In August 2021, daughter Jill and I traveled to North Dakota – an eight-day getaway to Fargo, Jamestown, Minot, and Bismarck. Click HERE to read a short introduction to our wonderous trip.
This story is the first in a series about our journey through North Dakota.
This story is the first in a series about our journey through North Dakota.
Fargo, North Dakota (Saturday July 31, 2021) Every adventure must start somewhere, and for Jill and me, ‘somewhere’ was Fargo, North Dakota – the “Gateway to the West".
Just the Facts
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Centralia, as Fargo was originally named, was founded in 1871 when the Northern Pacific Railway began its westward march through the Dakota Territory. The next year, Centralia was renamed in honor of William Fargo, a director and financial backer of the Northern Pacific and co-founder of Wells Fargo Express Company.
Fargo became a jumping off point – a “Gateway to the West” – for settlers on their way to the territories of Montana and Oregon. Not all settlers headed west, though. Many staked homestead claims in and around Fargo, and over the years, the town grew from a few thousand inhabitants to become the most populous city in North Dakota (pop. 125,000). Last year, Livability ranked Fargo #8 in the “Top 100 Best Places to Live” among small-to-medium size cities. |
Jill and I spent two full days in Fargo – enough time to explore many of the city’s top attractions and dine at a few of the better restaurants. We also met many friendly people.
Saturday Evening
We flew to Fargo by way of Chicago, an all-day affair that started with an early morning flight from Phoenix. We arrived late afternoon, and within 30 minutes we had our luggage and rental car – a Ford Expedition – and were on our way to the Jasper Hotel.
We flew to Fargo by way of Chicago, an all-day affair that started with an early morning flight from Phoenix. We arrived late afternoon, and within 30 minutes we had our luggage and rental car – a Ford Expedition – and were on our way to the Jasper Hotel.
The 18-story hotel, which opened this past June, was named in honor of Jasper B. Chapin, the city’s third mayor and a “well-known hotelier.” It was, by far, the nicest hotel we stayed at on our trip through North Dakota: The rooms and common areas were modern, clean, and comfortable, and the staff were friendly, courteous, and professional. Jill and I gave this chic boutique two-thumbs up!
Hotel Jasper, located on Broadway N, was in the heart of the historic district. All the restaurants on our dining list and several of the attractions we planned to see were within walking distance, and other landmarks were no further away than 15 minutes by car.
My initial impression of downtown Fargo was, “what is new was once old.” While I spotted a few contemporary buildings and some current construction, most properties were, by and large, 100-year-old structures. Throw dirt over the roads and replace the cars with horses and buggies and, voila! Fargo, circa 1900.
I loved that this city respected its past by renovating its buildings rather than demolishing them.
Hotel Jasper, located on Broadway N, was in the heart of the historic district. All the restaurants on our dining list and several of the attractions we planned to see were within walking distance, and other landmarks were no further away than 15 minutes by car.
My initial impression of downtown Fargo was, “what is new was once old.” While I spotted a few contemporary buildings and some current construction, most properties were, by and large, 100-year-old structures. Throw dirt over the roads and replace the cars with horses and buggies and, voila! Fargo, circa 1900.
I loved that this city respected its past by renovating its buildings rather than demolishing them.
The Loretta Building, completed in 1912, was a great example of this. It was conceived by Fargo businessman and one-time mayor Peter Eliot, who named the building for one of his daughters. Her name - the name of the building - was still visible at the top of the façade. The first tenant was Bergstrom & Crowe Furniture Company, and over the years The Loretta housed a cattle company, hardware store, stereo shop, and pool hall. The Kilbourne Group, who bought the building in 2008, renovated it with a combination of old and new materials and added a rooftop floor. Current tenants include the Boiler Room, Teddy’s Eatery & Parlor, Prairie Petals, and Elevate.
Downtown Fargo was truly historic!
Aside from inflight snacks, Jill and I had not eaten since breakfast. “So, where should we go for dinner?” I asked.
Downtown Fargo was truly historic!
Aside from inflight snacks, Jill and I had not eaten since breakfast. “So, where should we go for dinner?” I asked.
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Jill, an inveterate foodie, had shortlisted a handful of restaurants with great reviews. “Mezzaluna,” she replied without hesitating. “Their food is made from locally-sourced ingredients. Besides, it is the number one restaurant in Fargo...so we might as well start with the best!”
Jill made a reservation online, and an hour later we were seated at a table on the upper mezzanine, with a bird’s eye view of the bar and lower level. |
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Our server, Justin, was very attentive. He answered our questions about a few items on the menu and made a couple of suggestions, and with this information, we placed our order: A dirty martini for Jill and a "local" sour ale for me; butter lettuce and bacon salad for both of us; duck breast for Jill and bison meatloaf for me; and a slice of flourless chocolate cake to share.
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It was easy to see why Mezzaluna was the #1 rated restaurant in Fargo: The service was impeccable, each course was artfully presented, and the food was delicious! Definitely two-thumbs up.
Jill and I were tired after a full day of travel, but not yet sleepy-tired.
“You know, dad,” Jill said, “Fargo has a lot of public art on display in the downtown area.”
“Well, then let’s take a walk,” I replied. “to see what we can see!”
We spotted this painted mural on Roberts Street near 1st Avenue. It was part of a countrywide project “to help cities that were negatively impacted by the severe loss of tourism” during the pandemic. So far, “Greetings From” murals had been painted in more than 30 U.S. cities. The five letters that made up Fargo’s name featured local landmarks, nature, history, and culture that made this city unique. Click HERE to learn more.
Jill and I were tired after a full day of travel, but not yet sleepy-tired.
“You know, dad,” Jill said, “Fargo has a lot of public art on display in the downtown area.”
“Well, then let’s take a walk,” I replied. “to see what we can see!”
We spotted this painted mural on Roberts Street near 1st Avenue. It was part of a countrywide project “to help cities that were negatively impacted by the severe loss of tourism” during the pandemic. So far, “Greetings From” murals had been painted in more than 30 U.S. cities. The five letters that made up Fargo’s name featured local landmarks, nature, history, and culture that made this city unique. Click HERE to learn more.
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Jill loved this wings mural – it was vinyl, not painted – just outside Silver Lining Creamery on 2nd Avenue N. People were lined up to pose for their photo opportunity, so we patiently until it was Jill’s turn.
(Did you notice that the wings were in the shape of ice cream cones? By the way, I can personally attest to the fact that the ice cream served by Silver Lining Creamery was outstanding!!) |
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Across the street from the Jasper Hotel, we spied one of the most iconic animals of North Dakota – an American bison, the largest mammal on the North American continent. Buddy the Bison, with a prairie scene painted on his side, was one of 39 full-size, and often colorful, bison created as part of a public artworks project, Herd About The Prairie: A Virtual Art Stampede, that was launched in 2005. These 100-pound fiberglass statues were installed throughout Fargo and neighboring Moorhead. Get a load of the golden hooves – a nice touch!
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These were just a few of the many pieces of public art we saw during our stay in Fargo.
This walk did the trick, as we were now sleepy-tired...so good night from Fargo!
This walk did the trick, as we were now sleepy-tired...so good night from Fargo!
Downtown Fargo
Click HERE to read the next story.