North Dakota
Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The 5 Coziest Towns In North Dakota To Snuggle Up In This Season

Discover five charming North Dakota towns perfect for a cozy holiday getaway with festive events and beautiful sights.

Published Nov 30, 2018

Written by 

Leah

The temperatures have dropped, there's snow on the ground, and the holiday season is well underway in North Dakota. Many towns across the state are getting all prettied up for Christmas and there are lots of events going on. If you're looking for the perfect, cozy town to snuggle up to enjoy the season, you'll love these five places that have fun events, beautiful sights, and great accommodations for the perfect holiday getaway.

1. Medora

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Medora, ND/Facebook

Did you think Medora was a summer-only destination? That's definitely not so! Medora has fun things to see year round, and it is especially awesome to visit for the holidays. All throughout the Christmas season they have fun events and beautiful decorations filling the old west town. Their famous musical even goes on tour across North Dakota to perform in tons of other towns, but you can enjoy a cozy holiday getaway right in Medora itself.

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2. Fargo

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Fargo-Moorhead CVB/Flickr

North Dakota's biggest city becomes a dazzling display of lights during the holiday season. All around town there are gorgeous decorations. Plus, Fargo has an insane amount of shopping options to get all your holiday shopping done. Whether you visit the boutique shops downtown or stop by the huge West Acres Mall, you'll love a stay in Fargo. It'll definitely get you in the holiday spirit!

3. Garrison

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Dickens Village Festival/Facebook

What better town to spend the holiday season in than the Christmas Capital of North Dakota? Garrison has claimed that title and definitely embraces it. This lovely town gets all decked out for the season and they also have a special Dickens Village Festival. The festival centers around the famous story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and it's amazing. You can enjoy the festivities all around town and even take a ride on a double decker bus to fully get into that English Christmas spirit.

4. Minot

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Minot's Pretty Lights/Facebook

For your next holiday weekend vacation, why not Minot? Minot becomes alight with thousands of Christmas lights all throughout downtown and the rest of the neighborhoods. There is a huge and beautiful Christmas tree for everyone to see as well as lots of displays. Plus Minot is just a great town to visit in general. It's a great winter destination!

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5. Bottineau

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Frost Fire Ski & Snowboard Area/Facebook

Bottineau is one of North Dakota's most popular winter destinations, and there's a reason for that. Located way up north near Canada, the town of Bottineau is already a charming place to visit most of the year. Its their Frost Fire Mountain that brings people flocking to it during the cold season. If you love skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing, you'll definitely want to visit. Bottineau also has great options for warm, cozy cabins to stay in and interesting local sights to see. It's a fantastic destination for the holidays.

Where is your favorite holiday destination in North Dakota? If you're prepared to embrace the cold for some great snowy spots for more outdoor activities this winter, check out these gorgeous winter trails in the state.

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The Historic Small Town That Every North Dakotan Should Visit At Least Once

Hillsboro, North Dakota, is a small town rich in history and known for its hospitality, with historic buildings and museums to explore.

Updated Jul 22, 2024

Written by 

Leah

North Dakota history could fill up thousands of pages in books. All the cities and historic towns in North Dakota have stories, and luckily for us, many still have sites and historic artifacts that preserve their tales. Many of North Dakota's towns were founded when the railroad came through the state heading west, but Hillsboro, North Dakota, has a bit of a different story - almost a legend. The interesting part of this town isn't just its story, either, but the history you can still explore there today. Here's why you need to plan a day trip to Hillsboro, ND as soon as possible.

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Hillsboro, North Dakota, is a small town of about 1,600 residents along the eastern border of the state. It was founded in 1880 and settled a decade prior - but under a completely different name.

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Andrew Filer/Flickr

Originally called Comstock, Hillsboro's story will tell you how it came by its new name, and it is quite the tale. When the Great Northern Railway was coming through, a nearby town turned away a man for looking a little rough around the edges. That man went to then Comstock and found hospitality there.

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Andrew Filer/Flickr

That man was the famous railroad baron, James J. Hill. Due to the residents' kindness, he decided to move the railway's route through Hillsboro instead of the other town. The residents changed the name in his honor and they even went as far as taking the county seat title away from the other town and giving it to Hillsboro, which it still is today.

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Andrew Filer/Flickr

Through all of this history, Hillsboro has gained the official motto of "hospitality, a coffee cup away." Today, it still holds true to that saying.

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Andrew Filer/Flickr

After all of that, Hillsboro has become a place simply full to the brim with history. Historic buildings such as this old bank building are still used today.

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Jimmy Emerson/Flickr

Other spots you can visit to see the century-old roots of this town are places like the Traill Theatre, pictured below.

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Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

There is also a Pioneer Museum with multiple buildings of historic importance, including an original log cabin built in the 1870s.

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The Plummer House is another awesome spot to check out. It was built in 1897 and today has been restored and converted into a museum with all of its original grandness. Hillsboro is just a historic hub!

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Aaron Feng/Google Reviews

If you haven't visited Hillsboro, ND yet, then add it to your North Dakota bucket list. It doesn't matter if you love history or not, the entire town is just delightful to see. It is located right between Grand Forks and Fargo, and you'll find plenty of things to do in Hillsboro, ND.

There are even more towns in the Peace Garden State that have stories to tell and places to see, such as these 5 historic towns in North Dakota. Why not give them a visit? You could even make a road trip out of them - just don't forget the snacks.

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The Surprising North Dakota Town That Makes An Excellent Weekend Getaway

Jamestown, North Dakota, is an underrated weekend getaway with historical sites, museums, and recreational activities.

Updated Jul 3, 2024

Written by 

Leah

North Dakota's most popular getaway destinations range from the small western North Dakota town of Medora to the biggest cities like Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck-Mandan. Even some places way up north with beautiful natural scenery, like Bottineau, are hotspots for weekend trips. But there is more to this state than the badlands and the most populated places, and you might be surprised to find that there is another place that should be up there with the frequently visited. This town is a shining example of an excellent weekend getaway in North Dakota that isn't often thought of as such, but should be.

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Jamestown, North Dakota may not be one of the most popular weekend getaway destinations, but it should be. Located in Stutsman County, this town of 15,000 people is a fantastic place to visit.

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Google Maps

It was established in 1872 and is the 9th largest town in the state. With a thriving downtown and all the commodities you'd need for a perfect stay, it's hard to beat.

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Jasperdo/Flickr

Jamestown has a few key points that draw visitors in. Some of their attractions include places like the National Buffalo Museum with its ginormous Dakota Thunder, the world's largest buffalo, and a herd of live bison including some rare white bison.

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Sid Sowder/Flickr

Just down the way from the museum and statue is Frontier Village, a place that'll make you feel like you've stepped back in time. It includes a whole town's worth of old buildings and businesses that have been set up to look like they would have back in North Dakota's pioneer days.

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Jasperdo/Flickr

Jamestown is full of history both recreated and preserved, such as the lovely and historic building that houses the Stutsman County Museum.

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Jamestown ND/Facebook

Museums aren't the only thing that Jamestown has - it also has a multitude of other attractions that can appeal to everyone. The Jamestown Reservoir is loaded with recreational potential for some fun out on the lake, camping, and more.

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Jamestown ND/Facebook

Jamestown is also a hub of great hotels and restaurants, including places like Buffalo Grill that serves up not only delicious bison but also tons of other tasty options. From the food to the places you'll be able to see, theres a whole weekend's worth of fun opportunities in the "Pride of the Prairie."

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Management/TripAdvisor

If you haven't visited Jamestown before, you definitely should! And if you have, we've got more underrated and awesome towns in North Dakota that might be perfect for your weekend getaway in North Dakota if you're looking for something new. Wherever you go, though, remember to pack everything you need for your road trip.

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