North Dakota
6 Delightful Towns to Visit in North Dakota
The state of North Dakota explodes with colorful flora and fauna. It is chock full of natural beauty and sights to behold, such as the North Dakota Badlands, which are part of the 70,000-acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Painted Canyon, and the Little Missouri River. Travelers may wander freely through the rugged terrain of North Dakota’s national parks and recreation areas, visit wildlife refuges and learn all about the area’s animals, or delve into the local histories of small towns. Of course, while in the state, exploring local communities, stopping by small-town events, and enjoying a night or two in a new place with unforgettable landmarks, such as the World’s Largest Holstein Cow or Buffalo statues, is essential.
Medora
Medora is a bustling small town revered for its entertainment industry, constantly hosting shows, musicals, and live music all throughout town. From the annual Independence Day Festival to the summer concert series and musicals throughout the year at Burning Hills Amphitheatre, there is something to do from dawn to dusk. The area also boasts a western setting, with family-friendly attractions, including Bully Pulpit Golf Course and Point to Point Park, home to zip lines, a lazy river, and more. The great outdoors awaits in Medora, with easy access to the Badlands National Park, where travelers can strap their hiking boots and head out on the trails. To taste Medora’s history, stop by the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Harold Schafer Heritage Center, or get tickets to the Teddy Roosevelt Show or Brunch with President Roosevelt, two unique shows that merge entertainment with education and history.
Valley City
The town of Valley City is the perfect place to enjoy a number of walking tours, starting off at the Rosebud Visitor Center, which houses exhibits that traverse through the town’s railroad history. The City of Bridges tour is essential as there are many beautiful bridges throughout town, including the Hi-Line Bridge which transported soldiers and supplies during both world wars. For those looking to enjoy the outdoors, visit Medicine Wheel Park, which has a solar calendar, a scenic overlook, and Native American burial mounds. The Valley City State University Planetarium is another top spot amongst visitors and locals alike, with a 24-foot domed ceiling and 50 reclining seats, perfect for an evening well-spent stargazing.
New Salem
New Salem is a quick, 30 miles West of North Dakota’s state capital, Bismarck, a gorgeous and quaint small town nestled off Interstate 94. It is a great stop on a road trip through North Dakota because of its memorable sights, such as the 38-foot high fiberglass Holstein cow installed in 1974 to honor the local dairy farmers. Nicknamed “Salem Sue,” the cow remains a standing monument in town and a stop for visitors to grab a picture and remember their visit. The New Salem Historical Society/Custer Trail Museum is another must-see, featuring ten historic buildings, such as a 1904 church and two schoolhouses, open by appointment only. For a game of 9-holes, stop by Red Trail Links Golf Course or enjoy a stroll through the historic downtown, which boasts some of the original architecture that transports visitors back in time.
Fargo
Featured in famous films and television shows of the same name, the town of Fargo has deep Scandinavian roots. This history is discoverable at spots like Hjemkomst Viking Ship, a replica of a real Norwegian structure. The nearby town of Moorhead also hosts annual events that delve into its heritage: the Midwest Viking Festival and Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival. There are also several museums for a more laidback afternoon, including the Fargo Air Museum, Bonanzaville Pioneer Village, Plains Art Museum, and the Roger Maris Museum. Fargo’s landscape is large and flat, allowing plenty of open sky and prairies to enjoy. Visitors may kayak along the river that separates North Dakota and Minnesota (Red River), bike along trails, cross-country ski, and more.
Mandan
Mandan does all it can to embody the western heritage from which it was born, once a village for the Mandan tribe, turned into a cavalry fort, then railroad town, and also home for local ranchers and farmers. The town continues to grow and flourish, hosting annual events such as Mandan Rodeo Days, a Summer Concert Series, and Midwest Flavor Fest. The Mandan Historical Society offers a heritage home tour of over 40 residences in the area, once home to significant persons and encapsulating the town’s beginnings. The Mandan Historical Society Museum and N.D. State Railroad Museum is a family-friendly stop, as is the Midway Lanes bowling and arcade. Camping at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is an especially popular activity nearby. It is the oldest state park in North Dakota, offering insight into the lives of Mandan Native Americans and frontier soldiers, chock full of blockhouses, furnished barracks, and more.
Jamestown
Like New Salem, Jamestown boasts a “world’s largest” statue, home to the World’s Largest Buffalo Monument, standing 26 feet tall and weighing 60 tons and standing since 1959. As the town has long been known for its buffalo and, of course, the statue, the North American Bison Discovery Center is an essential stop. Other unique destinations steeped in history include the Fort Seward Military Post, the Stutsman County Memorial Museum, and the Frontier Village, where visitors step back in time to when prairie pioneers came to life. The Jamestown Reservoir is the perfect spot to enjoy a stroll or head out on the water, with plenty of room for boating, picnicking, biking, swimming, and more.
The small towns of North Dakota offer an escape from the city’s sounds and lights, boasting a cozier, more welcoming atmosphere, with a chance to stargaze, watch for wildlife, and explore all the natural beauty of the state’s diverse landscape. From unique monuments to storied histories, small towns such as Medora to Jamestown promise a memorable stay and a delightful atmosphere.
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture is helping a small business in Bismarck expand.
FOMO 10/40 Creamery, located in the central part of the city, is planning to sell its ice cream wholesale at other small businesses across the state.
For owner Andrew Hershey, consistent quality is important, so he doesn’t expect to sell his ice cream in grocery chains quite yet.
“We want to really support the small, local businesses to help them keep open, but also give them the opportunity to sell our product first. I think local North Dakota ice cream sold locally, within a local business, means more to me,” said Hershey.
With the grant, FOMO will also be doing a brand refresh by updating its space.
The business started as an ice cream trailer in 2019.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
MANNING, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — One case of measles was reported in Dunn County, increasing North Dakota’s total number of cases to 36 this year, the Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.
The Dunn County case was believed to have been contracted out of state, health officials said.
North Dakota’s 36 total measles cases confirmed this year now equals the state’s total measles cases reported in 2025, according to the department’s measles dashboard.
Measles cases have been reported across six other counties in North Dakota this year: 23 cases in Pembina County; six cases in Ransom County; three cases in Grand Forks County; and individual cases reported in Traill, Walsh and Williams counties. Five people who contracted measles in 2026 needed to be hospitalized.
Previously, Molly Howell, immunization director of HHS, said being vaccinated against measles is critical to prevent the spread of the disease. She said people with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are 97% protected against contracting the disease.
Cases of measles continue to be reported across the U.S. and Canada, the department said, and people should monitor for symptoms.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and eye irritation, followed by a widespread rash, according to the department. People can transmit the disease for up to four days before a rash develops, according to HHS.
People who believe they may have contracted measles should call a healthcare provider before arriving at a medical clinic for treatment so precautions can be taken to protect other patients and medical staff, HHS said.
As of April 30, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,814 cases of measles across 36 states in 2026.
Submitted Photo
U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Clifford of Minot is shown with the Lincoln Memorial in the background during his trip to the Washington, D.C., area with the Western North Dakota Honor Flight.
U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Clifford of Minot said his recent trip to the Washington, D.C., area with the Western North Dakota Honor Flight was a memorable one.
“The honor is so great,” he said.
Clifford was among more than 100 veterans on the trip from Bismarck, Sunday, April 26, and returning, Monday, April 27. Besides Clifford, several other Minot veterans made the trip.
He said he was very impressed with the N.D. Western Honor Flight organization and the coordination of the trip.
“The coordination is unbelievable. We had a police escort from our hotel room in Arlington, Virginia, to the Capitol. It was right at rush hour,” he said. He said the group of veterans traveled in four buses.
When they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, people with signs were standing to the side to greet them.
“It was just unbelievable,” he said. When they left the Bismarck airport, he said, the lobby there was full of people. He said Bismarck comes out really well for the veterans going on these trips and it was the same when the Western N.D. Honor Flight was out of Minot for the first time in April 2025.
Clifford was active duty in the Air Force from 1971-75. For 10 months he served in Taiwan but his Air Force time before and after was at Minot Air Force Base with the fire department.
“My first fire chief was Ken Gillespie,” he said. Gillespie’s son, Ken Gillespie aka Dizzy the Clown, is well known in the Minot area.
After discharge from the Air Force, Clifford continued civil service with the base fire department from 1976-2008, retiring as fire chief.
During the Honor Flight trip, Clifford said, they visited many highlights — veterans’ memorials including World War II, Korean and Vietnam, the U.S. Capitol and the Dulles Air and Space Museum. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-ND, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met with the group during their visit.
The veterans also visited Arlington National Cemetery.
“We got to see the Changing of the Guard and see them laying two wreaths,” he said.
At a banquet held that night for the veterans at their hotel, the Hyatt Regency in Arlington, he said the sentinel, the lead person for the Changing of the Guard, spoke to them.
“It was a very worthwhile trip. If you’re a veteran, you need to sign up for it,” Clifford said of the Honor Flight.
The Western North Dakota Honor Flight will be the grand marshal of the 2026 North Dakota State Parade Saturday, July 18, in Minot.
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