Apparently North Dakota is often passed over by
travelers. I think you will agree with
me that there are some places worth visiting in this northern state!
Medora:
Don’t ask me how we came to
be in Medora! It’s a lovely little
town. We learned that it is also the
gateway to one of the most visited places in North Dakota – the Theodore Roosevelt
National Park!
Called the North Dakota Badlands because of its rugged
landscape, Theodore Roosevelt visited this area to hunt big game. However, he fell in love with the area and
was concerned about the decimation of species such as bison, elk,
bighorn sheep and the effects of overgrazing.
His concerns resulted in many environmental efforts and he became known
as the “conservationist president”.
North Dakota Badlands |
Bison rolling in the dirt |
Prairie Dogs |
Young Bison walking down the road |
Wild Horses |
Gladstone:
On our way to Bismarck, we opted to take a drive
in the countryside along the Enchanted Highway.
This bit of road features several fun and very large sculptures!
Bismarck:
Named for Otto von Bismarck
(or was it named for the bismark donut?), this city is the capital of North
Dakota. One of the places we wanted to
visit here was the North Dakota Heritage
Center & State Museum for its architectural design.
It has wonderful exhibitions
as well!
Fargo:
We also stayed a few nights
in Fargo. They have a lovely little zoo,
the Red River Zoo.
Here are some of my favorite animal pictures!
Grey Fox |
American Bald Eagle |
Bactrian Camel |
Sichuan Takin |
Red Panda |
Fargo is on the border of
Minnesota, so guess where we head next!