What to do
Norsk Høstfest The continent’s largest Scandinavian festival arrives in this small north-central city each fall. High-quality handcrafted merchandise and traveling shows make for a one-of-a-kind experience. hostfest.com
Norsk Hostfest. Photo courtesy of North Dakota Tourism
Roosevelt Park Zoo In 1920, the only animal in the zoo was a bison from Montana. Now, new animals are brought in almost every year. One of the most popular recent additions is the red panda/firefox exhibit. rpzoo.com
Scandinavian Heritage Park Explore this nod to northern Europe, which includes a replica Stave church, Danish windmill, Finnish sauna and 25-foot-tall Swedish Dala horse. scandinavianheritage.org
Scandinavian Heritage Park. Photo courtesy of North Dakota Tourism
Where to eat
Blue Rider Bar Downtown's only remaining wood-frame structure is home to this historic bar, known for weekly live music and for its annual Rocky Mountain oyster festival. Blue Rider Bar Facebook page
Ebeneezer's Eatery and Irish Pub Enjoy all-day breakfast (as well as Irish-inspired bar food), often accompanied by live music. ebeneezersnd.com
Mi Mexico Fast service and big helpings of south-of-the-border flavors draw diners to this family-owned spot. mimexicominotnd.com
The Starving Rooster Try flatbread pizza, craft beer and a terrific pulled pork sandwich in a contemporary, brick-walled space. thestarvingrooster.com
Where to stay
Dakotah Rose Bed and Breakfast The gracious 1906 home, built along a bend in the Souris River, offers six guest rooms. The third-floor ballroom overlooking the river is a common area where guests canlisten to records or play cards and board games. dakotahrose.com
For more information: visitminot.org