Minot, North Dakota

Why not Minot?  We asked ourselves this question when we chose Minot as a place to spend a day in North Dakota. Then it became our “mantra” when people asked us why we chose Minot. “Why not Minot?” Come to find out, the folks in charge of publicity for Minot also thought it was a catchy phrase – and we didn’t even have to tell them! T-shirts, magnets, postcards and other souvenirs in the visitor’s center all shout our mantra.

The Dakotah Rose B&B

So, why not Minot? The reasons are, well, not many, but there are some interesting things to see and do. Enough that we were able to entertain ourselves for most of the 14 hours we had to spend with only our feet for transportation. Our first pleasant encounter was the bed and breakfast that Beth had located – the only B&B in Minot and very elegant. A large Victorian style home on the river, the Dakotah Rose Bed and Breakfast was a little too frou-frou for our tastes but still very pretty and quite comfortable. The owners were more reserved than our hosts in Whitefish and were busy with other guests and community events, so we didn’t feel quite so much at home. But, they did pick us up at the train and allow us to store our bags all day while we walked about Minot.

While at breakfast at the Dakotah Rose, we chatted with Michelle, who grew up in Minot and was back visiting from LA. We fueled her nostalgia with our questions about what to do so she insisted on giving us a tour of Minot. Always happy to get the insiders view, we allowed her to twist our arms. One hand on the wheel and the other as a pointer, she started with beautiful and active Oak Park where she had gone to Girl Scout camp. From there she cruised the main streets of downtown noting points of interest, including the best restaurant in town: 10 North Main. An artist friend of hers provides paintings to this restaurant in exchange for rent-free living in the loft above the restaurant. Now that’s local art!  She indicated the building where the town’s only department store and first escalator had been and directed us to a cookie shop, a quaint little book store and the store where she had purchased the most comfortable artsy t-shirt at 25% off! With a tinge of sadness, she described how the local hospital had purchased and developed many downtown properties, paving over the hill where she used to go sledding and other fond memories. 

Replica of Gol Stave Church

Visit with Visitor Center Troll

Our tour ended at the Scandinavian Heritage Park, arguably the most interesting place in Minot. This tribute to the ancestry of many North Dakotans gave us a glimpse into the icons of Scandinavian culture. The centerpiece of the Park is a full size replica of Norway’s Gol Stave Church. This is an intricately carved reminder of the strength of character and perseverance of the Norwegian immigrants to North Dakota. Never heated, the church also has no seats – only benches along the wall for the old and infirm – so congregants must stand shivering through the entire service. Some of the other interesting, but not so fascinating, features of the Park are the oldest home in North Dakota (built in 1771), a Dala horse (symbol of Sweden), and a stabbur or storehouse with a sod roof. Interestingly, inhabitants of both the visitor center and the oldest home are trolls. The troll at the visitor center welcomes you into a discussion; the other just prefers that you go away! His volunteer was quite friendly, however, and of unique ancestry… she’s Irish!

Beth with Hans Christian Anderson

Pub Troll

Pedestrian Bridge

The rest of Minot was downhill after the Scandinavian Heritage Park; literally – Heritage Park is on top of the south hill of Minot – and figuratively, though to a lesser degree. Mostly we walked. We walked to visit some of the stores, then we walked to Eastwood Park to do a walking tour of early 20^th century homes, then we walked to a pub for a beer (where we found another troll), then to “Cookies for You” for lunch, then more stores, then we walked across an 200 foot long pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and back to “Cookies for You” for coffee and a cookie. We visited the Railroad Museum of Minot – a free display of years and years of railroad memorabilia. Then we walked back to Oak Park to join the community of Minot on the first of their series of “Walk Minot” walking activities. To cap off the day we walked back to our B&B to pick up our luggage and walked to dinner at “10 North Main” (where Beth had elk for the first time) and walked to meet the train to Chicago, where Beth called her son Walker to wish him good night!

4 days left – can you believe it? What an incredible journey!