The US state of North Dakota is located in the far north of the USA on the Canadian border. Due to its geographical location, this state has a rather cool climate. North Dakota was named after a Native American tribe. The Dakota tribe, which has lived in the area of present-day North Dakota since time immemorial, and served as the namesake for the US state, belongs to the Sioux Indians. North Dakota is considered very sparsely populated, but this does not detract from the state’s attractiveness for tourists. Rather the opposite. Because if you long for peace and solitude, want to find out about the history and culture of the North American natives or experience endless expanses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this is the place for you.

Among bison, mustangs and coyotes in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is named after the 26th President of the United States. He loved the region in which today’s park is located so much that he owned a ranch there, the Elkhorn Ranch, which he often visited to relax. Remains of the ranch can still be visited today. It seems a little unusual for a national park that Theodore Roosevelt National Park is not a contiguous area, but three parks that have been merged into one, so to speak.

Visually and scenically, you feel like you’ve been transported to a Wild West movie, because the national park consists primarily of wasteland and badlands. These landscapes are ultimately what Westerns refer to as the wide prairie. If you want, you can explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park extensively on foot, because there are no less than 150 kilometers of well-signposted hiking trails to explore here. However, the park is still home to American wild horses, also known as mustangs. If you want to get particularly close to them, you can take part in a guided excursion on horseback.

Another highlight are the bison, once extinct here, but reintroduced in the 1950s, which were hunted by the Indians in earlier times and served as their diet and clothing. The best way to soak up the atmosphere of the park is to spend a night under the stars. Spending the night in the park is no problem, because there are a variety of campsites.

Fargo: The secret capital of the US state of North Dakota

Fargo is not the capital of the state of North Dakota, that would be Bismarck, but with around 120,000 inhabitants it is the largest city in the state. In addition, the cultural heart of North Dakota beats here, which is why a visit to Fargo should not be missed if you are ever in North Dakota. Among locals, Fargo is considered the secret capital of North Dakota. The city is particularly known for its lively art scene.

The Plains Art Museum exhibits about 3,000 works of art, mainly by contemporary artists. Many of them are of Indian origin. In addition, there are also artistic highlights by European art greats, such as Salvador Dali’s, to see. However, the often breathtaking works of art are not only on display in the premises of the museum itself. Many of them also hang in chic craft beer bars, shops or restaurants in downtown Fargo. If you want to get an idea of the life of the pioneers in the North of America, Bonanzaville is the right place for you. This is a pioneer village true to the original, in which there is also a thematically appropriate museum.

Unique, the National Buffalo Museum

The National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown is one of those kinds of museums that you won’t find on every corner. Of course, this has to do with his exhibition focus, the bison. For the Native Americans of North Dakota, the bison, and also the hunting of them, were of utmost importance. The museum explains all the details about the importance and history of bison in the region. In addition, stuffed bison and original exhibits from the times of bison hunting can be seen. The National Buffalo Museum is housed on the grounds of an open-air museum. In the Frontier Village open-air museum, you can travel back in time to the 19th century, because all the buildings there date back to this time. They are the remains of a village with residential and administrative buildings as well as shops.

In the footsteps of Scandinavian immigrants

In the American state of North Dakota, the Scandinavian community is still strongly represented today. Once upon a time, many Scandinavians came to this area as pioneers. Among other things, they have brought with them the tradition of Scandinavian stave churches. The most famous specimen in North Dakota can be seen in the Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minota. In addition, several statues of famous Scandinavians are gathered here. The park’s walking paths also lead past Danish windmills, a museum where you can learn about the tradition of immigrants from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, as well as a 27-metre-high Swedish wooden Dala horse.

Wyoming is a fascinating destination in the USA. As hundreds of years ago, adventurers are drawn to the Wild West, who still hunt herds of bison on horseback, hike through the canyons or climb bizarre rock formations of the Rocky Mountains, meet bears and moose or push their limits on survival tours.

The fascinating nature of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the top ten sights in the USA. Steaming geysers and bubbling mud holes stretch over an area of over 9,000 square kilometers. Every few minutes, water fountains shoot meters high into the sky and make visitors gasp. The water runs down the rocks and nourishes the algae. The caves shine emerald green. The sulphur turns the stones yellowish and the earth’s crust appears pinkish-red. This creates a special kind of play of colours. At the Mammoth Hot Springsund, on the wooden walkways around Old Faithful, tourists from all over the world jostle. But true connoisseurs put on their trekking shoes and set off for the hinterland of the national park. Lonely hiking trails, fascinating waterfalls and untouched nature await you here.

The breathtaking mountain world of the Grand Tetons

History says that the Grand Teton Mountains were formed 9 million years ago because the earth simply broke open and shifted the pointed rocks to the side. What remained were the mountain peaks lined up next to each other with seven three-thousand-metre peaks, one four-thousand-metre peak and a steppe-like valley. The mountains attract with their extraordinary vegetation. Below the massive rocks stretches a lush green area of bushes and lush forests with meter-high conifers. The mountains are also famous for their barren mountain meadows, the icy cold and shimmering blue mountain lakes and the glaciated mountain slopes. Here is actually still the eternal snow and from October onwards loneliness reigns here. In summer you can pitch your tents in the campgrounds. Places are limited and should be reserved in advance, preferably at the beginning of the year.

Encounter moose and bears in Cascade Canyon

Wyoming’s wildlife is one of a kind. The further away you get from the tourist trails, the greater the probability of encountering a bear. As a tourist, you should be aware that these animals may look cute, but they are dangerous. Therefore, it is better to observe them from a safe distance. Bears are omnipresent along the streams of Cascade Canyon. They look for fish here and bathe in the cold water. Many bears have lost their shyness of humans. The principle here is: Leave me alone, then I’ll leave you alone! At Jenny Lake you can experience moose in the wild. After sunrise, they walk among the trees on the south side of the lake. The Discovery Trail leads directly to Lake Jenny and is peppered with boards that provide information about all of the area’s wildlife.

Pure nature in the Thunder Basin National Grassland

The forest area in the northeast of the state stretches between the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountains. Here, visitors can experience Wyoming’s nature up close. There are no campsites, but you are allowed to camp in certain areas. Hikers from all over the world come here to wander through the remote areas for days. The whole area is also a magnet for anglers and hunters. The Thunder Basin National Grassland is very fertile and brings together almost all of the wild plants that are native to Wyoming. As a result, wild animals find the best feeding opportunities here. From muskrats to porcupines to rabbits and marmots, you can observe numerous animals here. The streams are full of trout and eagles make their rounds in the sky. Together with the adjacent Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest , the area has an area of over 12,000 square kilometers and extends across the border into Colorado.

Quaint small towns and warm hospitality

You won’t find the world-famous metropolises in Wyoming. Cozy small towns such as Buffalo, Lovell or Cody dominate here. Teddy Roosevelt was already drawn to Buffalo. Even today, visitors can stay at the historic Occidental Hotel, where the American president once stayed. The town in western Wyoming is known for its typical restaurants and is a popular destination for skiers in winter. Lovell stands for the famous Wild West. Like a Western film set, the Bighorn Canyon stretches out in front of the city with its deep gorges and herds of wild horses. Visitors experience even more Wild West feeling in Cody. It’s where the state’s most exciting rodeos take place, and in the evening, people dance to traditional cowboy music. In Old Trail Town , Cody shows its original side with an 1890 border building and numerous western attractions for tourists.

When winter arrives in Wyoming

True enthusiasts are drawn to Wyoming in winter. Then entire areas are transformed into snow paradises and the play of lights creates a unique magic. You can discover the loneliest areas by dog sled or explore a dreamlike landscape with a snowmobile. The Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail is the best trail in the USA for snowmobilers. But skiers and cross-country skiers also get their money’s worth. Powder-covered and steep slopes make Wyoming one of the best ski and snowboard areas in the entire Northwest. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort attracts experienced skiers, and the Snowy Range Ski Resort also offers slopes for beginners. If you prefer to discover the snowy landscape in comfort, you can board a horse-drawn sleigh in Grand Teton Mountain. Adventurers experience the pure thrill of ice climbing along the frozen waterfalls. At the lakes, people meet for traditional ice fishing.