I made it to North Dakota, my 49th State! For a few days, I experienced sunny 80F weather, and I want to recap my experience in “The Peace Garden State.”
I was traveling through North Dakota by RV, which added to this new adventure. My first stop was the Hawtree Golf Club, located 5 miles north of Bismarck. The 18-hole golf course features an open, links-style design across 80 acres of irrigated turfgrass. It’s also an eco-friendly course that sprawls the hills of the prairie land. I opted to play a 9-hole course which was challenging for my skill level. I loved the integrated tablet built into the golf carts, which navigates you to each hole and gives details about each hole from tee to hole. I’m too embarrassed to reveal my score but know that I will be back to redeem myself.
Blarney Stone
After playing 9-holes, I worked up an appetite and drove to downtown Bismark for brunch. I ended up at Blarney Stone, an Irish Pub. The new experience kept coming because I had never eaten Irish food before. I’ve only known the Irish to drink, who would have thought. 😉 The term “Blarney” originated with Queen Elizabeth in her attempts to collect taxes from the Irishmen. In her frustration, she replied…”This is blarney!” Thus the term Blarney has come to mean eloquent speech or the ability to influence, flatter, and coax with fair words. The blarney hit me quickly, and I was influenced to order the eggs benedict with smoked salmon and chives. The pub’s walls were decorated with TVs, and it was Sunday. Great food and Sunday football were a win for me.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
After watching a few of my favorite teams win and lose, I headed over to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Established in 1907 to commemorate a 1700s US Army outpost, the park sits on a grassy plain near the confluence of the Missouri and Heart rivers. The park has campsites with 100 tents available, RV campsites, and camping cabins. It was easy to pull into my reserved campsite and hook up my water and waste lines. The park also has wifi which was great for answering emails and watching my bookmarked Netflix shows. You can roam around the park and stay active along their 16 miles of multi-use trails. I took a stroll along the river and spotted a few deer during my walk. The air was fresh and crisp, a stark contrast to the smog-filled Los Angeles skies I call home. The park also offers biking, horseback riding, and fishing. It was convenient to wake up and have all these experiences steps away. It was a comfortable evening in the RV making dinner in a mobile kitchen, and my food was just as delicious as being made from home.
Terra Nomad
I wasn’t in the mood to cook the following day, so I drove back downtown for breakfast at Terra Nomad. The café describes itself as “a place to bring friends, spend time, and exchange ideas; a meeting place for the modern day nomad.” Now that type of mission statement spoke to my soul, and I had to support these guys. When I stepped through the door, I loved the vibe. Their playlist of golden-era Hip-Hop songs by Black Star, Nas, and Biggie was blaring from the sound system. The clean line modern minimalist decor let me know the hipsters are present in Bismarck. Now it’s time to get to work. As a self-proclaimed professional eater, I had to let the staff know in the illustrious words of Marshawn Lynch, “I’m here so I won’t get fined.” The Dank Burrito filled with house turkey sausage, roasted potatoes & peppers, scrambled egg, jack cheese, and smokey pepper crema was the star of the show. I also indulged in a lavender latte and two pastries.
North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum
The most important meal of the day was complete, and it was time to feed my mind with North Dakota history. My next stop was the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. I always visit museums or art galleries while traveling so I can learn about the areas I see. I like to explore information from credible sources, and museums are good sources for the unbiased truth. My favorite part of the museum was the exhibit about Native Americans. The childhood images of Indians have lost their credibility with the name “Indians,” and deprogramming and reprogramming my mind about Native American history is a priority.
Thank you!
My time in North Dakota was brief, but it was fun. I experienced new things and learned a lot about Native American history. The people I met along the way were friendly, and I’m glad I visited.
See you soon, North Dakota, my 49th State!
For more information about visiting North Dakota click HERE