6 Underrated Places In North Dakota That Even Natives Have Never Heard Of
By Leah|Published September 21, 2018
×
Leah
Author
Leah moved to North Dakota when she was 12 years old and has traveled from the Red River Valley to the badlands and many places in between. She loves small-town life and currently enjoys living on a small farm in the ND prairie. She's always had a passion for writing and has participated in novel writing challenges such as NaNoWriMo multiple times. Her favorite part about this job is recognizing small businesses that deserve a boost and seeing the positive affect her articles can have on their traffic, especially in rural areas that might have otherwise gone overlooked.
There are lots of attractions in North Dakota, many that are known by just about everyone. Medora, Fort Abraham Lincoln, the International Peace Garden… we all know and love them! But what about the places almost no one knows of? Even the North Dakota natives, people who were born here and have lived here their whole lives, probably haven’t heard of these underrated spots.
If you want to get a true glimpse into what North Dakota looked like long before we were ever here, the Davis Ranch preserve near Denhoff, North Dakota is perfect. It is an untouched prairie paradise in the "prairie pothole" region. The rolling, grassy hills are covered in native grasses and there are many ponds and pools of water reflecting the wide open sky. It's almost like something from a dream, and yet it is right here in North Dakota. You can read more about it here.
Head out to a farm near Wolford, North Dakota that has become a museum for all to enjoy by the people that own it. Hundreds of antiques, from threshers and tractors to one-room schoolhouses full of accurate artifacts from their day, this place is a nostalgia fest. There is so much to see here, you can take advantage of their campground and spend a couple of days. Somehow not many people know about it! Check out more information here.
Escape into nature at Hankinson Hills near Hankinson, North Dakota. Whether you stay at the campground or take to the trails through the sandy hills, you'll be met with nothing but the peace and quiet. It's far from any major roads - only reachable by gravel - and more often than not, there's barely anyone there. It's beautifully serene and the best place to unwind and clear your mind. More info here.
This spot near Cooperstown, North Dakota is more than just little-known, it's completely underground! And by underground, we mean literally. You'll venture deep underground while taking a tour of this site, into what used to be a minuteman missile launch control center. There was also an underground missile silo here. This gets you up close and personal into the room that could have launched a defensive missile to save the United States from any incoming missiles during the Cold War, but fortunately was not necessary. It's fascinating in every sense and fun whether you are a history buff or average tourist. Read more about it here.
5. Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center
I know what you're probably thinking: why would a North Dakota native want to know about a visitors center? What makes it so special? Some of you may have already passed this place many times and thought nothing of it, but you don't know what you're missing. This isn't just your usual visitors center with some pamphlets and maps - it's so much more. Even the sidewalk up to this place is cool, because it is lined with the Fargo Walk of Fame. Signed concrete slabs line the walkway, signed by tons of celebrities from music stars of all genres, to Bill Gates, to Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie. Plus, this place embraces the fame from the Coen brothers movie Fargo, with the official prop wood chipper in the lobby you can take a photo with. Check it out.
North Dakota has many fascinating historic forts and fort recreations across the state. Fort Abraham Lincoln is a popular one, there's also Fort Mandan and Fort Union. But what about Fort Buford? It's lesser known but should get more attention. Walk through the entire huge site on boardwalks, going from building to building and learning about each. You can even check out an old cemetery with graves dating back to decades before North Dakota was even a state. It became famous in its day for being the place that the famous Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881. Learn more about it here.
What other attractions in North Dakota do you think need more attention than they get? There are more than just parks and monuments that not many people know about but should, such as these underrated ND restaurants.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
