Being from New York City, the idea of a small town is fascinating to me. A town where less than 100 people live, sometimes even less than 50, is something that my big city brain sometimes cannot fathom. When I first moved here I had to go see a number of these towns and see what they have to offer. On my time off, I headed around North Dakota to see some of these towns and I can tell you about my experiences.
Edmore
Sadly, this lovely town is losing its school district. About a 40-minute drive from Devils Lake, I drove around Main Street for a bit to see almost everything was closed. I stumbled upon a bar called Beer:30. I get nervous sometimes going into a bar knowing I am going to stick out like a sore thumb being the NYer. The very friendly bartender as soon as she saw my NY ID of course inquired about why I came there. I explained my story and then another patron came up to me, extended his hand, and heartily said “Welcome to Edmore.” Overall, a great town, with a great bar, and a great experience.
Penn
One of the closest small towns to Devils Lake. Penn is a lovely area to escape to. The Buckhorn Saloon is the go-to place there with great bartenders and a homely vibe. One of the patrons was kind enough to get me a drink on his tab as well. The gentleman referred to me as “Brooklyn.”
Webster
I classify Webster as a home away from home. It may be small, but people have a great spirit and passion for their town. Check out the Webster Bar if you happen to pass by for some great drinks and food.
Sheyenne
A bit of a drive, but this town has a lot to offer. There is a log cabin museum and a train monument that you can take a picture at. There’s a nice bar called Rindy’s which is great a place to relax when making the long trip back from Bismarck.
I am running out of space but want to give honorable mentions to the towns of Warwick, Langdon, Lakota, and Larimore for being great places to visit on my small visiting excursions. Try to check out one, some, or all of these places on your free time.