Need Help

I will be traveling across the US with my husband this coming summer. He鈥檚 a long haul truck driver and me and my son plan to join him for a few weeks every now and then. I have no clue where well end up stopping in your state so I was hoping you could all help me by telling me cool kid friendly places to see. I know there will be times where we鈥檒l be waiting a day or so to pick up or drop off and I鈥檇 love to use that free time to explore areas. I鈥檓 the kind of person who likes to plan as much as possible. So any and all recommendations of places to stop and see would be greatly appreciated

Thanks so much for all your help

Lisa

Need Help

Well, considering you didn%26#39;t specify where exactly you%26#39;ll be in ND I%26#39;m just going to assume that you%26#39;ll be traveling across the state on I-94. All of the following are located right on the interstate.

I%26#39;ll start from the West.

1. Medora (40 miles east of MT/ND border)- This is only a good stop after Memorial Day as the city is a veritable ghost town before then.

- This town (pop. 100) is the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park which is full of awesome views of landscapes that are found no where else on earth.

- Nightly until Labor Day, there is an original outdoor musical (country/western) that is very family oriented, though might not be very exciting to kids over, lets say 15.

- Last year%26#39;s ';#1 Best New Affordable Golf Course in America';, rated by Golf Digest, is located just 3 miles south of town.

- The rest of the town is preserved to try and look as though it did during the time Teddy Roosevelt lived near there. The Historic Rough Rider Hotel, where Teddy actually stayed, offers fantastic dining by one of ND%26#39;s 2 five-star chefs. (He has cooked for BIll Clinton)

- There is several gift shops, a few ice cream shops, a mini-golf course, and the Historic Cheateau DeMores.

- try www.medora.com, it offers much more info.

2. Dickinson (40 miles east of Medora) - Not much here but you might enjoy the Dakota Dinosaur Museum.

3. Bismarck/Mandan (100 miles east of Dickinson) - I haven%26#39;t visited this area for some time as a tourist but Fort Mandan State Park is very interesting. It is where General Custer lived before dying at the Battle of Little Big Horn. There is a fun train ride there as well.

- Also the Capitol is a nice visit, it is the tallest building in ND and there is a fantastic History Museum on site.

4. Jamestown (90 miles east of Bismarck) - this town is proud of it%26#39;s albino buffalo and the ';World%26#39;s Largest Buffalo'; located at it%26#39;s replica 19th century village.

5. Fargo (90 miles east of Jamestown on ND/MN border) - the largest town in ND and by far the least exciting. I cannot think of anything worthwhile to note.

Hope this helped at least a little!

Need Help

I think that%26#39;s a good list of suggestions. I do, however, disagree with ssolga%26#39;s opinion of Fargo, but ';kid friendly';, that%26#39;s another thing. The one thing that comes to my mind right now is the Red River Valley Fair. That%26#39;s fun for practically all ages, I was there a couple years ago, it%26#39;s at West Fargo, %26amp; it looks like it goes from June 15 to June 23 this year, the website for it is www.redrivervalleyfair.com

Wahpeton (about 45 miles south of Fargo, ND) has a nice zoo, Chahinkapa Zoo, that features a nice carousel that the kids can ride for $1.00. There is a great pool with a huge waterslide. Wahpeton also features an 18 hole golfcourse, 9 holes in North Dakota, 9 holes in Minnesota.

It%26#39;s a good thing you are traveling through ND in the summer, not much going on in the winter!

Hi Lisa,

I Iive in Bismarck and there is many many kid friendly things to do:

1. The Dakota Zoo - ride the train through the zoo, visit the concession stand or let your kids play on the playground inside!

2. Sertoma Park - The Zoo is inside this park and before or after your zoo visit you can go to the Super Slide Amusement Park that features a giant slide that you speed down on a blanket or enjoy a game of mini golf or a ride on the ferris wheel! My kids love it! Or follow the walking path that takes you through the park and along the scenic Missouri River...very pretty and you can view the building of the new bridge.

3. Raging Rivers Water Park - across the bridge in Mandan along the highway. A huge multi-slide water complex with an inside game arcade, laser tag, mini golf and go-carts! Food available on site...this can be an all day event if you want it to be!

4. Ft. Lincoln - South of Mandan. This is a fun place to bring your kids becuase you can tour the old Native American earth homes, see what life was during the 1800%26#39;s, and there%26#39;s even a little train that takes you along the river.

I would contact the ND State Tourism Department and they will send you out a packet of information complete with maps and coupons and more thorough descriptions of things to do in our state.

Hope this helps you out! Enjoy our state! In the summer it%26#39;s warm (and usually windy! hahaha) but we our known for our beautiful sunny days and star-filled nights...any place along the river would be kid friendly...get a picnic lunch and find a spot and watch the recreation on the river.

Michelle