Discover Grand Forks: Art, History, and the Red River

Grand Forks offers a varied mix of art, history, sports, and nature. Those planning a trip with different ideas for each day will find museums and theaters here, as well as parks, a Greenway bike trail, a skate park, and a seasonal market. When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, it makes sense to first determine your personal priorities: Should the trip primarily combine cultural discoveries, outdoor activities, or shared experiences with children?

Art and History in Grand Forks

The North Dakota Museum of Art is the official art museum of the state of North Dakota by law. Particularly unusual is the permanently displayed apartment of the late New York artist and collector Barton Benes. It includes his collection of African art and unique curiosities from around the world. The Empire Arts Center also houses collections featuring works by renowned artists such as Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, and Audrey Flack, as well as historical pieces dating back to ancient Egypt.

Local history also has several points of interest. The Grand Forks County Historical Society operates a museum complex with public exhibitions and events for people of all ages. At the Myra Museum, the history of Grand Forks is presented from the Ice Age through the settlement period; there are also exhibitions on local popular culture. Those interested in the performing arts can include the Empire Theatre Company in their plans. It produces contemporary works that are rarely or never seen in the region.

Arena, Skate Park, and Special Experiences

Ralph Engelstad Arena is the home venue of the University of North Dakota men's ice hockey team and has 11,643 seats. Tours of the arena were available by reservation from Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. This information is particularly interesting for travelers who want to experience sports venues outside of a game.

Skateboards, longboards, inline skates, roller skates, bicycles, and scooters are permitted at Rydell Skatepark. This makes it possible to plan an active part of the itinerary regardless of which wheeled sports equipment is preferred. Families can combine these different interests with museum visits, events, and other excursions without structuring their entire stay around just one type of experience.

Parks, Garden, and the Red River Greenway

The Sertoma Arboretum includes 65 unique tree species cultivated by the forestry department of the Grand Forks Park District. Sertoma Park is also home to a Japanese Garden, which Awano donated in Japan to the Grand Forks Park District as part of a sister-city project. Ali’s Boundless Playground enables everyone to play, including people with disabilities.

A Greenway bike trail runs through Riverside Park along the Red River. The Greenway is part of a 2,200-acre area along the Red River and the Red Lake River. Those who enjoy cycling can make this landscape their own focus when planning their days. For more leisurely discoveries, garden and museum visits are a good option instead.

Market and Arrival

Vendors at the Town Square Farmers Market sell spicy salsas, sweet jams, and homemade baked goods. The market takes place every Saturday in summer, from the second weekend in June through September. This makes it possible to combine a seasonal visit with a stay that takes regional products and cultural offerings into account.

For arrival by air, Grand Forks International Airport is the region's air transportation hub. This creates a travel plan that suits your preferred pace without associating the vacation rental or vacation home with unsubstantiated amenity claims.

Find out more about the area at Grand Forks.

More destinations in the same overview: Burleigh County, Ward, Lamoure County, Foster County, Morton County, Cavalier County, Nelson

To the overarching travel overview: North Dakota.