From the historic capital city of Bismarck to the Scandinavian heritage center of Minot, North Dakota offers so much more than most people realize. Traverse the prairie using this itinerary to see what surprises the Peace Garden State has in store.

1. Bismark

Starting Point • Entertainment, History, Outdoor Recreation

The state’s capital city offers plenty of historic attractions, from the 19-story State Capitol — an Art Deco structure dating back to the 1930s —  to the to the Victorian Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site. Don’t miss a ride down the Missouri River aboard the Lewis and Clark Riverboat, which offers cruises and dinners from May through September.

2. Audubon Wildlife Refuge

Drive 64.8 miles, 1 hour, 11 minutes • Nature, Outdoor Recreation

Make your next pit stop at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, a sprawling expanse of prairie and wetlands that attracts migratory birds, along with mammals and reptiles. Other attractions include a visitor center, a gift shop, a mile-long nature trail and the 8-mile South Shore Auto Tour Route. Visitors can take this route to explore the park on their own time from the comfort of their vehicles.

Photo courtesy of Visit Minot

3. Minot

Drive 54.4 miles, 1 hour, 1 minute • Entertainment, History, Quirky

Minot’s must-see feature is the Scandinavian Heritage Park, an open-air museum featuring full-scale replicas or Nordic buildings from all five Scandinavian countries. Of particular interest is the of the Norwegian Gol Stave Church, a copy of a medieval pinewood house of worship dating back to the 13th century. Other features include a Finnish sauna and statues of famous Scandinavians, including fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen and Icelandic explorer Leif Eirikssen. Come in September for the Nørsk Høstfest, a celebration of all things Scandinavian featuring top-flight entertainers, northern European foods and exhibits of Nordic culture.