Minot is a city in Ward County, in north central North Dakota with about 37 000 people. Known as the Magic City, it's a significant rail hub (for freight, anyway). However, its location deep within North America and off the Interstate System generally means you don't see Minot if you don't plan on it.

The Souris River goes through the middle of town, carving a valley in the middle of flat prairie. The town arose in 1880s as a stop along the Great Northern railway. During Prohibition the city became a nexus for alcohol smuggling. After World War II the city settled down into quiet suburbanation. There's a US Air Force base north of town. You can drive to Canada in just over an hour.

Minot is a rather unusual city, though possessing levels of services similar to much larger cities, it struggles between small-town and cosmopolitan attitudes. Civic growth is not greatly helped by the climate. T-shirts available at the airport have this motto: "Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason!"

Get around

You aren't getting anywhere in Minot without a car. Some public transit is available at certain times, but for visitors it's more trouble than it's worth. Most visitors will bring their own vehicle anyway; otherwise:

Car rental
Avis (838-7665), Hertz (852-0104), and National (852-5115) located at the Airport. There is a Rent-a-Wreck (838-0098) at a Sinclair gas station three (hilly) blocks south of the Amtrak Station. There is an Enterprise location (838-3800) on the south end of town. Enterprise and Rent-a-Wreck will pick you up; Avis, Hertz, and National are oriented primarily towards airline travelers.

Taxi
Taxi service is also available. Taxi 9000 (852-9000) is the biggest service and usually has cabs waiting at the Airport and Train Station after arrivals. Also: Minot Cab (852-8000) and Magic City Taxi (837-9999). All services available 24 hours.

Activities

 • The North Dakota State Fair , State Fairgrounds, 2005 Burdick Expressway East. The North Dakota State Fair is one of the biggest entertainment events of the year, brining big name concerts, carnival rides, and fairway fare. The fair runs 9 days, from the second-to-last Friday in July to the last Saturday in July.
 • Norsk Hostfest , State Fairgrounds, 2005 Burdick Expressy East. The Norsk Hostfest is the world's largest Scandinavian heritage festival, running more than 25 years. The Hostfest, like the State Fair, brings in big-name entertainers to Minot, along with a lot of other folks! The Norsk Hostfest runs 4 days, starting the first Wednesday in October to the following Saturday.

Attractions

 • Minot Railroad Museum, 19 1st Street NE 852-7091. The museum, has provided its guests with a glimpse at the fascinating history of the westward railroad expansion since its opening in 1986.
 • Riverwalk of Minot, A 2.5 mile walking and biking trail along the Souris river, which is accessible from a number of Minot attractions including the Railroad Museum and Roosevelt Park.
 • Roosevelt Park and Zoo , 1219 Burdick Expressway East. Roosevelt Park is the city's largest park. Features include a zoo, a swimming pool, and a 2/5ths scale railroad you can take a ride on around the park, in addition to gardens, walking paths, picnic shelters, tennis courts, and a band shell. Be sure to check out the sundial near the train station and the statue of Theodore Roosevelt in the southwest part of the park.
 • Scandinavian Heritage Center , 1020 S. Broadway. 852-9161 A 14 acre park highlighting the Scandinavian roots of the region. Feature of the park include a 230-year-old house from Norway and a stave church.

Shopping

Shopping opportunities are ample in Minot. Souvenirs are available at the Airport, and at the Visitor's Bureau office inside a very Scandinavian-looking building just off Broadway (you can't conceivably miss it).
 • Downtown Minot, northeast of the intersection of Burdick Expressway and Broadway, has a number of small shops and restaurants, particularly along Main Street and Central Avenue.
 • Dakota Square Mall , just off the US 2/52 bypass on 16th Street SW. Anchor stores Target, Sears, Herbergers, JCPenney. Numerous specialty shops. The mall is in the middle of a shopping district that pretty much grew around it, including a supermarket and a Wal-Mart.
 • Town and Country Center, a strip mall located on Broadway. Much of it is office space but there is a drugstore, a variety store, and a travel agency.
 • Arrowhead Mall, a strip mall on 16th Street SW quite a bit north of the mall. There's a drugstore, a supermarket, some restaurants, and some offices. 
 • Best Buy, A ridiculously small Best Buy is now located near the Dakota Square Mall opposite the Miracle Mart. Most of the things you'd expect to find at a Best Buy are here.

Dining

Food is pretty cheap in Minot. You're looking at $10 tops per person in most cases, maybe $20 at some of the nicer sit-down restaurants. If you really want to pull out on the stops, it is theoretically possible to spend $50 a plate at a handful of places in town... if you care to.

You will not need a reservation for any restaurant in town, nor will anyone be particularly able to save a table for you on crowded days (Mother's Day for example). Some restaurants do have private rooms that can be reserved, which are generally for business or political meetings.

Budget
 • Schatz Econostop, 1712 20th Ave SE (on the 2/52 Bypass East), Open 24 hours. One of two main truck stops in Minot, Econostop provides good food at a very reasonable price.
 • Charlie's Main Street Cafe, 113 South Main St. (Downtown). American fare.

Midrange
 • New China Buffet, 1901 S Broadway, Chinese Buffet and Mongolian Barbecue. Open lunch and dinner.
 • Greenhouse Cafe, 315 South Main St (Downtown) phone 852-3708. Open Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Private rooms available.
 • Country Kitchen, 3800 2/52 Bypass West, phone 838-4029. Open 24 hours. Your usual Country Kitchen attached to your usual truck stop. Private rooms available.
 • Applebee's, 2302 15th St SW (Dakota Square Mall), phone 839-2130. It's an Applebee's. Open Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. And it has a bar. Private rooms available.
 • Royal Fork Buffet, 1420 24th Ave SW (Dakota Square Mall), phone 838-6581. An American Buffet. Fresh cut Roast Beef and Ham lead an all-star array of dishes. Private rooms available.
 • Homesteader's Restaurant, 2501 2/52 Bypass West. Downhome cooking.
 • Planet Pizza, 220 South Broadway, phone 852-1700. Pizza and Video Games! The place to take your kids out to. Party room available
 • Sammy's Pizza, 400 North Broadway. Italian cuisine.

Splurge
 • Primo, at the International Inn, 1505 North Broadway, phone 852-3161. Italian and American cuisine. Biggest list of wines, scotches, and cognacs in town. If there is a place to wine and dine in Minot, this is it. Open 24 hours. Private rooms available. This restaurant does not take reservations.
 • Seven's, at the Vegas Motel 2315 North Broadway, phone 852-4343. Formerly located downtown as The Embassy, another fine restaurant. Live Lobster and Seafood, American and Italian cuisine. Also has a bar. Private rooms available. This restaurant does not take reservations.
 • Ten North Main, 10 N. Main St. (Downtown), phone 837-1010. An upscale restaurant located across the street from an old train depot. Co-owned by actor Josh Duhamel, a Minot native. Private rooms available. Wi-Fi hotspot. This restaurant does take reservations.

Lodging

Accommodations are easy to find in Minot -- except during the State Fair and Hostfest. Be sure to reserve your rooms well in advance if you're planning to stay during late July and early October.

Budget
 • Super 8 Motel, 1315 N Broadway, phone 852-1817, toll free reservations 1-800-800-8000. $30-$60
 • Select Inn, 225 22nd Ave NW, phone 852-3411, toll free reservations 1-800-641-1000. Accepts Canadian dollars at par. $30-60

Midrange
 • Comfort Inn, 1515 22nd Ave SW (near Dakota Square Mall), phone 852-2201, toll free reservations 1-800-424-6423. $40-70
 • Days Inn, 2100 4th Street SW (near the Broadway and 2/52 Bypass interchange), phone 888-327-6466. $40-$70
 • Dakota Inn, 2401 2/52 Bypass West (west of Dakota Square Mall), phone 800-862-5003. $40-70
 • Best Western Kelly Inn, 1510 26th Ave SW (near Dakota Square Mall), phone 800-735-5868. $40-70

Splurge
 • International Inn, 1505 North Broadway, phone 800-735-4493. Located on North Hill near the Airport, the International Inn is widely regarded as the best hotel in town, though this may simply be a local conceit as the Holiday Inn provides about the same level of service. $50-$85
 • Holiday Inn, 2200 Burdick Expressway East, phone 800-468-9968. Almost immediately across Burdick Expressway from the fairgrounds, the Holiday Inn rivals the International Inn as the best in town. $65-$85