Out on the road in North Dakota

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Logan C. Adams / The Sun Scenic vistas, like this house along the Sheyenne River Valley National Byway, as seen on Sept. 26, 2008, can be found on a road trip in North Dakota.

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Summer is here and one way would-be travelers can save money and still see some interesting sights is by taking a road trip in North Dakota.

“We offer so many unique opportunities. … We can really please a number of different wants from the traveler’s perspective,” said Kim Schmidt, public and media relations director with North Dakota Tourism.

North Dakota is the most affordable state for travel according to AAA, Schmidt said. And with manageable gas prices a wide variety of opportunities awaits road trippers.

Golfers can enjoy North Dakota’s many courses, in fact North Dakota has the highest amount of golf courses per capita, more than any other state in the U.S., she said.

Or for those interested in birding, a quick day trip from Jamestown could be to the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge or to the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Schmidt said.

For those into modern history the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historical Site is having a grand opening near Cooperstown on July 31, Schmidt said.

There is a trip in the state for everyone, she said.

And for those looking for a taste of German culture and food, the “German triangle” formed by the cities of Wishek, Ashley and Strasburg is another great day trip, Schmidt said.

Strasburg, located on N.D. Highway 83 is also host to another attraction, the birthplace of famed bandleader Lawrence Welk, said Andrew Wood, associate professor of communication studies at San Jose State University and author of “Road Trip America.”

Welk’s birthplace is one of three destinations Wood recommends for travelers around the state. Another is Rugby, the geographical center of North America, located on U.S. Highway 2. The Prairie Village Museum also in Rubgy has a hodgepodge of interesting items and is reasonably priced, Wood said.

“I would say the Prairie Village Museum was one of my favorite things to do,” he said.

For Wood it’s not so much the destination as it is the drive when going to some of these attractions, he said.

Wood’s third recommendation is a stretch of road dubbed The Enchanted Highway.

The Enchanted Highway is located off Interstate 94 at exit 72 — about 20 miles east of Dickinson — and runs south for 32 miles.

Artist Gary Greff created seven sculptures along that stretch of road that ends in Regent and has a place in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for it as the world’s largest scrap metal sculpture, Greff said.

“That is stunning and it’s the work of one guy, who just decided there really wasn’t much else there to see unless he was going to build it,” Wood said.

For those looking for another driving option North Dakota’s 10 byways offer scenic and educational drives, said Ben Kubischta, North Dakota Department of Transportation, transportation enhancement program manager.

“It’s like you are in a different world,” he said.

A great day drive is taking the Chan SanSan (James River) Scenic Byway which runs south of N.D. Highway 46 by Adrian down to Lake LaMoure then driving to Lisbon and going north on the Sheyenne River Valley National Byway, Kubischta said.

The Chan SanSan Scenic Byway is along one of the earliest plains where corn is known to have been cultivated for about 800 years, he said. The Sheyenne River Valley National Byway is the state’s first nationally recognized byway.

There are also points of interest and interpretive signs along all of North Dakota’s byways, he said.

“Our roads are not boring, they can be filled with excitement from something as simple as wheat blowing in the wind or take you to attractions,” Kubschta said.

One of those attractions is the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn, he said.

Jamie Jensen, author of the “Road Trip USA” series said he enjoys the Washburn area and recommends travelers explore between Washburn and Garrison Dam.

One of Jensen’s favorite attractions along that route is the Knife River Indian Village National Historic site in Stanton.

The Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site is one of the state’s most fascinating historic places, Jensen said. It is also the only federally maintained site devoted to preservation of the culture of the Plains tribes. There will also be the Northern Plains Culture Fest on Saturday and Sunday at the Knife River site, Schmidt said.

“It’s a wonderful place to explore,” Jensen said.

Jensen has done some exploring across North Dakota for his book “Road Trip USA: Cross Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways.”

Some of his favorite sites are a Teddy Roosevelt statue in Mandan that reminds him of the movie “Night at the Museum,” and anyplace where he can stop take a swim or sample some food, he said.

Jensen said he especially enjoys a root beer and grilled cheese at a place in Grand Forks called The Kegs, located at 901 Fifth St. N, as well as food from unique restaurants across the country.

“There is something just elemental to the American imagination about getting in a car pointing it towards the highway and just going,” Wood said.

To plan a trip with North Dakota tourism call 1-800-435-5663 or visit www. ndtourism.org.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

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