North Dakota welcomes tour groups to fascinating attractions and events celebrating our colorful landscapes, history, and culture. Say hello to peaceful parks, scenic vistas, twirling dancers, and sights you can find only here. We have great stories to share, and your group is invited to be part of them.
The Badlands of western North Dakota provide a backdrop for many favorite stories. This is where a young Theodore Roosevelt came to find the future president within himself. Today, visitors come to experience the Old West and an uncrowded national park like no other.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
More than a century after his legendary presidency, Theodore Roosevelt is finally getting a presidential library in his beloved North Dakota Badlands. The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will open July 4, 2026, and will be an excellent destination for tour groups.
The main building is designed with natural prairie gently rolling over its rooftop, inviting visitors to walk up for a higher view of the Old West town of Medora. Stepping inside, visitors will be drawn into Roosevelt’s life and engage in his pillar principles of conservation, leadership, and citizenship.
Various rooms will lead through each stage of his life and presidency with chronological narrative galleries, while other experience galleries immerse the visitor in interactive, hands-on learning and historical characters that come to life through state-of-the-art 3D projections.
Medora
The historical town of Medora was founded by a French nobleman acquaintance of Roosevelt. Today, visitors can tour his 26-room Chateau de Morès as well as the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, where visitors experience Native American and Western heritage.
Medora is especially known for its professionally produced musical variety show and for being the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit.
On most nights throughout the summer and early fall, the Medora Musical lights up the stage of the Burning Hills Amphitheater, set outdoors with stunning Badlands views behind singers and dancers who pay homage to Roosevelt and the American West. Groups should bring their appetites and enjoy the Pitchfork Steak Fondue before the show.
The national park’s two main units comprise 70,000 acres, and crowds are rare. Visitors don’t have to wait in line to enjoy the rugged beauty of Badlands more colorful than the rest. It is easy to find bus parking at visitor centers and points of interest. If there is a traffic jam here along the scenic drives, it’s likely one created by a herd of bison crossing the road.
New and comfortable hotels are readily available in Medora and the nearby cities of Dickinson, Watford City, and Williston. These communities also offer unique shopping and many choices of casual and fine dining, as well as local wineries and craft breweries.
International Peace Garden
There are more places in North Dakota offering beautiful, peaceful experiences. The International Peace Garden is one of the continent’s most symbolic and scenic attractions.
Every year, thousands of tourists visit this 2,300-acre botanical garden straddling the border of Canada and the United States in the forested Turtle Mountains. It is a unique tribute to peace and friendship between the two nations.
One of the most visited buildings in the Peace Garden is The Conservatory—home to one of the world’s most diverse indoor collections of cacti and succulents, which features more than 5,000 species.
In 2025, visitors will enjoy new improvements to The Conservatory including double the current exhibit space. The existing restaurant and patio will become a farm-to-table casual dining experience with all-season interior landscaping for year-round enjoyment.
Sunflowers
Some of our best sights are much more widespread than a single site. North Dakota is the nation’s top producer of sunflower seeds. That means late summer sees vast sunflower fields blooming, greeting visitors with their sunny, yellow faces.
Tour operators should plan for the peak season, generally August in North Dakota. Prime viewing can begin in late July and extend into September. However, the weight of maturing seeds can cause the beautiful sunflowers to start taking a final bow after a spectacular season.
Powwows
Visitors are welcome to attend powwows in North Dakota, which celebrate the rich heritage of Native American culture. They take place throughout the year and feature various styles of colorful regalia, dance styles, and ceremonies. The largest is the United Tribes International Powwow, showcasing champion dancers and drums from across the U.S. and Canada as they compete for top honors.
Contact Group Travel Marketing Manager Deanne Cunningham to plan your perfect trip to North Dakota!
Photos provided by North Dakota Tourism Division
