North Dakota, USA
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
North Dakota is a vast, beautiful state filled with ample opprtunities for outdoor adventures. The praries are vast, the fields are golden, and population is sparse. So if you don't get lost, North Dakota can be a dream of a place, but the outdoors aren't all of North Dakota.
The towns in North Dakota are small and freindly. Most people are polite and helpful, but one thing you can't always count on is a ride. Public Transportation in North Dakota is spotty. Very few of the cities have bus service inside town, but intercity bus lines do run through most towns. Amtrak also has a line through the northern part of the state. There are four major cities in North Dakota, listed here by their size: Fargo, in the southeast, Bismarck, in the south central portion, Minot, in the north central portion, and Grand Forks, in the northeastern portion. If you want all the fixings of home, stay in Fargo. The other cities are often passed over by large store chains and video stores. (Minot only recently recieved a Hollywood Video, and still doesn't have a Blockbuster) There are other, smaller cities which you may hear of, such as Jamestown, Dickinson, or Williston, as you journey though this state, but bear in mind, not all cities in North Dakota are cities in the usual sense. State law allows what would be anywhere else a village to register as a city.
Things are cheaper in North Dakota than most of the country. Gas is usually cheap, as is bread and other food products. This is because that stuff is produced here and we save on the shipping costs. Land is also in large supply and is likewise cheaper. Our proximity to Canada also allows you to buy consumer goods at lower prices. And your college education in North Dakota will be cheaper, too!
Traveling in North Dakota in your own car can be tiring. The distances are huge, but that in itself would not be so bad if it were for the lack of towns. There are some places on the roads you do not want to break down on, so be sure your car is in perfect order before setting out. Also, if you want do everything and get all you want before you leave, else you'll be stuck without it. And also, unless you want to hear country music all the way to your cross-state destination, bring some tapes or CDs.
North Dakota is a great place all around, but its low crime rate seems to have a bit of a trade-off: Two guys from "America's Most Wanted" were either wanted by North Dakota or captured in North Dakota. I really don't think this means too much, but it's worth mentioning.
So in short, with the great outdoors, with the few towns that dot the country side, cheap stuff, and low crime, North Dakota is a great place to be.
The towns in North Dakota are small and freindly. Most people are polite and helpful, but one thing you can't always count on is a ride. Public Transportation in North Dakota is spotty. Very few of the cities have bus service inside town, but intercity bus lines do run through most towns. Amtrak also has a line through the northern part of the state. There are four major cities in North Dakota, listed here by their size: Fargo, in the southeast, Bismarck, in the south central portion, Minot, in the north central portion, and Grand Forks, in the northeastern portion. If you want all the fixings of home, stay in Fargo. The other cities are often passed over by large store chains and video stores. (Minot only recently recieved a Hollywood Video, and still doesn't have a Blockbuster) There are other, smaller cities which you may hear of, such as Jamestown, Dickinson, or Williston, as you journey though this state, but bear in mind, not all cities in North Dakota are cities in the usual sense. State law allows what would be anywhere else a village to register as a city.
Things are cheaper in North Dakota than most of the country. Gas is usually cheap, as is bread and other food products. This is because that stuff is produced here and we save on the shipping costs. Land is also in large supply and is likewise cheaper. Our proximity to Canada also allows you to buy consumer goods at lower prices. And your college education in North Dakota will be cheaper, too!
Traveling in North Dakota in your own car can be tiring. The distances are huge, but that in itself would not be so bad if it were for the lack of towns. There are some places on the roads you do not want to break down on, so be sure your car is in perfect order before setting out. Also, if you want do everything and get all you want before you leave, else you'll be stuck without it. And also, unless you want to hear country music all the way to your cross-state destination, bring some tapes or CDs.
North Dakota is a great place all around, but its low crime rate seems to have a bit of a trade-off: Two guys from "America's Most Wanted" were either wanted by North Dakota or captured in North Dakota. I really don't think this means too much, but it's worth mentioning.
So in short, with the great outdoors, with the few towns that dot the country side, cheap stuff, and low crime, North Dakota is a great place to be.
