Grand Forks, North Dakota Is One Of The Best Towns In America To Visit When The Weather Is Warm
By Tori Jane|Published April 25, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
You know, considering just how remote and under-populated North Dakota is, we’re pretty sure that even its biggest cities would be considered “towns” elsewhere. With a total population of fewer than 800,000 people, North Dakota is the perfect escape for anyone who isn’t a fan of people-ing (we get it), and one of the reasons for that is its incredible, wild landscapes, and the small towns dotted all over it that don’t even know what “crowded” means. As spring begins to… well, spring… check out Grand Forks and see why it’s a wonderful warm-weather town in North Dakota to choose for your next vacation.
Grand Forks is a small city that sits on the North Dakota/Minnesota state line.
It's nestled along the beautiful Red River, and despite its relatively small size when compared to cities in far more populated states, it's got plenty of wonderful things to do and see - especially once the weather is warm.
The town itself is a delight, with plenty of shops, eateries, bakeries, and more to explore downtown.
The top attraction in Grand Forks - especially during the spring and summer - is the Ralph Engelstad Arena. It's commonly cited as one of the best arenas in the United States for watching sports, and we tend to agree - it's pretty grand (see what we did there?)!
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Of course, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors here, too.
Take a relaxing walk along the river, soaking in the stunning scenery along the way. Visit the University of North Dakota and see what makes it one of the loveliest college campuses in the Midwest. Lovers of the arts will absolutely adore a trip to the North Dakota Museum of Art, which is on the University campus.
There are lots of landmarks to check out, too, like the Flood Memorial Monument, the River Cities Speedway, and the Japanese Gardens.
Fans of shopping and browsing will love a trip to the Plain & Fancy Antique Mall, where it's ridiculously easy to get lost for hours. But be careful - there's still so much to see!
Head to beautiful Ryan Park and take in the lush, green beauty of its hills, ponds, and habitats for wildlife.
Hungry? There are dozens of top-rated restaurants that are hyper-local - this is the only place you'll ever find some of these spots! Stay in an elegant bed and breakfast, old-school hotel, or lovely Airbnb to make it a little more than just a "day trip!"
...and honestly, we'd be lying if we said you SHOULDN'T come back during the winter; sure, it's cold, but it's also absolutely magical.
What do you think? What would you call the best warm-weather town in North Dakota? Tell us your thoughts in the comments – we love to hear your perspective!
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