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Petrified Forest Theodore Roosevelt National Park
My day started boondocking outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park and led me deep into the North Trail of the Petrified Forest. Between herds of cows blocking the road, wild horses watching my every step, and a lone bison cooling itself among fossilized tree stumps, the hike was a mix of ancient geology and living wildlife. Wide-open prairies, sweeping badland views, and even a glowing cell tower at sunset made it a day to remember.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park turned into a day of detours, surprises, and reflections. From road construction delays and an unexpected film about the James Webb Space Telescope, to prairie dogs stealing the show on the scenic drive, the trip was less about perfect views and more about the experience of being there—even when the loop ended with a forced turnaround.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit)
The North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park surprised me with its rugged beauty, quiet roads, and some unexpected geology lessons. Driving the 14-mile scenic road brought me to wide river overlooks, bison herds, and one of my favorite features of the park—the Cannonball Concretions. These perfectly round rock formations are still partly a mystery, but standing among them felt like walking through nature’s own sculpture garden. At moments, during the golden hour, the display of colors on the sides of the mountains was spectacularly breathtaking.
Drive to Walford City
A long day’s drive across North Dakota took me from quirky roadside Americana — the W’eel Turtle in Dunseith, built from more than 2,000 discarded car wheels — to the oil-and-farm country near Watford City. Along the way I saw the stark contrast between the state’s two economies: endless fields of corn, soybeans, and sunflowers on one side, and oil rigs punching into the prairie on the other. By evening, I rolled into the north side of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ready to settle in for the night.
Lake Metigoshe Park
Exploring Bottineau brought me to some of North Dakota’s quirkiest and most memorable stops—from the star-aligned concrete pillars of Mystical Horizons to the giant snowmobile-riding mascot, Tommy the Turtle, and finally to Lake Metigoshe State Park, where the trails, showers, and scenery each left their own impression.
International Peace Garden
From foggy Dion Lake to the sweeping symmetry of the International Peace Garden, the day unfolded as a journey across landscapes and ideas. I walked the length of the Formal Garden, lingered at the Promise of Peace sculpture, stood before steel from 9/11, and paused inside the Peace Chapel as a butterfly landed on Viktor Frankl’s words. Every detail—whether the floral flags of two nations or the water flowing along the border—was a reminder that peace, like the garden itself, must be tended constantly.
RSL-3 Historic Missile Site
A rainy morning at Tetrault Lookout turned into an unexpected dive into Cold War history. On my way to the International Peace Garden, I stumbled across the RSL-3 Historic Missile Site—once part of the Minuteman program that kept America on edge during the nuclear standoff. Touring the underground silos and state-of-the-art radar systems was a glimpse into a world where missiles capable of Mach 10 speeds stood ready, armed with nuclear warheads designed to intercept incoming threats.
Pembina Gorge,ND
Rain followed me north from Fargo into the Pembina Gorge. Along the way I found a cathedral rising out of the prairie in Warsaw, the historic Gingras Trading Post on a dirt road outside Walhalla, and the vintage Walla Theater. My hike never happened, but between foggy overlooks, quiet river valleys, and a stranger in a red truck, the day unfolded into its own story.
Fargo, ND
Fargo turned out to be full of surprises—from posing tourists at the famous wood chipper, to quiet galleries at the Plains Art Museum, to a moving Vietnam memorial of 58,307 dog tags. I explored Murray Lemley’s global photography, Jaque Fragua’s bold Native art, and Anne Labovitz’s soaring installation Convergence, then wound down the day with wood-fired pizza, neon lights on Broadway, and conversations with young artists in Art Alley.
Fergus Falls, MN
A rainy start led me to discover Fergus Falls from the inside out—coffee at a Main Street café, a quiet river walk, and a surprising kinetic sculpture by a local artist. By afternoon the skies cleared, and the drive back to Alexandria turned into a photographer’s dream.
Drive To Alexandria, MN
A day that was supposed to be filled with hiking and small-town stops along the Otter Trail Scenic Byway turned into a rain-soaked journey of quiet lakes, odd encounters, and booming thunderstorms. From the peaceful headwaters of the Mississippi to a suspicious stare-down at a country church, the road south to Alexandria was anything but ordinary.
Northwest Angle to the Headwaters of the Mississippi
From the quiet sunrise over a mist-covered lake to the winding roads lined with sunflowers, the journey south from the Northwest Angle to Itasca State Park blended small-town charm with sweeping rural scenery. Stops included a visit to the northernmost post office in the lower 48, the quirky border check-in at Jim’s Corner, and photo-worthy relics of farmsteads past. At Itasca, Minnesota’s oldest state park, the 20-mile bike loop revealed a mix of towering pines, shimmering lakes, marshes alive with dragonflies, and rolling hardwood forests. The day ended at the headwaters of the Mississippi, where a modest stream slips quietly from Lake Itasca, beginning its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico.
Journey to the Northwest Angle
A quirk of history and a cartographer’s mistake led me to the Northwest Angle—the furthest point north in the contiguous United States. Reaching it meant crossing the border twice, mailing a card from the northernmost post office in the lower 48, and stopping at Jim’s Corner to check in with U.S. Border Control. Quiet bays, endless trees, and a haze hanging in the air gave the whole place a muted, dreamlike quality—like stepping into the forgotten margins of the map.
Visit Angle Inlet
Reaching Angle Inlet—the only spot in the contiguous U.S. you have to enter through Canada to visit—meant a long day of driving, a Canadian border inspection, and a dirt-road finale. I stayed at Prothero’s Post Resort on the shores of Lake of the Woods, where a sudden storm gave way to golden evening light. Between helping drenched fishermen dock their boat and swapping political views with another guest, I experienced the quirky charm and rugged beauty of this remote outpost at the far edge of the map.
Rainy Lake Trail
The Rainy Lake Trail links International Falls to Voyageurs National Park, passing through historic Ranier and featuring plaques on the area’s lumberjacks, miners, and voyageurs. Along the way are landmarks like the Bronko Nagurski statue, the towering Smokey Bear, and the sprawling Boise Paper mill. The route ends with a stop at Ronning’s for coffee, licorice ice cream, and a glimpse of small-town life.
From a 1938 Airfield to Voyageurs National Park
A stormy night at a former 1938 airfield-turned-Harvest Hosts stay set the tone for a day steeped in history and nature. Once home to Anderson Airport (MY49), the property still bears traces of its grass runways and rusting landing lights. From there, the journey continued to Voyageurs National Park, a water-rich wilderness straddling the U.S.–Canada border where travel happens mostly by boat.
Ironworld Discovery Center
A day on Minnesota’s Iron Range moves from the history-packed trolley ride at the Minnesota Discovery Center to the towering 85-foot Iron Man statue, a tribute to the miners who built America’s steel backbone. Visitors can wander a rare northern bog in Orr, where carnivorous plants and stunted spruce thrive in soil too poor for most life, before ending the day at a Harvest Hosts stay on a 1938 airfield. Hosts Pat and Dave welcome guests with cookies, a spaghetti squash, and stories before a heavy storm rolls in—lightning flashing so often it turns the fan vent into a strobe light.
International Wolf Center
A visit to the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota offered engaging presentations, immersive exhibits, and one wolf napping by the viewing window. Ely, the Gateway to the Boundary Waters, has small-town charm and a deep outdoor spirit. The day ended at a rural Harvest Host farm, where a hardworking 17-year-old cared for the place while his grandmother was away—a glimpse of the dedication found in these quiet corners.
A Day in Grand Marais
A day on Minnesota’s North Shore brought roaring rivers, billion-year-old cliffs, and the artsy harbor town of Grand Marais. Between museum history lessons, unexpected conversations, and the best pizza I’ve had in years, it was a mix of natural beauty, small-town charm, and quirky encounters—wrapped up with a traffic jam at the gas pump.
Cascade River State Park Loop
The Lookout Mountain Loop in Cascade River State Park delivered a three-mile mix of waterfalls, volcanic rock outcrops, wildflowers, and berry-dotted undergrowth. The trail began beneath a cool birch and spruce canopy, crossing a bridge with sweeping views of the rushing Cascade River before winding along rocky ledges and down narrow paths to the water’s edge. A steady climb led to hazy vistas of the Sawtooth Mountains, where ridgelines faded into the horizon like layers of watercolor. Even without clear views of Lake Superior, the variety of terrain and quiet forest beauty made the hike deeply rewarding.