12 Awesome Things to do in Fargo North Dakota
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While most people have heard of Fargo, they may not know Fargo is a great weekend getaway destination. Situated near the border with Minnesota, Fargo and the neighboring Moorhead MN are very connected. We drove the ~3.5 hour trip from Minneapolis one spring weekend to check out all the city has to offer. There are so many great activities, food options and seasonal offerings that we completely filled our weekend up and left wanting to return to experience more! Read on for 12 Awesome Things to do in Fargo!
Note – this article is sponsored by Visit Fargo-Moorehead. I helped plan our itinerary and the opinions below are my own, as always.
1. Check out a local Coffee Shop
Fargo has a really great local craft coffee scene! We had the chance to check out a couple and I’d highly recommend them both.
Young Blood – loved the cool coffee shop vibes, delicious coffee/tea and friendly service by people who have perfected the craft of making drinks.
Babb’s Coffee House – Very cozy/relaxed setting, homemade food options, great coffee/tea and a fun sign that makes you feel like you’re in Seattle.
2. Enjoy a local Brewery or Cidery
The local brewery/cider scene is very strong in Fargo and there were more places than we could visit in our weekend! Below are the spots we checked out plus where we’ll visit next time we’re in town.
Drekker Brewing Company
Set in an old railroad building from the 1880’s, great atmosphere and a fun outdoor patio space too for warmer nights. Ryan recommends the stout!
Wild Terra Cider
I’ve wanted to visit Wild Terra for a couple of years so loved finally seeing it in person! While I couldn’t enjoy the ciders on this trip, Ryan said the chai cider was his favorite and we grabbed some pear cider cans to enjoy later this year!
Next Time: Junkyard Brewing and Fargo Brewing Company
3. Explore the various boutique shops (there are many!)
The boutique shops around Fargo are filled with gems and I had a blast shopping one afternoon! I love the entrepreneurial scene and hope all of the local shops thrive. Below are the places I visited and the ones I hope to visit next time! All of these shops are within walking distance of each other so you can shop til you drop (or need a nap like I did!).
Handpicked Goods – LOVED everything in this shop! Plants, planters, rugs, adorable kids clothes – it’s very well curated.
Prairie Petals – A plant and flower lovers dream shop! I was in love with all the fresh and dried plants and flowers and brought some home. I could have spent all afternoon here!
Unglued – lots of fun gift items! My favorite was the build your own journal station.
O’Day Cache – a travel lover’s dream shop with beautiful and affordable items from India, Morocco, China, France, Thailand and Turkey.
Vella Kids Boutique – loved all of the beautiful baby and little kid’s clothing items! Higher quality means higher prices but these pieces are well sourced and built to last!
Proper – lots of cute women’s clothing, accessories and fun items like candles.
The Mason Jar – a really fun women’s clothing boutique
Kindred People – so many fun clothes, accessories and home good items!
Next time: MINT + BASIL and KITTSONA
4. Grab a treat from the Dairy Queen that created Dilly Bars!
Technically it’s across the border in Moorhead, Minnesota but it’s a super short drive and well worth the visit to this historic DQ! There’s even a giant Dilly Bar statute (the largest in the world) commemorating the birthplace of the special treat.
5. Explore the Hjemkomst Center
We had a great visit to the Hjemkomst Center where we learned about the Hjemkomst viking ship that was the dream of a local Fargo man with family ties to Norway. His family carried on his dream and sailed the ship all the way to Norway! Super impressive learning about his perseverance and the Nordic heritage that many in the region share. We also enjoyed touring a replica Stave church on the grounds and learning about the Nordic traditions as well.
6. Brunch at Rosewild
Every local we spoke with suggested brunch at Rosewild and luckily for us, it was in the lobby of the hotel we stayed at! We attended a jazz brunch one morning and loved our meal. I’d highly recommend the matcha oat latte, omelette, skillet and stuffed French toast (just bring someone to share it all with!).
7. Enjoy Dinner out at these great spots
We had a hard time narrowing our list of places to eat at because there are so many great options! Below are the spots we prioritized based on variety, atmosphere, service, and high quality fare.
Prairie Kitchen at 701 Eateries
Delicious Nordic / Midwest inspired dishes! We started with a lease appetizer followed by a burger, Nordic salmon with wild rice and finished it all with a delicious cheesecake. Everything was delicious and high quality! They also have fun cocktails that they can make non-alcoholic too.
Camp Lone Tree at 701 Eateries
Grab a cocktail from the fun and laid back bar right above Prairie Kitchen! In the winter, they have igloos on the rooftop under string lights and I’m sure the summer time rooftop vibes are awesome too.
Brew Bird
So many locals suggested this place too and for good reason! They serve delicious chicken with tons of great dipping sauce options!
Beer and Fish Company
A new, casual dining spot in Robert’s Alley centered on delicious fish dishes. Highly recommend the halibut!
Blackbird Pizza
The perfect spot to grab lunch at! We shared a veggie pizza and hummus plate and loved both.
8. Explore the Murals
Fargo has a lot of fun murals and we had fun checking out the Mario Wall, Postcard Mural, Fargo Mural, and the Wild Terra Cider murals . For even more, check out this list!
9. Treat yourself to Rolled Ice Cream at Tea & Crepe
For a unique dessert experience, check out Tea & Crepe. More specifically, order the rolled ice cream! It’s fun to watch them make it too.
10. Take a Fitness Class a Fly Fitness Fargo
After eating so much great food over the weekend, we needed to get a workout in! Fly Fitness Fargo is a newer boutique fitness studio (with a second location coming soon!). They offer spin, HIIT and yoga classes. We did a Sunday morning yoga class which felt great after a lot of walking and eating. We’d love to go back to try the other class formats too. They are SO welcoming for anyone who’s new and gave us a tour of the space before class began so we felt comfortable.
11. Experience an authentic Afternoon Tea at Soiree’s Victorian Tea Room & Antique Caffe
I’m a huge afternoon tea lover after our time living in London and always on the hunt for a great spot stateside. The set up at Soiree’s Victorian Tea Room is so well done and the entire experience was very authentic. The quality of the teas, sandwiches, scones and treats was incredible! The service was also impeccable and the owner was so kind. This spot is perfect for a date or friends outing and is an absolute gem.
12. Take a Photo in front of the Fargo Theatre
The Fargo Theatre has an iconic Fargo sign that you can’t miss taking a photo in front of to complete your Fargo trip!
Where to stay: Jasper Hotel
We had the best time exploring Fargo and while we fit in a ton, we know there are even more spots to visit next time! If you’re looking for the ultimate hotel option, we highly recommend the newly opened boutique Jasper Hotel. We stayed in a king room and loved the decor, Grown Alchemist soaps, great service and central location. Plus, Rosewild is right in the lobby which makes for an easy way to start or end your day with a meal or drink. The parking ramp attached also had free parking on the weekends (at the time of our visit). We mostly walked everywhere so it worked out perfectly.
Ready to visit and experience these 12 awesome things to do in Fargo?! Happy Planning!
