While the Midwest is often overlooked and considered a ‘fly-over state,’ there is really so much more to do here, including visiting the great city of Fargo, North Dakota.
And yes, Fargo is much more than what you’ve seen in the popular film of the same name. It isn’t all snow and ice!
If you’re planning a visit to North Dakota, then you’ll want to know the best things to do in Fargo to plan your trip and make the most of it.
From supporting the local college teams to wandering around Downtown and learning about the history of the area, there’s something for everyone in Fargo.
In this post, I’ll share with you some of the best activities in Fargo to help keep your visit to North Dakota busy and to help you have a great time.
Best Things to Do in Fargo, North Dakota
Attend an NDSU Bison Game
If you ever visit Fargo, one of the things that you’ll see the most is the bison logo for the local college, North Dakota State University.
The Bison are well-loved here in Fargo, and one of the very best activities is to go see a Bison football game for yourself!
They play during the football season at the Fargodome, an indoor athletic stadium that is used for football and concerts throughout the year.
The NDSU Bison have won more FSC (Football Championship Subdivision) titles than any other collegiate team, winning recently in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
If you’re in town while the Bison are playing, throw on your green and yellow and head on into the Fargodome for a great time watching them on the field.
Shop at the West Acres Shopping Mall
If you love to shop, then visiting Fargo will be like paradise for you, as there are local and chain stores found all over the city.
One of the best places to find a large concentration of stores for shopping in Fargo is the West Acres Shopping Mall, which is home to over 100 stores, both large and small.
You’ll find everything from American Eagle to Bath & Body Works to Eddie Bauer and other small, local shops.
There’s also a food court with plenty of choices for things to eat for lunch if hunger calls while you’re out shopping.
And if you can’t find what you need in the mall, there are several other big box stores around the mall that likely have what you need, including some thrift stores.
Visit the Roger Maris Museum
Located inside the West Acres Shopping Mall, you can visit the Roger Maris Museum, which pays homage to one of the best baseball players out there.
Roger Maris played for the New York Yankees for most of his career and hit a record-setting 61 home runs during his 1961 season.
Within the museum, you can watch a short film about his life and the stadium where he played, as well as how his life with baseball began.
You can see artifacts from Roger’s time playing baseball in his hometown of Fargo as a child when he played on the youth and Major League teams.
Take a Day Trip to Detroit Lakes
If you have a few days to spend in Fargo and want to enjoy some of the great outdoors, then consider taking a quick day trip to Detroit Lakes.
This small town is home to one of the largest lakes in the area and makes for the perfect place to really enjoy Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
Get out on the lakes and jet ski, swim, fish, or just boat. A popular place in the summer is Zorbaz, where you can grab food and spend time on the water.
If you have some extra time, there are many great resorts around the lake that are perfect for spending time swimming, fishing, and spending a few days enjoying the outdoors. One of the best nearby is Fair Hills Resort.
If you’re able, I’d recommend visiting on a weekday, because Detroit Lakes can become very busy during the summer! Or, rather than going to the main lake in town, head slightly out of town to Pelican Lake to avoid crowds.
Go to the Red River Zoo
If you’re visiting and looking for activities in Fargo with kids, a day trip to the Red River Zoo is a great way to spend some time.
At the zoo, you’ll find unique animals from all over the world, from red pandas to camels, great wolves, and more.
You can learn all about the animals and their habitat, and participate in animal encounters where you can learn specifically about certain animals, like the red panda.
There also is a carousel at the zoo that you can ride on and relax as you watch the kids laugh and have a blast.
Grab Breakfast at Black Coffee and Waffle Bar
Before starting your day, you’ll need to find somewhere to fuel up, and the Black Coffee and Waffle Bar in Downtown Fargo is one of the best places to do it!
This neighborhood cafe opened up its first coffeehouse in the city of Minneapolis and has since moved to Fargo as well!
Here you’ll find a menu filled with fresh, delicious, and unique buttermilk waffles and an expansive choice of great coffees. There are even savory waffles! The apple strudel is one of the very best!
Everything from fresh berries to chocolate chips to cheesecake can be found on these waffles, and it’s the perfect place to grab brunch before going out and checking out the other best things to do in Fargo.
Visit Downtown
The Midwest is filled with fantastic Downtown areas that are packed with beautiful hotels, great places to eat, and local shops.
Fargo is no different, and wandering around the Downtown area of Fargo is another great thing to do during your visit.
Whether you’re looking for some lively nightlife or just a place to grab lunch, you can find it here.
A few local shops to stop into are Kindred People, The Nines, Mint & Basil, and Stabo Scandinavian Imports. There’s also street art scattered around Downtown to snap a picture at to commemorate your visit!
You can also find a few great nightclubs and bars, like The Toasted Frog and the Downtown VFW, which often have live music and places for dancing.
As for food and drinks, visit Drekker Brewing Company, Babb’s Coffee House, or Black Coffee and Waffle Bar. Another personal favorite is Blackbird Woodfire Pizza, which has some of the most unique and delicious pizzas in the city!
Go to the Thunder Road Family Fun Park
At Thunder Road Amusement Park, you can become a kid again for the day with all sorts of family-friendly activities in Fargo to check out.
From outdoor activities like go-karts and mini golf to indoor fun such as laser tag and a huge arcade, there’s something for everyone here.
The go-karts are one of the most popular things to do, with a 1,100-foot track and 9 turns to fly around and race your friends.
Along with these fun activities, you can also check out their bumper cars or for baseball fans, see how fast you can swing at the batting cages.
Run in the Fargo Marathon
The Fargo Marathon is a huge event, held each spring, starting and ending inside of the Fargodome. It’s been happening ever since 2005 and has become a massive get-together for runners!
If you aren’t up for running the entire marathon, you can take part in some of the shorter races like a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or even their FurGo dog run, where your furry friend can get in on the fun.
There’s an after-party following the race, and everyone can get together for food, drinks, and live music.
Even if you aren’t a runner, attending this event and cheering on all of the participants is a lot of fun. And things are happening all week before the race, so be sure to check out the schedule of events!
Enjoy a Treat at Scoop ‘n’ Dough
Grabbing an ice cream cone is always a great way to spend a day, no matter where you are. So a stop at Scoop ‘n’ Dough gives you the perfect chance to try a unique treat.
If you love cookie dough and ice cream, here, you can get them put together.
Enjoy a big ole’ scoop of ice cream and pile it high with your favorite kind of cookie dough for the perfect treat. They even have unique flavors that you normally wouldn’t find in other places, like Brookie, Brownie M&M, and Milk N Cookies.
Ride the Ferris Wheel at Scheels
If you have kids coming with you on your journey to Fargo, then head to the giant Scheels store, which is found right in the main part of town.
Inside, you’ll find every type of outdoor gear you could need, plus tons of merchandise from local sports teams, including the Minnesota Vikings and the NDSU Bison.
But right in the center of the store, there is a giant Ferris wheel that you can ride on. It’s the very first thing you’ll see when you walk in the building!
Aside from that, you’ll also find a candy store and an arcade, so you can spend a few hours inside the store, enjoying all that there is to do.
Ice Skate at Broadway Square
During the winter, much like its neighboring state Minnesota, North Dakota becomes a sort of frozen tundra.
But that doesn’t mean that all the fun is gone, because you can still try out many of the great outdoor activities, like ice skating at Broadway Square.
During the summer, this is a grass patch for people to enjoy the sunshine in Downtown Fargo, but during winter, you can skate on it with your family and friends!
The ice rink is open for a free open skate on select days throughout the winter season. Skate rentals are available for a small fee, or you can bring your own. There are often trees lit up around the rink, and you can enjoy the beautiful lights of Downtown Fargo.
See a Show at the Fargo-Moorhead Opera
At the Fargo-Moorhead Opera, you can enjoy getting to know the local arts by watching a show or performance on the stage.
A variety of performances take place here throughout the year, and depending on each season, they change.
The locally-based theater helps visitors and locals really get to know and enjoy theater before branching out into larger productions.
There are also special events throughout the year that you can attend that add a bit more spice to just sitting back and watching the show, such as Operatini, where you can watch a show, enjoy appetizers, and a martini.
Wander Around Lindenwood Park
Unfortunately, there aren’t many places within Fargo where you can escape into the outdoors, but at Lindenwood Park, you can do so for a little bit.
This multi-use park has paved trails to wander around on, bike trails, a children’s playground, and picnic tables to sit back and enjoy lunch at.
You can also rent bikes or kayaks from the Fargo Park District to explore more of the park and enjoy the Red River Valley.
You’ll feel far away from the city, which is sometimes much needed when you’re traveling within large cities like Fargo.
Learn about Aviation at the Fargo Air Museum
At the Fargo Air Museum, you can learn all about aviation and how flying planes work, right next to Fargo’s own airport, the Hector International Airport.
Here you’ll find a flight simulator lab, which lets you see what it would be like to fly your own plane all over the world in over 30 different types of aircraft.
You can take a seat in the pilot’s chair of a helicopter, test fly a mini drone in the drone cage, or make your own paper airplane and see how far it can soar.
Everyone, from kids to adults, will love getting to learn about the world of airplanes here.
Enjoy Dinner at the Many Restaurants
Fargo is home to an expansive array of local and chain restaurants and places to grab a bite to eat. No matter what type of food you like, you can find it here.
For those who love trying new things, Fargo has no shortage of unique and trendy dining destinations that are sure to impress.
A few of the best places to grab a bite to eat include Kroll’s Diner, Wurst Bier Hall, Blackbird Woodfired Pizza, Mezzaluna, and Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews.
All of these have their own unique foods to try and have long been favorites of locals.
Fargo also has an impressive craft beer scene, with breweries that offer a variety of flavorful beers and ales. Popular places for beer include Drekker Brewing and the Fargo Brewing Company.
Walk through the Red River Market
There’s just something about wandering through a farmer’s market on a hot summer day, checking out all of the local produce and goods.
At North Dakota’s largest farmers market, the Red River Market, you can do just that!
Wander through the endless tents of local farmers and businesses to shop the produce and products that they’ve put their heart and soul into.
There are nearly 100 vendors that you’ll find at the market, so you’ve got plenty of booths to wander through and find what you’re looking for.
Throughout the year, you’ll find nearly 20 markets that take place, many of which have themes such as Dog Day, Fall Fest, and Back to School.
Wrap-Up: Fun Things to Do in Fargo
Visiting Fargo, North Dakota, is an experience that promises to leave you with unforgettable memories.
From enjoying the local restaurants to wandering around the small boutique stores and checking out the history of the region, you can experience a whole lot here!
All of these great things to do in Fargo will keep you busy for your entire trip and will have you wondering why you didn’t visit this big city sooner!
