If you have been following along, you now know what an amazing family destination North Dakota is. Today I wanted to dive into one last fantastic North Dakota city. One that is a little “outside of the box” “a little quirky, a little weird”; welcome to Fargo! As the Fargo North Dakota website so eloquently puts it “Fargo. North of Normal”.
“You know it the moment you hit the ground. You sense it in the air, feel it on the prairie wind. This place is different. Not like anywhere you’ve been before. It’s unfamiliar ground, but it’s ground you want to spend time on. Welcome to Fargo, a place that sets the bar far above the norm.”
So let’s dive in and see what makes Fargo so special and great for family travelers!
The most famous stop in Fargo would be most definitely the Fargo Wood Chipper. At the Fargo CVB building you can get up-close with the real wood chipper in the Fargo movie. Now this isn’t exactly a “kid” friendly activity, but it makes a great photo opportunity (you can just tell the kids it’s a ordinary wood chipper lol). The kids will love the complimentary popcorn served most days and different activities the CVB sets up.
I absolutely love the feel of downtown Fargo and if you drive or walk around you won’t want to miss the Fargo Theatre.
Fargo Theatre: The 1926 restored Fargo Theatre features film showings and live productions and is a registered historic landmark. It also houses a restored theatre pipe organ, the "Mighty Wurlitzer." You can ask for a tour or see a show! I love the look of this theater, definitely worth checking out and snapping a few pics!
Plains Art Museum: This strikingly unconventional museum of fine arts is a brilliantly renovated, turn-of-the-century warehouse in historic downtown Fargo. The Plains Art Museum hosts regional and national exhibits, large permanent collections, special events, performances and art classes.
Need a little shop therapy?
West Acres Shopping Center: The largest shopping center in the region, West Acres has over 120 stores and restaurants. Home to the Roger Maris Museum, the legendary Fargo athlete who hit 61 homers to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record in 1961. Also, visit Stabo – the oldest store in the mall and full of great Scandinavian gifts. Stabo is one of the few unique and locally owned stores in the mall.
Heading into nature while in North Dakota? You’ll want to check out Scheels first!
With over four acres of retail space on two levels, 85 Sports Specialty Shops, a 45-foot working Ferris wheel, Fudge shop offering Starbucks coffee and a deli the whole family will love stopping here!
Bonanzaville: Cass County Historical Society Bonanzaville consists of 43 historic buildings and over 400,000 artifacts. Located in West Fargo, North Dakota, Bonanzaville is the area's premier tourist attraction. This is really a site to see and you will want to plan a whole afternoon to see it all.
Need something special for the kiddos?
The Children's Museum at Yunker Farm: The Children's Museum was created as a special place for children and families. The more than 50 hands-on exhibits are designed to engage, educate, stimulate creativity, and encourage interaction between the child and the exhibit as well as the child and parent. It is a unique place where parents interact, play, create and learn with their children.
This wraps up our incredible journey through North Dakota. Our family’s time in North Dakota was one of the best vacations we have taken and one that we will all remember forever. Keep in mind that this is just a guide to help you along, so please head over here to create your custom journey through this amazing state. Let us know what great sites your family finds!
A big thank you to North Dakota Tourism and partners for hosting our family in order to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.
