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Bucket list fail.
A friend of ours was recently inspired after attending a freelance writer’s conference to create her own North Dakota Bucket List. We created a bucket list once, but we think we may not have understood the concept at the time.
She, much like many of our Ambassadors, loves North Dakota and was shocked by how many times she hears about new places to go and visit even after living in the state her entire life. We liked the list so much we thought we’d encourage you to think about your North Dakota bucket list. Check out her list below and for the full skinny – and we mean skinny, as she is normally a fitness and healthy food blogger – visit her at www.donteatcrapblog.com.
North Dakota Bucket List ala Brianna Strahm (AKA @donteatcrap)
- Drive through Teddy Roosevelt National Park to pet the buffalo and experience the Medora Musical (again!) (Editor’s Note: We strongly advise against petting buffalo.)
- Bike or Hike “part” of the 100 mile Maah Daah Hey Trail
- Go sailing on Lake Sakakawea
- Kayaking or canoeing on the Pembina River
- Catch a walleye in Devils Lake
- Go to a UND Hockey Game at the Ralph Engelstad
- Take a picture with the Worlds Largest Buffalo (again!)
- Drive down the Enchanted Highway
- Visit the Rock Museum in Parshall
- Visit the Wood Chipper in Fargo
- Walk across the Fairview Bridge
- Visit Prairie Fire Pottery in Beach
- Eat at the Pitchfork Fondue in Medora
- Eat Juneberry Pie at Lunds Landing in Ray
- Sample a dessert from Nicole’s Fine Pastry in Fargo
- Eat Chippers from Widmans in Grand Forks (again!)
- Visit the Albino Buffalo in Jamestown (sorta again!)
- Ride a sled being pulled by an ATV at Papa’s Polar Patch
- Stay at the Hotel Donaldson in Fargo
- Experience Norsk Hostfest in Minot
- Participate in a grape stomp at the Red Trail Vineyard in Buffalo
Now for the BIG question … what would you add to the list?
With the launch of North Dakota’s new tourism campaign earlier this week, came distinct attention around one ad. The ad, which depicted a girls-night out on the town, caused a bit of a social media stir yesterday when it became widely shared and commented on.
We support North Dakota Tourism’s efforts to promote our state’s nightlife and fun atmosphere and think their response is worth reading: http://legendarynd.wordpress.com/
Sometimes even the best, well-intentioned things can be misinterpreted. It is the beauty of us all having our own opinion. As an Ambassador of North Dakota, whether you like the ad or not, I know we can all agree that North Dakota is still a fun place to have an evening out.
Enjoying the colorful fun at Papa's Pumpkin Patch.
The North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism Division just announced seven ways to harvest a “Legendary” adventure in North Dakota. We want to do them all. How about you?
For those hunting birds, fish, ghosts or the Great Pumpkin, you’ve come to the right place. North Dakota abounds with ghosts, ghouls, gourds and waterfowl in October. Do a little hunting early, then take the family to one of the state’s many haunted Halloween activities in the evening. And who knows, you may actually succeed where Linus fails every year in his quest to find the Great Pumpkin. Be sincere in your search and try these spine-tingling activities. Here are a few options to check out, or contact North Dakota Tourism for additional ideas at www.ndtourism.com or call 800-435-5663 or 701-328-2525.
1. Harvest moon
The chill in the fall air is nothing like that tickling your spine as you work your way through a haunted fort, a haunted cemetery and a haunted house. ’Tis the season for a full moon (October 11) and the ghostly haunts that follow as we head toward Halloween. Get your thrills and chills at Fort Abraham Lincoln’s Haunted Fort, Fort Buford’s Haunted Cemetery Walk and Grand Forks’ Legend of Terror Haunted House.
2. AMAZEing pumpkins
Two things are synonymous with Halloween, Ghosts and pumpkins. You may not find the Great Pumpkin, but you’re sure to have a great time looking for him at some of the pumpkin patches in North Dakota. Begin your search at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Mandan, Berry’s Acres at Minot or Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze at Grand Forks. .
3. Bountiful arts
Take your sense of adventure around the state and discover hidden gems like the Prairie Fire Pottery in Beach or 62 Doors Gallery and Studio in Minot. If you prefer to stroll while admiring the local talent, try the Art and Wine Walk in Grand Forks, Artfest in Minot or the Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists Studio Crawl. Many of North Dakota’s art galleries are close to home, so find one near you.
4. Oktober Fests
October is a month for celebrating, and North Dakota’s small towns and large cities know how to do it right. The season gets rolling with The Muddy River Mashers’ Oktoberfest in Bismarck. Fargo brews up a celebration with its own Oktoberfest, and Holy Cross Catholic Church in West Fargo gets into the spirit of the season with family activities and a Harley-Davidson giveaway.
5. Fall Fishing Frenzy
While hunters eagerly await their seasons to start, anglers have no such worries as their season never ends in North Dakota. For years, fishing in the state has picked up in October and every indication is that the bite will continue. Plus, ramp access to the Missouri River continues to improve.
6. Harvest your favorite game
North Dakota is a waterfowler’s paradise. There’s nothing “daffy” about duck hunting here, as a large fall flight of ducks is expected to make its way through the state. The Central Flyway through the middle and eastern parts of the state routes vast flights of geese through the area on their trek south. Meanwhile, pheasant hunters from far and wide await that season opener on October 8th.
7. Harvest adventure
Take in the natural splendor of fall by going camping, biking or hiking. North Dakota’s state parks are open year-round, and autumn activities abound in all of the state’s 13 parks. Whether you choose to pedal, leg it or hoof it on a horse, you’re guaranteed to see nature at its best from the various trails intertwined across the state. And, the crisp nights are ideal for sleeping under the stars.
These are just a few ideas to celebrate the harvest throughout North Dakota. For more information, go to NDtourism.com or phone 800-435-5663 or 701-328-2525.
Note: Thanks to Ambassador and new North Dakota Department of Commerce Marketing Intern Stacey Loula for sharing her thoughts as a student-transplant to North Dakota. She truly is a “city-slicker,” born and raised, as she grew up in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. She is currently a senior at the University of Mary, majoring in Business Communication with a minor in Public Relations.
North Dakota is home to many different cultures, Native Americans, Germans, Scandinavian’s, and Norwegian’s which have all brought with them their unique tastes and foods. As a native of Minnesota, I have found that there are many different foods that I have never had or heard of before moving to North Dakota. Although I have not experienced all of them quite yet, I would like to share with you some of the different tastes and foods that North Dakota has to offer.
Native American/Western Grub
Buffalo burgers and other buffalo dishes are on some menus, but I have heard if you want real, authentic Native American foods, your best bet is to attend a Pow-Wow. A few you might want to consider:
- Nue’ta Corn Festival, held in Mandan in August
- Mid-Winter Pow-Wow, which takes place on the day of New Year’s Eve in New Town
- Twin Buttes Pow-Wow, in June
- United Tribes International Pow-Wow, held in Bismarck in September
German-Russian Grub
Many German/Russian traditional foods remain popular in the state, particularly Knoepfla soup, Fleischküchle, and Kuchen. Knoeplfa soup is true comfort food, mixing dumplings and potatoes in a creamy chicken broth, it is unlike any other soup you could have. Fleischküchle is a savory, deep-fried turnover which can contain a variety of fillings, but the most common is seasoned ground beef. For dessert, Kuchen is the hands-down favorite. Kuchen, as the German-Russians prepare it, has a cake-like crust with a custard filling, which often includes fruit.
You can find German-Russian dishes at numerous local restaurants:
The city of Beulah is noted for their Fleischkuchle, which you’ll find not only at restaurants, but fairs, festivals, a few roadside stands, and even the Dairy Queen.- Kroll’s Kitchen restaurant chain in Fargo and Bismarck to be the best place for Knoepfla soup, as well as other German-Russian dishes.
- New Leipzig, Leipziger Hof Restaurant is a popular gathering place to enjoy dishes like schnitzel (deep-fried, breaded meat, usually veal) and Russian-style borscht (soup made with cabbage, and often beets).
- Wishek, which calls itself the “Sauerkraut Capital of the World.” Nothing beats it!
What other German-Russian foods might you encounter in North Dakota? Sausages, spaetzle (tiny dumplings), strudel (flaky pastry with either savory or sweet fillings), and pierogies (baked or fried half-moon dumplings, which also contain either savory or sweet fillings, especially mashed potatoes or cheese). If you like pickles and happen upon German-Russian watermelon pickles, you may want to give them a try. Dill and red-hot peppers added to the brine give these watermelon pickles a nice kick.
Norwegian Grub
Among the most common Norwegian dishes are lutefisk and lefse. Lutefisk is cod which has been preserved by soaking it in lye. Lutefisk is slimy and slippery; it just slides right on down your throat (gross). It’s most definitely not my most favorite thing to eat, but who knows maybe it will be yours. It’s a love, hate thing; people generally either love it or hate it. In either case, it’s considered an acquired taste, so lutefisk may be best left to those with a more adventurous palate. On the other hand, lefse will appeal to just about anyone. This delicious thin, flat potato bread is most often served rolled up with either butter, sugar, cinnamon, or brown sugar. I like mine sometimes with just butter and other times with just brown sugar or a mix of butter, sugar, and cinnamon, but it can also be rolled around fillings, as you would use a tortilla. Lefse is one of my favorites and has been a tradition in my family for centuries; my mom makes batches upon batches every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Nothing beats homemade fresh lefse, but buying it from a grocery store is an alternative to making it from scratch.
Local Specialties
The land and rivers of North Dakota also produce a few local specialties.
- The official state fruit, the chokecherry, adds a flavorful touch to a number of food items. For instance, there’s chokecherry butter, similar to apple butter. Chokecherries are also used in jellies, fudge, barbecue sauce, and more.
With North Dakota’s vast, unspoiled lands and its lakes and rivers, hunting and fishing are popular pastimes. Local fish you may catch or find at a local restaurant include:
Northern Pike, Walleye, Bass, Perch, Trout, Catfish and Chinook Salmon.
Among wild game there is:
Ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse, partridge, wild turkey, deer, elk, moose, antelope and bighorn sheep.
In addition, North Dakota boasts a few wineries, all of which offer tours and tastings.
- For a number of grape wines like Merlot and Riesling, the main establishment is Red Trail Vineyards in Buffalo.
- Dakota Hills Winery in Knox produces a few grape wines, though most of their wines are native fruit wines and honey wines.
- Maple River Winery in Casselton and Point of View Winery in Burlington produce only non-grape wines, mainly fruit and honey wines. Fruit wines you’ll find include chokecherry, crab apple, wild plum, elderberry, apple, raspberry, and many more. Rhubarb wine is another variety, and Maple River also makes dandelion and pumpkin wines.
You may not find these wines outside of North Dakota, so if you love wine, stopping by a winery would be a fun and tasty adventure.
In the Peace Garden State, there are plenty of food options to choose from. Trying some of the state’s local cuisine, whether buffalo, kuchen, lefse, or chokecherry jelly, you can’t go wrong and it will give you a real taste of North Dakota and our land of many cultures.
Tune in at http://www.urlradio.net and connect with North Dakota each Thursday from 10-10:30 a.m.
Commerce’s own radio program airs each Thursday from 10 – 10:30 a.m on URLRadio.net, Bismarck-Mandan’s local internet radio station. The program features Travel Talk with the Tourism Division the first Thursday of each month, and North Dakota Rocks the remaining Thursdays, featuring state happenings, Commerce programs and more. Simply set your browser to www.URLRadio.net and click the “Click here to Listen” link. You’ll be happy you did, and so will we!
Speaking of URL Radio, it just so happens that they are one of North Dakota’s entrepreneurs. Having started the station in 2008, Stacy Sturm and Nicole Morrison Mathern are working on making Bismarck’s first solely Internet radio station a success. And, just what are they doing to help them in the venture? Enrolling in the Innovate ND competition, of course! They had this to say about their decision to compete:
“Innovate ND is more than just a contest. It’s an experience,” says Sturm. “I’ve received guidance, support and mentoring that no amount of money could buy. That’s priceless to a new business owner.”
Deadline to enroll for this year's competition is December 4, 2009.
The North Dakota Tourism Division of the Department of Commerce recently shared some thoughts about how to give to your family this holiday season. It had some great ideas and was definitely worth the share. Check it out below:
10 Legendary ways to focus on family during the season of giving in North Dakota
One way to show your family how thankful you are for them is to plan and spend quality time together as you head into the holiday season. Plays, concerts, sporting events, volunteer activities and parades will help you and your loved ones make lasting memories in North Dakota. Contact North Dakota Tourism at NDtourism.com or call 800-435-5663 or 701-328-2525 for more information on these, and other, activities.
1. Patriotic pride
Veteran’s Day is a day commemorating all veterans and thanking them for their dedicated service to our country. Events throughout North Dakota will be taking place, so go out and show your patriotic pride. Governor Hoeven will honor vets at a service at the state capitol, and a short memorial ceremony and parade will take place in Fargo. A soup and sandwich supper along with a short presentation will take place in Rutland, ND.
2. One last getaway
Leave the planning up to North Dakota Tourism by taking advantage of one of the many vacation packages available. Hiking, biking, quilting, horseback riding are just a few of the choices. So, round up the family and head out.
3. Tip it off and drop the puck
Its prime time for sports fans in North Dakota. Watch as high school football and volleyball teams are crowned champions. Catch the action of the UND hockey, NBA-D League Dakota Wizards, NDSU and UND football seasons roll on.
4. Still the great outdoors
Even though the weather is slowly cooling and the days are getting shorter, there’s still plenty to do outdoors. Hiking or jogging around state historic sites and state parks is breathtaking in the crisp fall air and there’s always a place to fish away an afternoon.
5. Big timers in the house
November’s docket is loaded with big-time entertainment at venues all around North Dakota: Cirque Dreams Illumination at the Fargodome, Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks; and Bill Engvall at the Bismarck Civic Center are just a few.
6. Community pride
Don’t let this season get away without taking the family “downtown” to some of the activities in your town. From the Opera House in New Rockford to the Chester Fritz Auditorium in Grand Forks and all points in between, November has something for everyone in North Dakota.
7. A time for giving
During the season of giving, there is no better time or way to say thanks than by having the family volunteer to help those less fortunate. Many organizations will be looking for volunteer help during the holiday season. Contact the charity or organization of your choice today.
8. Light up the night
As we close in on the holidays, take advantage of beautiful lights parades that get the holiday season started. Cities and towns of all sizes gear up for Christmas and the holiday season with festival of lights and parades. Families will enjoy floats, shopping, a visit with Santa among many other activities.
9. Taste of the season
November isn’t just for turkeys anymore. Fargo and Langdon are among those cities offering art and wine walks or special events that bring people together for food and a good time. Pride of Dakota shows are just another way to enjoy foods of the season. Pick up something special for your family get-together.
10. Gifts galore
November is a time that people begin looking for those perfect Christmas gifts. Load up the family and search out that unique gift at the favorite regional arts and crafts show, The Big One. If you are still seeking that perfect gift, stop by the Wilton quilt show or, grab a North Dakota Legendary gift from our online store.
These are just a few of the events taking place in November throughout North Dakota. For more information, go to NDtourism.com or call 800-435-5663 or 701-328-2525.
