What am I supposed to do in Fargo? - Anti-English Hate More Than Welcome

[Otterly]

Just hire a car. If you can drive through the current state of British traffic in a manual car, you can certainly manage North Dakota roads in an American automatic dodgem car. I was pretty nervous first time I drove on the right but it was ok.

 

[Fek]

I've only ever been in Fargo once, and it was only a brief fuel stop for the one (and only) Greyhound bus experience I've had in my life. Can't offer much, I'm afraid.

Though, in other news:

Just hire a car.

Did any other Americans picture something like this 5 second MSPaint special upon reading that phrase?

It makes perfect sense, really - I'd just never heard it stated like that before. Thank you for helping me find yet more amusement in the idiosyncrasies of English, my dear.

 

[Oongok]

Tips from a former resident: Don't wander south of Main Ave (Particularly near 20th-25th) especially at night. That's where all the section 8 housing and trailers are and all the problems that entails.

West Acres Mall is nice if you want to wander around aimlessly for a bit, and it has a cute little store that sells locally made products.

Moorhead has one of the original Dairy Queen locations right across the bridge from Fargo that still serves old menu items, check it out if you're into that sort of thing.

Red River Zoo is a must see though winter isn't the best time to go. They have pallas cats

There's a number of nice parks and urban trails but they're not likely to be open or cleared in the winter.

Or you can do what every Fargo resident does and drink yourself into a stupor from one of several dozen bars downtown.

 

[gobbles]

Obviously—for other posters—the best time to go to the Dakotas is in mid- or late summer when the sunflower fields are blooming. It’s easily one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen and even more fun to know that the beauty is incidental to the cash crop (unlike Holland’s and California’s flower fields).

It seems like you enjoy Americana, so I would focus on doing things the locals do. Go to dive bars. Do some open-skating at an ice rink or go to a junior league or university hockey game. I am not sure if you’re single, but many of the women in those parts are descended from Scandinavians, and they’re beautiful.

I can’t wait to hear about the Amtrak journey in March. Please keep us updated!

 

[BradeRunna]

Kill people and feed their bodies into a woodchipper.

 

[Otterly]

makes perfect sense, really - I'd just never heard it stated like that before. Thank you for helping me find yet more amusement in the idiosyncrasies of English, my dear.

Is that not how you say it there? Rent a car? Something else a car? Purchase the useage thereof for a temporary spell?

Kill people and feed their bodies into a woodchipper.

Is there a season for that? Like for grouse, and perhaps you need a licence?

 

[Summer of George]

Update for those who care: I have booked train tickets (17 hours) to travel to Glacier National Park for a few days. Very excited. Just need to rent a car to reach the hotel then I am sorted for a little while.

This is a wonderful idea. Glacier Park is outstandingly beautiful. The train trip will fascinate you.
Just a quick word of warning -
At one time, Amtrak was loath to cancel trains. They may have run horrendously late, or replaced a segment of a route with a replacement connecting bus, but they would at least make an attempt to run. This is no longer the case. A passenger in bumfuck Montana might find himself without transpo just because there was suboptimal weather in Chicago, or a mudslide around Seattle. The nominal frequency on this line is one per day and one minus one is zero.
If your flight itinerary back to the UK is also departing from Fargo, then you should make sure there is a good two or three day period between the arrival of train #8 and the departure of your flight.

 

[BradeRunna]

Is that not how you say it there? Rent a car? Something else a car? Purchase the useage thereof for a temporary spell?

Is there a season for that? Like for grouse, and perhaps you need a licence?

I don't think the guys I saw doing in the movie Fargo really cared what season it was and who they did it to.

 

[Hazel Motes]

A passenger in bumfuck Montana might find himself without transpo just because there was suboptimal weather in Chicago, or a mudslide around Seattle.

Thanks for making me aware of this. My return journey is five days before my plane back so I should (hopefully) be fine.

Don't wander south of Main Ave (Particularly near 20th-25th) especially at night.

This is good to know. When I wandered around Nashville years ago (the worst place to be if you're under 21) I ended up in some rough area without much effort. Yet a few minutes later I was in the prettiest library I have ever visited.

I am not sure if you’re single

I am on Kiwi Farms.

This is also good to know...

junior league or university hockey game

I am not much for watching sport but I would love to see a hockey game.
https://www.valleynewslive.com/2025...physical-altercation-youth-hockey-game-fargo/

West Acres Mall is nice if you want to wander around aimlessly for a bit, and it has a cute little store that sells locally made products.

Is it strange to find the idea of going to a museum inside a mall dedicated to a baseball player I have never heard of enticing?

 

[Fek]

Is that not how you say it there?

In my experience? I haven't heard it said like that so much as once. Typically it's:

Rent a car?

Yep, you got it.

 

[gobbles]

WELL?!?!

Have you gone yet?! How was it? How were the people? Did you see a hockey game? What was AMTRAK like? Did it snow?? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, please.

Sincerely, an American

 

[LeChampion1992]

Could choose worse cities to travel to. Fargo north Dakota is just mainly empty and boring if you accept that fact it's alright.

It's fairly safe for a small a
Tier 3 city the type of place your kids and you will feel safe at night.

You could do a lot worse you could choose Minneapolis, you could choose much worse.