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Fargo is a charming western city of just over 100,000 in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. As the biggest city for more than 200 miles (350 km) in any direction, it's a cultural hub for the region, and its lively, walkable downtown is full of old-fashioned architecture and friendly cafes.
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Museum of the baseball player Roger Maris, who went to high school in Fargo and went on to play for the New York Yankees.
A nice campus to walk around and see Midwest college life in all its glory. They also have tours. It's a decent size campus with lots to see like the Memorial garden and the creek.
A collection of various photographs and artifacts from Germans from Russia who immigrated to the surrounding area. Hosts various exhibits from within the NDSU library building.
Surprisingly interesting contemporary art museum.
Museum focused on aviation history and machinery. Closed on all major holidays such as Easter, July 4, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year's Day. Some days may be booked for private events, so check the website.
Open daily May to October, weekends only rest of year. Has red pandas.
The walk where more than 100 celebrities have left their marks in cement. Stars from music, the arts, politics, and sports, like: Garth Brooks, Neil Diamond, KISS, Maury Wills, Debbie Reynolds, and Governor Jesse Ventura, have left their signatures, handprints and footprints.
Downtown is decorated with over 20 street art murals. Many of them are "interactive", for you to photograph yourself as part of the art.
Season is from early August to mid-September.
Go-kart racing, bumper cars, laser tag, batting cages, mini golf, and an arcade. Open May–September. Inside usually opens in April.
Indoor gun range with a huge variety of firearms available to rent for target shooting. The staff is friendly, helpful, and happy to teach beginners, so even if you've never touched a gun before, you'll be welcomed. High-quality eye and ear protection is essential and available for sale. Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes are required. Make sure to fill out the online waiver on their website, and be prepared to give them your ID to hold on to while you're on the range.
A large golf driving range. Many lanes and indoor simulators. Clubs can be rented or you can bring your own. They have left handed and right handed clubs. Also serves food.
Pool hall in southern Fargo, also serves bar food. There are 56 tables. Also has trivia nights.
Bowling alley, arcade, laser tag, and escape rooms. They also host events and have a restaurant.
Children's museum and play area with stations. Also has childcare.
Offers athletic events (most notably North Dakota State football games), broadway shows, music concerts. During some concerts 1/4 of the population fits inside the Fargodome.
The Fargo Theater show mostly independent films, on actual film, not digital. Inside the theatre there is a statue of Marge Olmstead Gunderson, of the movie Fargo carved out of wood. Inside on the stage is a functional Wurlitzer pipe organ that is occasionally used to score silent films.
Concert venue usually hosting metal or punk shows. Caters to local bands, too.
Minor league baseball. While you are there, check out the Maury Wills Museum.
The university's sports teams, competing in eight men's and eight women's sports, mostly in the Summit League. The most prominent program by far is the football team, a major power at the Division I FCS (second) level, including nine national championships in 11 seasons (2011–2015, 2017–2019, 2021) and the most recent title in 2024. With the Summit League not sponsoring football, NDSU plays that sport in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Most Bison teams play on campus, including the football team (the Fargodome is owned by the city, but the underlying land is owned by the university and part of the campus). Football games frequently sell out, but tickets for other sports are easier to find. Tip to fit in with the locals: the "S" in "Bison" is locally pronounced with a "z" sound instead of the "s" sound found in most other American English dialects.
Dedicated to Vietnam era.
Essentia Health Fargo Marathon
Usually in May.
East Coast Style Subs serves hot subs grilled fresh right in front of you. A local favorite. Try the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich, very delicious.
Boppa's Bagels makes wonderful bagels, of note are their speciality bagels, that are also available at some coffee shops around the city.
Indoor market with several food stalls. Also has an attached hotel.
Mexican restaurant offering authentic dishes and drinks. Friendly staff and nice decor inside.
Grill and bar featuring sandwiches, hamburgers, and more. Good atmosphere.
German and American 1950s diner. Also has locations in other North Dakota cities.
The Turf
Bar and grill right by the NDSU campus. Popular with students. Features a pool table, darts, a second floor bar, and a rooftop lounge.
Restaurant and bar popular with students at NDSU. Has hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, etc.
Vietnamese restaurant south of the NDSU campus. Serves pho, bubble tea, sub sandwiches, as well as rice with grilled meats.
An excellent Indian buffet place. A flavourful and delightful selection from soup to dessert is available.
Offers excellent Nepalese and Indian food. Lunch buffet offered M - Su at 11AM - 2:30PM
German-style restaurant and bar. Extensive list of local and exotic sausages (including two that are vegetarian and vegan), soft pretzels, and a variety of other German dishes. The drink menu has lots of beers and a few cocktails. Also has a location in West Fargo.
Home of the Pink Pussycat, this "lounge" has a good atmosphere that resembles a sports bar. Serves food and alcohol and kids sometimes permitted. Also sells merchandise.
Contains two restaurants in the same building: Prairie Kitchen is the main interior restaurant area, and Camp Lonetree is a bar and grill, upstairs. They also operate a rooftop patio year round. This is all housed in the old Acme Dairy building. They serve modern American food.
Fine dining in downtown Fargo in a very unassuming location.
Modern American restaurant with on display grilling. Features a large menu with many options for grilled food, salads, and more.
The PBR is always cold, all the whiskey drinks are doubles, and pull tabs litter the dirty floor. This downtown Fargo watering hole is Fargo's best dive bar. Black jack tables, off-sale liquor, pool, and pinball are available. Also the oldest bar in Fargo.
Irish pub. Free popcorn, karaoke, and a side room with various amenities. LGBTQ+ friendly bar!
Irish pub featuring pub food as well as beers and ales on tap.
Bar made up of two different buildings with the center wall removed, and bars on each side. It has darts, pool, and a blackjack table. Mostly serves drinks and the only food is microwaved pizza. There are specialty drinks like their root beer and green lantern.
Sports type bar with daily specials varying. Lots of tables as well as a blackjack table. Has daily specials. In the warmer months, the empty lot next door hosts picnic tables where people crowd and drink.
Despite its name, the Empire is also a dive bar. The door on the left is the liquor store and the door on the right is the bar.
Bar with two floors, including a rooftop lounge. Usually has a live DJ and has a long bar with lots of tables.
This bar is a narrow and well lit bar on the south side of downtown. Happy hour M-F 4:30-6:30PM with a dice roll dictating your options.
Dive bar with nightly specials. Has a pool table, darts, slots, breathalyzer, and more. Quiet atmosphere and popular with students depending on the night. Also sells off-sale alcohol.
Restaurant and bar. Art deco interior with $2 drinks before 10 PM. People tend to leave after then. Attracts lots of students. The restaurant closes at 3 PM and the bar opens at 7 PM.
Bar on main avenue, also has a lounge and off-sale. Featuring live music and serves food, including a daily lunch special.
Rough-around-the-edges dive bar. Pool tables and cold drinks, this place has seen a lot.
Little bar with a cast of regulars. Relaxing atmosphere, and has a happy hour on weekdays. Does not serve food. Cash only.
A cider and wine bar! Relaxed and family friendly atmosphere, and it has a happy hour on weekdays.
A fantastic independent coffee shop located across the street from the Fargo Theater downtown. Also serves breakfast and lunch with vegan options. Credit cards are accepted for a $0.25 surcharge.
Coffee shop with a lot of atmosphere and a varied seating selection.
Lodge style hotel next to the 94 freeway. Nearby the mall.
Campground right by the Red River. Might be hard to be immersed in the outdoors considering it's in the city and next to the freeway, but more power to you. Pet friendly.
Pretty standard chain hotel. Right next to I-29 and West Acres.
Best Western hotel in a sort of awkward location. About what you'd expect from a 3-star hotel. Has a pool and jacuzzi.
Close to the airport and within walking distance of the Fargodome. Good choice if you're a tailgater.
Right by Scheel's.
Right by the interstate and a few minutes north of the mall.
Right by the interstate, fire station, and the mystery building across the street.
Across the street from the mall and the bank that turns blue in December.
It's by the mall, interstate, visitor's center, and a park.
Next to the trampoline park.
It's next to the visitor's center and a big office building. Cable TV included.
It's next to Space Aliens. Also a park is within walking distance too.
A beautiful experience. The Donaldson has only 17 rooms, each featuring original works by a Plains artist. It was immaculately renovated in 2003. Room decor is modern. Amenities include flat screen cable TV, rooftop spa and high speed internet access. Outstanding personal service includes complimentary gourmet breakfast bar in the morning and wine and cheese bar in the early evening.
Very nice hotel in downtown Fargo. If you're familiar with the Radisson chain, you know what to expect. Really good breakfast.
Across the street from the mall. It's in a good neighborhood.
A modern hotel in the RDO building. This hotel hosts events, such as weddings and corporate retreats, in a modern setting. It's right by the Broadway Square.
Fargo shopping means the million square foot West Acres, featuring Sears, JC Penney and Macy's plus a hundred other stores. During and post construction West Acres was colloquially referred to by residents as "Wasted Acres" as it was built on farm land.
Lively downtown farmers market with produce, meals, and family-oriented entertainment.
Souvenir shop specializing in Scandinavian imports, as the name would suggest. They've got clothing, dala horses, collectibles, books, and more stuff. Lots of stuff!
A unique store selling imports from around the world, including jewelry, furniture, clothing accessories, and more.
A little boutique shop, locally owned. Hand-picked women's clothing, home and kitchen items, and more.
Boutique shop carrying loads of women's clothes, with sales. Free shipping over $50. New arrivals weekly!
Boutique shop with loads of clothing, accessories, and more. Gift cards, too! Also has a location in Detroit Lakes.
Downtown Fargo's vintage clothing store. Frequently has sales and events, selling clothing, jewelry, accessories, and more.
By train
Amtrak's Empire Builder serves this station daily on its route between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee.
By bus
By car
Fargo is at the intersection of Interstate Highways 29 and 94. It's about 230 miles (370 km) northwest of the Twin Cities on I-94, about a three-hour and twenty minute drive.
Fargo has maintained a charming and very walkable downtown area, which is also within tolerable walking distance of downtown Moorhead across the river.
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