretive Site, formerly a coal mine called the Truax-Taer Mine, where folks can learn Garrison’s coal mining heritage. Learn more about Garrison’s past in a 1905 train depot that was converted into the Heritage Park & Museum for period pieces. Get a glimpse of previous military life in the Fort Stevenson Guardhouse. Last but not least, find suitable lodgings in the North Shore Inn & Suites and Garrison Motel.
New Salem
If you are traveling 30 miles west of Bismarck, you might spot the silhouette of a giant cow standing majestically on the hillside. In fact, this cow’s name is “Salem Sue,” a 38-foot-tall Holstein cow statue that acts as the town of New Salem’s mascot. The statue also represents New Salem’s heritage as a dairy-producing town, which the Custer Trail Museum informs travelers about. Aside from this big, beautiful bovine, New Salem offers a few placid and laidback attractions. Gaebe Pond, for example, is a soothing, uncomplicated location for fishing and boating. Many of New Salem’s parks are riddled with excellent routes for biking and hiking. Most importantly, a local event called the “Cow Town Hoe Down” provides a bevy of cow-related activities during July. Better save some milk as you settle in the Arrowhead Inn for a relaxing retreat into New Salem’s comfy air.
Devil’s Lake
They say the Devil is in the details, but at least he is not in the homely and good-natured town of Devil’s Lake. Bountiful fisheries provide challenging and exhilarating catches on Devil’s Lake’s watery expanse from Creel Bay. Meanwhile, bison and elk roam freely on land in the White Horse Hill National Game Preserve. Visitors will undoubtedly find strolling through the Grahams Island State Park a delightful experience. In addition, the rustic military post of Fort Totten stands as a historic landmark highlighting the early Lake Region pioneers. Articles and attires of military personnel such as Colonel Creel—founder of Devil’s Lake—can be found in the Lake Region Pioneer Daughter's Museum. As for lodgings, look no further than the Devil’s Lake Sportsmans Lodge, Devil’s Lake Inn, and Fort Totten Trail Inn.
Valley City
Head to the heart of the Sheyenne River Valley by visiting the small town of Valley City. Only about 60 miles from Fargo, travelers can peek at the town’s agricultural and pioneering history at the Barnes County Museum. Aside from the usual exhibits, there is also Gundy the Triceratops waiting to greet dinosaur lovers. Why not take a trip through the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway? Among the many attractions along the 63-mile route is Lake Ashtabula, a pristine site for federal fisheries. You might also come across Baldhill Dam, which impounds and controls flooding from Lake Ashtabula and Sheyenne River to ensure prosperous crops in the region. Camp Sheardown State Historic Site and Fort Ransom State Park are fascinating sites along the way. Rest up at the AmericInn, Grand Stay, or Three Oaks Guest Inn when your feet get weary and worn.
Minot
Minot is known for being home to the Dakota Territory Air Museum. The town’s World War II aviation history is exhibited through memorabilia and aircraft that tipped the war in the Allies’ favor, on the lush banks of the Souris River, bears, big cats, and many bird species frolic in the Roosevelt Park. The Magic City Discovery Center promotes STEAM-related enterprises for aspiring youths. And perhaps the greatest of these local attractions is the Scandinavian Heritage Park. Visitors can marvel at a Danish windmill, a Norwegian stabbur (storehouse), a Finnish sauna, a Swedish Dala horse, and other Scandinavian monuments honoring the Nordic immigrants who built Minot. For accommodations, lodgings like the Sierra Inn, the Hotel Revel, and Hyatt House are some of the finest places to stay.
Medora
If President Theodore Roosevelt loved the nature-friendly town of Medora on the Little Missouri River, it is safe to say visitors will too! Start the adventure in these harsh badlands at Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin, a ranch where Roosevelt invested in his cattle-raising enterprises. Then, explore the ferocious and dynamic Theodore Roosevelt National Park for sights of the legendary bison, wild elk, and cute prairie dogs. Pay a visit to two unique houses in the town. One, the Perception House, is full of mind-boggling illusions and tricks. Second, the Von Hoffman House has historical ties to the town’s founders, Marquis Antoine de Vallombrosa and his wife, Medora von Hoffman. Around summertime, the Medora Musical chimes a rooting-tooting ode to Theodore Roosevelt and all things American. So stay awhile in these badlands, which Roosevelt called “the romance of his life,” and pick from a selection of lodgings such as Rough Riders Hotel, Hyde House, and Wooly Boys Inn.
Walhalla
On the cool banks of the Pembina River, east of the Pembina Gorge, Walhalla is a small town full of excellent natural spectacles for trekkers and hikers to enjoy. Pay a quick or extended visit to the Gingras Trading Post State, an 1840s trading post of Métis legislator and businessman Antoine Blanc Gingras. Or perhaps the Kittson Trading Post, once used by American Fur Company agent Norman Kittson in 1843 for local commerce. Journey through the Tetrault State Forest Lookout Point and the Tetrault Woods State Forest for unhindered moments in North Dakota’s natural landscapes. Finally, give yourself a place to replenish at either the Moose Creek Lodge or the Forestwood Inn.
Jud
The town of Jud may not seem like an entertaining or enthralling place to visit and in fact may appear to some as a ghost town! The St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is an especially foreboding figure symbolizing the town’s simplicity and lonesomeness. Nevertheless, there are hidden delights in Jud worthy of photographing if you can spot them. One hint is that Jud is known as “The City of Murals.” Indeed, every building in town has a mural depicting different sceneries, scenarios, and sites. Furthermore, Jud has Dagen's Grocery, the oldest standing store in the entire state since 1905. You might also fancy simple relaxation beside the small Bluebird Lake.
In North Dakota, there is a landmark called the International Peace Garden. It symbolizes peace and friendship between the Canadian borders of North Dakota and Manitoba. Indeed, Dakota is a Sioux word meaning “friend” or “ally,” and to this day, North Dakota remains a friendly place for visitors from America, Canada, and all over to enjoy. If Theodore Roosevelt loved a town like Medora, if people settled down and made an excellent living in places like Walhalla, Minot, Valley City, and Jud, and if entertaining attractions in New Salem, Jamestown, and Devil’s Lake continue to impress travelers from everywhere, then come on down to the friendly state of North Dakota.
