Grand Forks isn’t a large city, but that never stopped it from collecting big-city amenities. Sure, the scale is smaller, but in a city of only 50,000 that’s the home of the Grand Forks Symphony, the North Dakota Ballet Company and the historic and recently renovated Empire Theater (which hosts a variety of performing arts, films and community events) no one can say Grand Forks doesn’t just plain try harder. The University of North Dakota is also located in Grand Forks, where both its men and women’s hockey teams play at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Visitors to the North Dakota State Mill can by a nifty little bag of flour for $1. Grand Forks is the birthplace of cream-of-wheat. Ready-made sandwiches and baked goods are available at Amazing Grains, a natural grocery store with organic produce.