Things to Do in Minot

Enjoy the eats, treats and thrills found along the Souris River and you’re sure to have nothing short of a good time… and possibly even magical. From kid-friendly activities to delicious food and more, there’s something for everyone in this North Dakota city.

What's Going On?

Three of Minot's liveliest shindigs guarantee a good time. Join the summer crowds at the North Dakota State Fair and choose from concerts and rodeos, funnel cakes and foot-longs. Simplify things in October when you take your seat at the State Fair Center to see the Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo hosting the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. It’s all cowboys all the time. In the fall, grab your horned helmet and head to North America’s largest Scandinavian festival, Norsk Hostfest, which draws tens of thousands. Hit the Viking Market for authentic handcrafted merchandise or munch an Oof-Da Taco and listen to whirling accordions at this party that celebrates five Nordic countries.

Planes, Trains and Other Fast Things

Minot will keep you busy if you’re a wings, wheels or rails enthusiast. Head to the Old Soo Depot Transportation Museum housed in a beautifully restored 1912 depot, then delve into more than 100 years of the region’s train history in more modest surroundings at the Railroad Museum of Minot. Dream of the wild blue yonder at the Dakota Territory Air Museum as you view civilian and military aircraft and take in exhibits of Minot’s military service history. Finally, plug your ears at the Nodak Speedway or pick up the speed at the Magic City International Dragway where you can hit the track yourself.

Minot for Minors

In the Magic City, it’s easy to please little ones hankering for kid-friendly activity. Turn them loose at one of more than a dozen parks to play on swings and slides before rounding them up for a picnic lunch. Keep Oak Park in mind if you need a wheelchair-friendly playground. Grant them a visit with endangered animals at the Roosevelt Park Zoo where they can feed graceful giraffes on weekends and visit the Discovery Barn. At Splashdown Dakota Super Slides, the kids will get wet and wild at the state’s largest indoor water park. Finally, dry them off and calm them down at the International Peace Garden, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border.

Munching Around Minot

You won’t be in Minot long before you’ll ask: what is Knoephla? Lots of Minot eateries serve it, but an award-winning version of this soup with dumplings is found at Kroll’s Diner, a ‘50s-themed establishment that dishes up German and American fare along with hand-dipped milkshakes. Visit the Starving Rooster where booths, tables and design elements are made from repurposed building materials salvaged from the original 1919 building. Soups are on point, salads are fresh and the pizza is wood-fired.

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