Many people have the goal of visiting all 50 states of America, and those that complete that task tend to leave North Dakota as the last place to check off their lists. Luckily for them, we have an entire club dedicated to saving NoDak as the “best for last.” If you save the Peace Garden State until the very end and visit the Fargo Visitors Center, you can become an official member of the Best For Last Club!
Even though it’s not usually the first place people think to go when traveling around the entire country, we don’t mind. We know North Dakota is the best to visit out of them all – and here are 10 reasons why:
- We have the most breathtaking scenery all the way across the state from east to west.
Justin Meissen/Flickr From the Red River Valley to the Little Missouri Grassland, we have absolutely stunning natural scenery among the beautiful patchwork quilt of fields throughout the state.
- From beautiful prairies that shaped the way of life here…
Justin Meissen/Flickr Gently rolling hills, native prairie grasses and wildflowers, and plenty of animals can all be found in the natural North Dakota prairies.
- … To dense forests that fill the river valleys.
NDPRD/Flickr Places like the Pembina Gorge, Icelandic State Park, Sheyenne State Forest, and many other spots are dense with trees that prove North Dakota has many trees - and they’re beautiful.
- And we have gorgeous lakes, ponds, and rivers to set sail on and explore.
NDPRD/Flickr Whether you visit the massive Lake Sakakawea or explore the Missouri River as it winds through cities like Bismarck and Mandan, we have tons of ways to enjoy the water. Fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking - the list is endless.
- There are truly awesome cities to explore.
Holly Hayes/Flickr We may not have the biggest cities in the country, but our cities are awesome with plenty of urban areas to check out.
- And equally charming small towns to visit.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr Who can forget North Dakota’s many delightful small towns? It doesn’t matter if they have less than 10 residents or a comfortable 2,000, they are all special in their own way and each one has a story.
- Plus, North Dakotans are some of the best kind of people.
Roderick Eime/Flickr Whether they grew up on a farm, in a small town, or in the suburbs of the city, North Dakotans are stereotypically known as being North Dakota Nice, and we certainly don’t mind that!
- … The kind of people who have a fond love of larger-than-life roadside attractions.
David Goehring/Flickr You can take an entire road trip through North Dakota dedicated to huge roadside attractions and it would take you quite a while to get through them all. Salem Sue the holstein cow, Dakota Thunder the bison, and the entire Enchanted Highway with some of the biggest metal sculptures in the world are all here in the Peace Garden State.
- This state has a vast history that is well preserved from edge to edge.
NDPRD/Flickr North Dakota certainly isn’t short of historical sites. Multiple forts, monuments, preserved grounds, and plenty of museums fill the state that help tell our story.
- And, of course, an entire club for those who were smart and saved the very best for last.
bizzimommi/Tripadvisor
What other reasons do you think makes North Dakota the perfect state to save as the last stop when setting out to visit all 50 states? We know more awesome places to visit that makes it worth while. You can check out more of them by clicking here.
Justin Meissen/Flickr
From the Red River Valley to the Little Missouri Grassland, we have absolutely stunning natural scenery among the beautiful patchwork quilt of fields throughout the state.
Gently rolling hills, native prairie grasses and wildflowers, and plenty of animals can all be found in the natural North Dakota prairies.
NDPRD/Flickr
Places like the Pembina Gorge, Icelandic State Park, Sheyenne State Forest, and many other spots are dense with trees that prove North Dakota has many trees - and they’re beautiful.
Whether you visit the massive Lake Sakakawea or explore the Missouri River as it winds through cities like Bismarck and Mandan, we have tons of ways to enjoy the water. Fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking - the list is endless.
Holly Hayes/Flickr
We may not have the biggest cities in the country, but our cities are awesome with plenty of urban areas to check out.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
Who can forget North Dakota’s many delightful small towns? It doesn’t matter if they have less than 10 residents or a comfortable 2,000, they are all special in their own way and each one has a story.
Roderick Eime/Flickr
Whether they grew up on a farm, in a small town, or in the suburbs of the city, North Dakotans are stereotypically known as being North Dakota Nice, and we certainly don’t mind that!
David Goehring/Flickr
You can take an entire road trip through North Dakota dedicated to huge roadside attractions and it would take you quite a while to get through them all. Salem Sue the holstein cow, Dakota Thunder the bison, and the entire Enchanted Highway with some of the biggest metal sculptures in the world are all here in the Peace Garden State.
North Dakota certainly isn’t short of historical sites. Multiple forts, monuments, preserved grounds, and plenty of museums fill the state that help tell our story.
bizzimommi/Tripadvisor
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