Did you know that North Dakota was the inspiration behind Teddy Roosevelt’s National Forest Service, the governing body that was put in place to preserve America’s great parklands? The picturesque farmlands and wheat fields of North Dakota and the various historic sites that grace the state keep visitors booking flights to North Dakota year after year.
Farmland makes up more than 90 percent of North Dakota land, making this state the most rural of all the states. It’s no surprise then that North Dakota ranks first in the nation’s production of wheat and also churns out other agricultural products including barley, rye, sunflowers, oats, and hay.
Visitors to North Dakota take pleasure in the state’s forests and recreation areas. Deer and pheasant hunting, along with bass and trout fishing, keep visitors booking flights to North Dakota. Some of the greater points of interest in North Dakota include the International Peace Garden near Dunseith, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, and of course, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Popular Destinations in North Dakota
North Dakota has hot summers (the record high was 121 degrees) with little rainfall and periods of drought. The winters are cold, with the average temperature in the single digits in January. Bismarck gets around 44 inches of snow. At the top of the tornado alley, North Dakota’s peak tornado season is June, July, and August.
Summer is the peak tourist season in North Dakota. But so few people visit the state that crowds are not bad and North Dakota flights and hotel accommodations are always reasonable, even in the Badlands. Summer is also prime canoeing weather.
The North Dakota State Fair is an annual event in Minot in late July. The United Tribes International Powwow is an annual event in Bismarck the weekend after Labor Day and one of the largest powwows in the U.S.
Fall and hunting season are popular, but the winters are so harsh that few people visit. Cheap flights to North Dakota are likely found during the winter months, but bundle up before boarding the flight.
The least-visited state in the country, North Dakota has more unexplored wilderness than any other state except Alaska. You need a car to see North Dakota. If you are heading for the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, US 85 takes you through the North Unit and I-94 through the South Unit. For prairies and missile silos, try US 2 (although you cannot actually see the silos).
For outdoor enthusiasts, the popular modes of transport are hiking, biking, canoeing, boating, skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding.
There is very limited train service within the state and somewhat less limited bus service.
(prices quoted are from London)