BISMARCK, North Dakota: What's It Really Like? The Good...and the Bad

We visit the capital city of North Dakota, Bismarck. It's a quiet town, boring even. But that may be the way they want it there. While there, we visit the skyscraper on the Prairie and a space alien themed restaurant.
Travel Vlog 92

[@SonjaKemp]

My husband and I moved from South Carolina to Bismarck in January of 2018. It was -23 the day we moved in! We bought appropriate coats, boots etc. The cold weather does not last forever and even though it was cloudy and cool when you were visiting, that was just a passing weather front. The sun shines almost every day at least for part of the day and the low humidity of summer is absolutely wonderful compared to the South. It is one of the most enchanting places I have ever lived. The people who have lived here all their lives are fortunate indeed.

[@mjhmn]

that's a big change haha

[@TebTengri]

There's a few days with that cold fog that ices on your windshield though.

[@bucko60]

I was born and raised in Bismarck. Moved to Fargo in early 2015 (town sucks, by the way). I live in Texas now because I got sick of the extreme winters after 36 years. I do miss Bismarck, except for the winter season.

[@sinepari9160]

People who move from the south LOVE the clouds and low humidity including myself.

[@balyndacasey993]

I have lived in Mandan-Bismarck for over 40 years and I can tell you there is alot of soul and passion here. The people care about each other and help each other. It is a safe community. During the winter, we like to socialize at restaurancts, or friends homes for games, food, etc. In the summer, there is always something to do. We enjoy our river with boating, fishing, playing. Always a show going on. There is tramboline park, axe throwing, local pubs with different experiences, frisbee golf, golf. Next time you come, you should make sure to visit the Fort Lincoln State park with our Native American earth mounds. Medora is a wonderful western themed town with a super musical in the great outdoors. We do value our quiet times. Thanks for coming to our town and adding some insight into the beauty that we as North Dakotans love.

[@whiskeyzgaming]

I live here too and there was beheading, drug dealer killed by a sword and recently there was bodies found by buelah in the river so not really safe but alright for the size

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

@@whiskeyzgaming it’s fine if you’re a white Christian and straight and don’t bring up the dirty past of America… It’s fine then.

[@whiskeyzgaming]

@@FynnOliverEmonSill I'm native American and atheist lol America is dirty you can focus on all the good u want nothing is perfect.

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

You may have missed my point …(You lost me about this focus on the good….nowhere did I do that here.)

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

@@whiskeyzgaming coincidentally my mother and my grandmother were both born in the middle of the largest Indian reservation in South Dakota. (Eagle Butte)

[@moniqaf]

I live in Bismarck. I had to laugh when you went thru the roughest part of town according to the FBI. Thx for visiting!

[@patrickbump5955]

Southern California (Orange County) native and resident (San Diego) here. Our family had the great pleasure of visiting Bismarck many times between 2015 - 2022 while my son and now daughter-in-law attended the University of Mary, and lived in town after graduation for several years. Our grandson was born there, and so is a native North Dakotan! It's a wonderful place filled with genuinely wonderful people. We had a running experience/joke while visiting over the years - every time we went we would end up at some point(s) in the visit being given something for free. Every single time. The first was at a Starbucks drive thru. There were seriously only three cars in front of us and we waited for all of 4 and a half minutes before getting to the window. The young lady who greeted us ever so pleasantly apologized profusely for the wait saying, "We're so sorry for the wait! Please, enjoy these on us today," and handed our drinks to me with the most genuinely friendly smile you've ever seen. That's when I realized the truth behind the saying, "There's nice, and then there's North Dakota nice!" Thanks for sharing your video about your visit. It was fun to watch! Have a good one!

[@louislamonte334]

Why haven't you moved there and gotten out of the cesspool that California has become?!

[@totustuus9782]

LETS GO MARY!! (I’m also a UMary Student)

[@vertihvost7675]

What’s the homeless situation there?

[@carriekeener3633]

I have lived in North Dakota my entire life. The laat 10 years have been in Bismarck-Mandan. The weather is not the same every year. Normally June is warmer. We had a late spring this year. July and August can get pretty hot and humid. Last summer was miserably hot most of the summer. I'm glad you enjoyed your time here. Thanks for showing people that we actually have electricity and vehicles here. 😂

[@leogarver5372]

I’m from Texas but I just moved to Minot in October and I still find it funny when I people complaining that it’s hot when it’s 80°… but I also thought it was insane to see some people still wearing shorts in 20°

[@carriekeener3633]

@@leogarver5372 yeah, 80's is nothing lol. Last summer was mostly 90's and 100's and very humid. Not a usual summer for us. 90's and 100's are hot for us notherners.

[@Delightfulshallot]

@@leogarver5372 I find it funny from folks who are from the south wearing sweaters when it's 70 to 80 degrees up here and complain that it's to cold.

[@leogarver5372]

@@Delightfulshallot I still found it hard to believe how long it can stay below 0 in the winters

[@Delightfulshallot]

@@leogarver5372 well north dakota is in the center of the north American continent, so we get both the hot and the cold. We are so use to the cold all the time, that when it gets in the 80s and 90s with dry heat, it is to much, due to being attapted to mostly the cooler weather in the state.

[@anaaranda277]

I moved here 10 years ago from sunny CA and I have to say ND has been such a true blessing for my family. I will never move back to CA, ND is cold and winters can be bad but it is still a wonderful state to live in.

[@oceanblue5794]

I've been considering moving to either Fargo or Minneapolis. Seattle has become too expensive to live. The crime has also gotten out of control

[@rapman5363]

Just don’t go bringing your liberal ways from CA & WA. It’s nice that you found a nice place to live and raise your families,just don’t turn it into the hellholes that the west coast has become.

[@jenniferrivera9365]

I just moved from la do girls get ubducted here? I’m kinda scared of the men out here

[@gregoryodermann4223]

@@jenniferrivera9365 ..😜😜😜🤣🤣🤣

[@joeovermoe2124]

@@oceanblue5794 I would avoid Minneapolis. Fargo’s great.

[@jodyketterling5329]

Hey, I live in ND, born and raised. Thank you for the respectful showing of ND. I love it, myself, but it's not for everybody. Great video! Blessings!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Love North Dakota!!

[@howitzer8946]

If I moved from the state of corruption (IL) it would be North Dakota. Awesome state.

[@jodyketterling5329]

@@howitzer8946 You are welcome to come! I wouldn't blame you!

[@dylanb5385]

As a Bismarck native, I can assure you that the cooler temps are very unusual for this time of year. Last summer we broke the record for the most days at or over 100° so the beginning of this summer has been drastically different.

[@Carvin0]

Yes, this is a "La Nina" year. Unusually cool and wet. Same here in Oregon.

[@loganmassee4933]

It was 103 yesterday!

[@vickiriddle7781]

Ten days later and you would've hit the 100 degree temps.

[@leslilane4685]

@@birdlover6842 no it doesn't. Bismarck had NO original trees. The whole state has NO TREES. They are all unnaturally planted.

[@parkerr080]

Hit 95 yesterday

[@andrewtabery]

I live in Williston ND, next to the border between North Dakota and Montana. We have about 30k people here, and just 10 days after you were in the capital it's supposed to be 94. One thing to remember about North Dakota is the weather is extremely unpredictable. We had a long winter and late spring here in ND, the Williston area had 2 blizzards a week apart at the end of April and the second one knocked out power in the whole area, some not getting it back for several days. North Dakota is a nice but boring state for a lot of people, especially people from cities, but if you know where to go and what to do you can have a blast here. Hiking in Theodore Roosevelt is amazing, fishing and watersports on Lake Sakakawea are great, if you have time and like history there are plenty of museums here, in Minot there's the Scandinavian Heritage Park, and here in Williston you can see what the 2nd largest oil industry in the USA looks like. There's also small, rural American towns dotted all over the state, and I think everyone should visit a small, rural town at least a few times in their life. So many city dwellers forget that not everyone lives like they do, and it would do them some good to see for themselves. North Dakota isn't the most amazing state, but we're a good one. We weren't Teddy Roosevelt's favorite state for nothing!

[@jayheinz4624]

👍

[@TeezyT_Sunrise]

KZbin Teezy T Pandemic Struggling. guy spits the truth.

[@beths1120]

Well said! And the truth. I am prod to be a North Dakota girl!!!!!

[@GreanyBeeny]

I was born and raised in Bismarck, ND and I appreciate your take on our humble home. There is a lot more to see in this town but you have to know your way around. If you ever want to come back, I would be happy to offer some suggestions on the best places to visit. Winters are harsh, but it's worth it to me because I hate bugs more than snow😂 lol! I hope you come back one day to see the deeper part of Bismarck. The heritage center was a great start!

[@teddyroosevelt9542]

What is it like to live there?

[@carolkokx9638]

Oh I love that artwork alley that was interesting

[@conradkostelecky7935]

@@teddyroosevelt9542 As a resident here for 30+ years I enjoy it, but I grew up as a farm kid South of Dickinson about 100 miles west of here. Some may not like it, but that depends on your life style. There is golfing at several courses and river activities along with camping and other outdoor things to do in the summer. Winters can be long and cold. But if you can make some friends there are certainly things to do in the winter as well. There is a small ski area South of Mandan along with trail skiing at places in town. The Muddy River mashers are a group of local brewers you could join. The population of the Bismarck/Mandan area is about 100K. The crime rate is low and jobs depending on your skills are here. There is a fairly diverse dining scene with Indian, Mexican, Chinese options. Several breweries and distilleries are in town as well. Good schools with both private and state sponsored colleges as well. Hope this helps.

[@KurwaRomek]

That looks like a great place to raise kids. I wish they talked to the people a bit more

[@RoaD_RasH_]

Are there any plays staged in the theatre?

[@Surfguitarist59]

Defibrillators are found in most government buildings, airports and some shopping malls. I'm an EMT and a nurse. If somebody is having a heart attack, that machine will save their life. Interesting fact: here in Southern California when the box is removed from the wall, an alarm sounds to 911 dispatch and the fire department will respond... with an EMT. Love your travel videos.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Interesting. Thank you for that clarification, Dennis. I learn something new everyday!

[@internetcensure5849]

660,000 people die each year of heart disease in the USA (22% of total deaths).

[@flyinelvis69]

My mother in law had a near fatal heart attack in the mall she worked in in 2012. She was found hours later but survived. Defibrillators became a law in public places up here (Winnipeg) after that

[@georgiaann4402]

Southern transplant here. I grew up in the south but could never stand the extreme heat/humidity. There is heat/humidity here in ND but no where near as bad as back home. I've lived here, in Bismarck, for over 24 yrs. It's a wonderful place to raise a family.

[@missavakittytv]

Its Man-Dan not Manden. 🙂 North Dakota is quiet and peaceful and thats how we like it.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That's the feeling I got.

[@dinamarie6646]

I'm a transplant from Houston TX. Been in ND for over 5 years and love it. The first day I was here looking at apartments was running around in short sleeve t-shirt and jeans, in December when it was 36°. I much prefer the cold, even the -20 over the humidity in Houston.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Damn! You're a lot tougher than me. :)

[@KB-ke3fi]

I hate cold. I'll take 85+ anytime of year plus humidity. We had that stupid rare freeze last year here and it got down to -19. I just stayed inside in front of the fireplace for 4 days and watched movies until it got to 45. It was an ice storm...no snow at all. You can have it.

[@dinamarie6646]

@@KB-ke3fi I grew up in Houston TX. I can't stand the heat and humidity. I spent most of my time indoors because of the heat.

[@totustuus9782]

I absolutely agree! I’m a ND native. For the past 2 days we were bailing hay in 90 degree weather (no humidity) and I was DYING!!! I wanted January weather so bad!!

[@RaspBerryTea886]

Love living here in Bismarck. All this rain has just made everything look so beautiful and green compared to other years. I graduated Highschool with Cara Mund (Miss America), hands down one of the nicest people I have ever met.

[@angeladeleon5922]

💙💛It's seems a bit slow up there, for me, but I don't see any homeless tents, ghetto like hoods, or high crime stats, so they must be doing something right up there in ND.🥰 Thanks for the tour. 🏝

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

You’re right!

[@Delightfulshallot]

I live in bismarck, and bismarck was really great 13-15 years ago, but it all changed when refugees and people started coming this way, and the crime is up, and it's not really caused by the locals. Years ago we would only have 1-2 murders in the state. But it has been up to 20-30 a year, and it is coming people who are not originally around here. Fargo had a 13 year old girl, killed by an African imigrant last year.

[@oddlyme9659]

Imagine how the indigenous felt/feel. Oops, did I say that? happy trails

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

Incorrect. I live here and I see homeless every single day. There are a ton for such a small area. Horrific place to live hence why we are leaving after 11 years of suffering through it.

[@Delightfulshallot]

@@SticksAandstonesBozo agree on the homeless problem. They are a major problem downtown, on the interstate and state street with them begging for money from drivers. Then we have the heart view foundation giving these people drug needles that end up getting tossed into neighbors yards and anywear else down town and neighborhood. Can even go to the library much, because they have the cops there every day dragging someone out.

[@burnthecandleatbothendz]

I've lived in Fargo for 38 years and never have been west of Fargo until last year .I went to medora for vacation ,it was soo beautiful. I didn't know western n.d had soo much different landscapes it blew my mind

[@kristinmichels1963]

Goodness, you've been missing out! The Badlands are beautiful!

[@mattcannella7880]

This video is super cool, made me nostalgic, I spent the past 4 years in Bismarck for school and I never thought I would miss it, but I absolutely do! This video brought back a lot of good memories for me!

[@piximyn1910]

I also had to come back home -- few regrets. I fear the black ice in the Winters. But, I have contacts. I use them

[@moonbootsally]

I’m over in Fargo and other than a few years, I’ve been in ND all my life. I’m sorry to say that the weather has become a dealbreaker for me. I hate it. Each year cold weather hits me worse, and visiting my son at college in Texas has really made me question why I would stay in this weather as if it were a bad marriage, so my plan is to head south! (Which, by the way, makes a LOT of North Dakotans mad when I say such things. To each his own. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

[@BiggyZ32]

North Dakotans take nothing more personally than someone saying they want to leave lol

[@smokestrong1000]

My grandpa was a farmer in South Dakota Huron and it was cold AF in winter and just seemed like a sad place to live lol. Can't imagine living more north

[@serenedacotah2332]

North Dakota native here for my first 20 years. Moved to small town Texas and so grateful. No more taking vitamin d cuz I get it naturally every single day. If you leave, you will miss the food like kneopla, fleishklela, and caramel rolls.

[@raybon7939]

I think it's better to rent in the Florida keys , and go back to n.d for the summer.

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

@@raybon7939that’s a dream life, you have it figured out !!!❤ I live in northern Minnesota and the south for winter sounds better all the time 😊

[@marcoparada6652]

This year's cooler June temps is a very nice change to what had been a trend of high humid heat during this time of year, during June. 80 degrees in ND feels hotter than 80 degrees in Idaho, or Colorado. I for one welcome the clouds, and steady week of 60-70 degree temperatures. I've lived in Denver; in CA - Sacramento and Santa Rosa; and Boise..Bismarck is my favorite place to live in, hands down. It's because we have all the amenities one would want: many dining options/deli shops, bike paths that take you through town and out through the trees along the river, boating recreation; and even golfing, if you're into that. The fact that your video highlights this town's residents taking good care of their homes and the city is wonderful to see. Bismarck is luckily doing very well with business, still. And I hope we continue.

[@brendazorn4592]

Our original capital building burned down in 1930. As it was burning down, state officials and citizens ran into the building to save records and documents, including an original copy of the North Dakota State Constitution. The 'prairie skyscraper' was completed in 1934. It is in the Art Deco style. The chandeliers are supposed to represent wheat stalks and other ceiling lights, sunrises/sets and the moon & stars. Every Christmas, there are either red or green shades that are pulled down and lights left on in those offices at night to make a holiday design (Christmas trees) and for New Years they leave lights on in certain offices to display the number of the new year.

[@blackseed68]

I'm a traveling scrub tech who came to bismarck back in 2019. I'll admit the winter weather sucked and the nightlife was pretty tame. But the people are friendly and the area is convenient. It's the cleanest, quietest, and safest capital city I've ever been to. Otherwise I wouldn't have kept extending my contract for this long lol

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It is a very nice city.

[@shootermcgavin4999]

Hey Jordan. I was looking up the crime stats online for Bismarck and they are really bad. Are the stats wrong? I was super surprised also. I live in Grand Forks for 7 years and it was super safe.

[@keyup2626]

I just love how you find some of the craziest restaurants. This is definitely what makes your videos very special and interesting.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for that, key!!

[@dakotamouse]

You hit an unusually cool year. Last year same time we had Temps in the 100s with drought. We're putting up with the chill because we're so happy to have green grass again. That trailer park is where we lost Officer Steve Kenner in a shooting. Capital was built during the depression, so it was built thrifty.

[@user-bw3fl7fj9w]

Capitol building looks so modern, built to last... it's good to be different!

[@cfreeman88m]

I was gonna say the same. Last summer was rough. But I won't complain about how nice the weather is this year.

[@MyAltdraco]

Bismarck resident here. I think your video was well-researched and fair. It's ironic, we've been having a decade of drought that had more typical hot June weather right up until this year: this is the first wet, cool June we've had in a long time. I'm loving that I still have green grass now in July, that's a first in many years too. So although I'm sorry it was so cold when you were here, it is nice having the drought over. Our summers are short but they are typically hot-can have a stretch of 100 degree weather and it gets humid. But you are right, it's the cold winter that keeps the small town population here. Even when people move here and think they are expecting long, cold winters, they are still completely shocked at the reality. It's dark when you get up in the morning, dark when you get off work, and weeks without being above 0 is normal. Big blizzards can shut down the city for a week until roads get cleared. And whatever snow you get stays: it's not like a New England snow where you might get two feet but it melts right away. Nope, the snow just keeps adding up until spring thaw (or a brief warmup in February, and then winter returns for awhile).

[@60huntermiller]

My hometown! Nice seeing a video about it from an outsiders perspective.

[@Plimothrock]

Thanks LS-Great video & INTEL-God bless to all of the hard working people in North Dakota.

[@scotthanson4661]

Great vid. Great comments. Love to see so much pride being displayed about our State.

[@calvinclayton2396]

Lived here for almost 2 decades. I stay because yes. This place is beautiful and safe. Hard to get bored raising a child here. To bad you missed Walrus. You were only a few blocks away. Be safe.

[@matthewchipman5596]

The VLOG is really a good one. I was fascinated by ever minute of it. North Dakota has more to offer. Than I originally anticipated.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the kind words, Matthew. You just made my day!

[@raloufen4292]

Stay for the Winter

[@redrubyslippers8284]

Thanks for this great video!! Love watching it snow there in the winters!!

[@teja1169]

From ND and live here all my life in eastern edge. Nice work on this - thanks.

[@joycelebaron2582]

Interesting videos. I love how you walk/drive around and give us a feel for the city. I do that when I go to new places as well. That art walk and the museum were pretty cool!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the kind words, Joyce! My goal is to give the viewer the feeling that they’ve been there themselves. 😀

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

There is no city.

[@pepito01226]

I moved from South Miami Florida to Bismarck North Dakota about 5 to 6 year ago, there is really no crimes here, what native Bismarck people consider "traffic" to anyone else isn't at all any traffic. I live on the south side of Bismarck close to main ave, their is hidden gems in Bismarck that a lot of people who are not native Bismarck will miss. Good restaurant, amazing places to relax, great amount of people. I am not used to the hospitality that is Bismarck people, when I moved here, this was during October, from being from the south, cold temps we consider is anywhere below 70 degree, October in the south you can expect still 80 degree, with only a window pocket of cool air in January that is below 60 that stays for a week. In Bismarck, in October, temp gets to just above 30 and that is something new, I came in shorts and regular shirt, not a big mistake but everyone in Bismarck that I got to talk to asked if I had any winter gear, mainly jacket and snow pants. I told them no, and they offered me a set that they no longer use, I found this weird, no one is that nice anywhere. The weather here is extreme in both sense, winter it gets bitter cold, that is if we have no or very little snow, when it does snow its an extreme for a small town, still people generally go out and go along their life like nothing happens, again weird but that is life here in Bismarck, only in very bad blizzard like condition do things stop and only if the blizzard like condition stays for a couple of days. During spring, temp are still in the lower 50 and only go up to the upper 70 when summer approach's, when summer does hit temp goes way up, in the upper 90 to lower 100. Coming from the south, I am used to high temp, what I am not used to is the dry heat, when it is 90's outside, it can feel like a hot oven. The dry air also something I am trying to get used to here, I had a hard time breathing, as anywhere down south the air is thick, here the air is thin and you have to accumulate over a time frame to get used to the higher altitude and thinner air. There isn't much in Bismarck to do but that is ok, I like the slowness of the town and I like how things around you glows and feels more rustic, everything here can be modern but a lot of good things here are from the 1950's, 60's and they keep, from car's to house hold appliances, it's amazing how well things are kept here, even during harsh winter or hot hot summer, the dry air preserves everything well here. Housing cost is the same here and in the south with rising cost of property. It is cheaper sadly to rent or own a trailer then it is to own a house. None the less, Bismarck is the state capital and I love the travel to any other city or town and I love the country area and suburban housing. Thank you Bismarck for welcoming me, this is a wonderful town full of history and great amount of friendly people.

[@beths1120]

Welcome to North Dakota, @pepito!

[@shootermcgavin4999]

Why are the crime stats so bad in Bismarck. I was surprised to see it. Are the numbers off?

[@the_truck_farmer]

I went on a national tour through central US driving a VA mobile medical clinic for a season. When I passed through Bismarck, I thought it would be a fantastic place to raise a family. The Missouri River made for beautiful nature and recreation right in town and with ~100k people, it’s a good enough size to have at least some entertainment and healthcare services. Cold winters and remote location I’m guessing probably keep real estate prices affordable. I’m from WI so cold winters are normal for me. All pluses in my book.

[@NYCHFAN]

That is the cleanest, nicest "rough" part of town I've ever seen, lol! I would call it low income, rather than rough. 😁👍

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Yep! It was kinda the point I was making about crime in Bismarck. 😀

[@dougleclaire9424]

You are shooting some amazing murals probably created by the folks nearby and maybe school kids. The artwork is awesome and you are calling the town dull right out of the gate!! And then that fantastic mural you swiftly drove by. Your appreciation of the artwork on the walls, parks etc...is NIL! Kudos to the artists!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

The folks that live there told me it was a bit dull but added that it's exactly the way they want it.

[@vanilla1atte1988]

Local artists, yes. That alley is a favorite spot for local high school kids to take their senior portraits.

[@internetcensure5849]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip The "Indian woman" was "about 16 years old" reads the caption. She looks rather 20, unless the photo was taken later.

[@leslilane4685]

yea....NO. The art work was done by Natives. Its in the Ally because they are not allowed to showcase murals anywhere else. Nobody wants to look at that, they think its graffiti. Where most normal cities showcase artist talents and stories on building, underpass, etc. But in Bismarck the White majority does not like the native population. Especially after the 'pipeline' protests. By the way....don't drink the tap water.

[@casaxb9451]

The town is dull. There’s a few more alley that could use art that doesn’t involve stencils… 🤦‍♂️ We should be named the summer town of road construction 🚧 The population of this town is on the older generation, with the younger Gen taking over. It will be awesome to see what the city will look like in 10 years.

[@bonniedunn5068]

I was born and raised in Wisconsin and we returned here for retirement. I understand North Dakota weather and would much prefer it’s winters then the blistering breath stealing heat and humidity of the south! And I’d be ok to live in boring areas or low crime areas - in fact rural Wisconsin sounds a lot like Bismarck!!

[@daleshipman7139]

Yes another Bisamrck, ND once time resident. Moved only because of job! Loved the city. One drive on I-94 heading east. coming into the Bismarck/Mandan area at night is just super, seeing all the lights of the city. Plenty to do, people are great. Always enjoy the drive when we came back on vacations to North Dkaota.

[@cats5875]

Bismarck native here! I hope you enjoyed your visit here. Bismarck has been a wonderful place to live, glad you could come see our great city!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I was really impressed. It is a beautiful city!

[@cats5875]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@theviciouschickenofbristol4779]

I used to play D&D with a group that met in that rough looking trailer park you saw on the second day. honestly great times.

[@4444Rosemary]

I've been watching videos on North Dakota and Bismarck, yours is really nice, thanks for this, appreciate the tree-lined streets very much. Your footage looks better than Street View - that makes sense, and of course you were there in an ideal time of year. Thanks!

[@mrcrackerjacks]

North Dakota is also the home of mr. bubble bath soap fun fact the gold building just north of the capital was the founders building and home base for many years.

[@meredithcusey165]

I watched your Bismarck and Fargo videos. I've lived in North Dakota all of my life and have lived in those 2 cities. I thought they were pretty much spot on except we were having a cold snap during your time in your time here. Bismarck is almost always warmer than Fargo by about 5. Temps easily reach a 100 degrees several days of the year beginning in mid June through around September 1st. My Hometown holds the state record high at 121ﾟ(Steele, ND). We do have some nasty winters, but then I think snow is beautiful so I don't mind the cold.

[@ash_143]

I live in Bismarck and have family kn Fargo. It is great to hear feedback from someone who has never been here before! Thank you for coming to my city!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Both cities are great!

[@Gunslingers74]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I disagree.I grew up in Mandan. The Bismarck-Mandan area is not flat. Fargo is flat.

[@dongrainer6405]

I grew up next door in Mandan, but family visited Bismarck often. We would go to the capitol building on Sundays occasionally and go to the top floor and gaze out the windows. At that time there was no viewing area as there is today. (I lived there from 1944-1957) Wasn't boring at all. Always had plenty to do. The original capitol building burned down in the 1920s I believe and what there is today was constructed after that. Too bad you didn't stop in Mandan for a while. You could have visited Fort Abraham Lincoln and a reconstructed earth lodge Indian village. Enjoyed your video and glad you found the area a great place to visit.

[@marwanitani4269]

a major salute to your efforts Spoda

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Marwan! 😀

[@ImaSpeaks]

Thank you for featuring Bismarck, ND. The North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum is a must-see when you visit ND. I love ND! :) God bless and more power to you and your channel!

[@SelenaVanHout]

Moved here from Hampton VA in 2013. Born and raised in CA. There no place I’d rather be than Bismarck ND. Love it here! Great place to raise a family. ❤️ thank you for visiting our beautiful city!

[@toddgittins5692]

Anywhere is better than Virginia. So, your comment is moot.

[@SelenaVanHout]

@@toddgittins5692 oh shut up. There are places worse than Virginia. So piss off

[@la_nightlilly]

I really enjoyed watching your video! But I must say this June has been unusually cool this year. The last 2 years Bismarck was hitting 100 degree temperatures by early June and blazing blue skys with an awful drout. So it's been a nice change this year. 😊 We actually have the most extreme weather range, high to low, in the lower 48 states.

[@johnkertzman3223]

I remember about 20 years ago on June 10th it was 110°!

[@conradkostelecky7935]

A number of years ago I worked with a guy from Beaumont, Tx and he was looking out the window on a cold winter day when he said " you North Dakota folks got to be some of the toughest folks on the planet, you can get -40 in the winter and 110 in the summer. Who lives in this stuff."? I said we do. And we have done it for a long time. The Plains Indians learned to survive it with less that what we have now.

[@TheSDATuba39]

I plan to move up here in the next few months. I don’t mind the cold, even though I’m from the south 😅. But the quietness and houses with land is what attracts me to North Dakota.

[@researcher707]

I really like how interesting to me, this channel is. Thank You Sir!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Awesome!! 😀

[@mightylonesome9426]

What a beautiful city. Some of the artwork was amazing and it's obvious the locals take great pride in Bismarck based on how clean it is. Wonder who some of the employers are.

[@melissasanford2051]

There’s a coke plant, you can always get hired somewhere here, but it’s boring. The people are sweet though🥰

[@jeffhill6861]

I'm moving to a small town south of Bismarck in October. I left California to move to Oregon back in 97 because of the crime and paucity of common sense which births the silly, unworkable policies that the people suffer under. Unfortunately Oregon (and WA) are striving hard to be as antipathetic to liberty and responsibility as California has become so after some serious research and traveling all over North Dakota I have purchased a beautiful house and am eagerly awaiting the close of escrow. I hope to meet great people and make new friends. I am a member of the local CERT organization and a ham radio operator in Oregon and hope to join the same in Emmons County.

[@doctorjames7454]

Thank you for taking us on this trip with you! I've yet to visit North Dakota.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Cool!

[@janellesilbs328]

Hey!! We’re not dull!!!! And yes the winters are brutal long and not fun for the most part. I stay for family and it is safe mostly. Cool you visited:)

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Of course you're not dull. That was just a sensational title to get you to click. :)

[@pangee3]

Last year temps were in the 90s and 100s in June. You just hit a cool patch. Too bad you did not take the capital tour. We transferred here 18 years ago, and love it after living in or around to most major cities in the US. Our jobs allow us to move every couple years but not felt the urge to move yet. Great medical facilities, almost no waiting; very low crime rates; miles and miles of trails; many golf courses, pools etc. Winter temps kill the ticks, no fleas, no large spiders, or roaches.

[@trinidad179]

Nothings there. No major sports teams, no venues, no nothing.

[@twostop6895]

@@trinidad179 of course, don't less than 1 million people live in the whole state?

[@jeffsea6490]

Thanks for sharing interesting content 👍🇺🇲

[@mazdaman1982]

We been to Bismarck ND back in 2007 and loved that state capital building

[@dennislewis6097]

Eagerly awaiting your tour of Pierre.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We'll be heading there late summer, on our way to Yellowstone.

[@Matthew-km6fi]

I’m from Winnipeg 🇨🇦 a couple hours north. It’s a La Niña year. I’ve never seen such horrible weather ever. It’s been constant rain and clouds for all of the Midwest. This weather is very unusual. The weathers hot now though! Summer has arrived. In Winnipeg in the summer we are referred to Florida of the north because of its humid climate and extremely hot summers, and home too 100,000 lakes which have been featured in National Geographic. It could be 100 degrees Fahrenheit feels like 120 with humidity. Or 38 degrees Celsius feels like 47 Celsius here!!

[@jac4YouTube]

I live in Southeast Wisconsin, we have cold winter's too but not as harsh as the Dakotas, I love the summers the best . Right now it's in the upper 70's-low 80's in August. Pretty pleasant to enjoy.

[@melissaferreira123]

I get very excited

[@chandlerbraaten847]

You definitely visited in an unusual week. Weather wise for June it's typically sunny and quite warm. You may need to make another trip!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Oh, we will! We really loved Bismarck! Almost didn't go, because we thought it would be lame. It was just the opposite!

[@shawneenhammer4241]

I was thinking how weird it would have been if they came when we were having the McQuade games. Would have been pretty crowded and not as quiet especially in the hotels. Yes definitely follow Chandler's advice and you guys should come back again. But be careful what you wish for sometimes the temperature is 100 and humidity is the same ☀️ give me the picture and get to see some big storm in the distance .... Not up close ✌️⛈️

[@preacherman777]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip yes, if you had come last summer there were at least 20 days of 100 or above. It has been an unusually cold summer.

[@ericmccommon7705]

As others say, the weather is unusually cold this year in ND. Last year by point of comparison on June 4th it was 104 degrees in Bismarck. So we can really get extremes.

[@birdlover6842]

Very pretty town. Nice green trees.

[@Bear_58]

Gotta say once again, I love your taste in music. Great adventure though I agree it's a little boring there, but my kinda place. But it's definitely way too cold. Thanks for another great adventure 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@dabaolee1381]

Hello, as I am a foreigner with poor English, I have been looking for a KZbinr who speaks clearly and at a moderate speed. This is exactly you, so I have been following to you. It's great 👍At the same time, my wife and I will look for a safe and livable place to live in the future. If so, will you make a summary at the end of your great journey, such as the ranking of state or city safety, danger, livability, etc? Like most outsiders, we are more concerned about whether the place is safe enough and whether the crime rate is low enough. Thank you very much🙏

[@bthomson]

This kind gentleman is already filming his drives for us. Maybe best not to ask for too much more . seems just a bit presumptuous?

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That's actually a good idea. We will work on that! :)

[@user-bw3fl7fj9w]

Sometimes if you Google the area under demographics of the area, it will give crime rates..

[@msseedlady2587]

North Dakota as a whole is a pretty safe state. Which some people would find surprising since so many people own guns here and know how to use them.

[@jimsy7al]

@@msseedlady2587 No, actually with many people owning guns and protecting themselves, it keeps criminals in check.

[@dannyo6699]

As far as the spring weather, this has been a bit excessive in moisture compared to what we usually get. We're a semi-arid climate up here, so we usually only get around 20-25 inches of moisture in the western half of the state. In particular the Medora/Dickinson area you drove through at the beginning of the video. But later on, in July through September, it will be much drier with more sunshine. Yes, we all need more vitamin D up here in the North, and my doctor advised me to take 3000 iu every day, so that's what I'm doing. 😁 Currently, there are 3 places in ND I'd pick if I had to leave the town I'm living in in western North Dakota. One would be my parent's place on the farm I grew up on, the second would be the hometown I grew up near, and the 3rd would be the Bismarck/Mandan area. At 22:41, those were called homesteaders shacks. Typical of the houses the first settlers built to live in. Everyone thinks of Kansas as the wheat producing state, but North Dakota produces the huge quantities of Hard Red Spring Wheat used in bread production. Different varieties of wheat are used for different products. For instance, Hard Red Winter Wheat and lower protein quality Spring Wheat are used for pastries, and the higher protein wheat is used for bread products. If it's around 12% protein or less, it's intended for pastries, and 12.5% up to 15% are used for bread production. If it exceeds 15% then it's used as blending wheat to increase the protein content of lower protein wheats so they can be sold at a higher price. Higher levels of protein result in premium prices for the farmers but blending usually happens in the grain elevators that buy the wheat from the farmers so the elevator can get a higher price for the lower protein wheat.

[@EM-mi5yj]

I’m so glad I found your tour of Bismarck. I’m taking a road trip to Bismarck in May and I was wondering about the weather. So now I know.

[@conradkostelecky7935]

There are things to do just ask the locals, Decent restaurants, 6 micro breweries or so, great golfing places, historical places, the river. Come on in and enjoy.

[@nathanheenan3001]

I just graduated from university in Bismarck this year and I can't wait to get back, even with the surprise spring blizzards and the average -20 degree winter.

[@jayheinz4624]

Glad you visited our city,!👍 you came on a quiet day actually ,seriously.!,,That was during a cold weather spell.. soon as the sun comes out, you'd see on Main Street, and the downtown area, people walking everywhere🌞 and restaurants and bars and porches full of people sitting outside. Also if you were drove South four blocks to the new Chick-fil-A , next to our Kirkwood Mall and our large Bismarck Event center,you would have seen hundreds of people waiting in the Drive-Thru line! And there are quite a few new exotic restaurants and bar and grill microbreweries all over the city that usually liven up around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. at night.. that's when the 20 and 30 somethings come out of there shells or get off work or put the video games down and go out! hahaha! Oh, I have to mention Space aliens restaurant has had thousands of children's birthday parties over the years! Probably thousands in one year!..Try to get into that place on a Friday and Saturday night sometimes!. Bismarck also does a good job of reaching out and helping the homeless population, especially down on the Broadway ave and 22nd Street area. If you need help, a stranger will jump start your car for you or help you dig out of a snow bank any day! On 100° weekend in summer, the Missouri River can have hundreds of boat on it, when the water levels are not low. 10 miles south on the desert sand bar there's usually hundreds of people there enjoying the Sun and Good times.. we also have a river boat, the Lewis and Clark, that is doing cruises and parties again this summer. Also our local minor league baseball team, the Larks has games that are packed full several nights a week and some days and have fun activities for the kids and fireworks afterwards.. also, the swimming pools and parks are packed with people and kids during the summer especially on the hot days because our summers are going to be so short.. Northern Bismarck has grown immensely ..I don't think you got up that way? There's hundreds of new subdivisions. A new costco, and a lot of small new restaurants and bars. One last thing, if you want to rock out to some good blues music and classic rock, there's an awesome blues jam Tuesday nights, with some very talented musicians playing at the Elks club off of Washington Street from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m... 🎶🎶🎶🎸

[@bcdave91]

Great video. Bismarck looks like one of the nicest cities that you've visited. I'd live there no problem. Sure beats dumps like NYC or Detroit or another one of those hell holes. Also, you and your wife are awesome to watch -- thanks a lot for all the videos.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for watching, BC. Bismarck was far nicer than we expected. :)

[@brendad3570]

I wouldn't compare NYC to Detroit

[@apriljasso9731]

Love it here ❤️

[@codyhoyt2466]

Man the memories, got recommended your video on Sioux Falls so I watched that immediately (I live there now) then saw one for Bismarck where I lived the first half of my life. Just the first two minutes gave me so much nostalgia. The highways, exits, and artwork you see along the way was so heartwarming to me as a child.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Wow! That's awesome, Cody. :)

[@codyhoyt2466]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip and then Space Aliens came up and I nearly died, that is my main destination any time I visit the area. The mural on the ceiling used to move in real time (if it still doesn’t) so the ship would move across and eventually a ufo would pass by

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That place is cool. :)

[@HuffGirl1]

Oh, wish I knew you were here, I lead Downtown Bismarck History Tours and Historic St Mary’s Cemetery History Tours! I would have loved to share that with you!

[@shawneenhammer4241]

The weird thing is that it is a very rare happening that somebody misses work just because of that cold weather. Unless of course their pipes burst or something weird like that and they have to stay home to take care of something happening because of the cold to their property or livestock. I've heard a lot of companies that come here look into that because we have a very low absenteeism due to cold weather in the state. Vaya con dios ✌️🥰

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It’s because you folks in North Dakota are tough. In Dallas, Texas, where I live, if it drops to 30 degrees with a half an inch of snow the whole damn city shuts down. 😬😀

[@BM-te9te]

Idk.. that last blizzard kept me from work for 3 days….. spent them days to help push vehicles so plows could come……. They came on the 4th day.. plows suck here

[@conradkostelecky7935]

@@billsmith9737 Maybe he has to get a bigger snow shovel and snow blower. I rarely have problems.

[@joelfeiock4718]

showing the Missouri river reminds me of fishing on the banks when I was young, not in Bismarck North Dakota but in Mobridge South Dakota just down the street from where my late grandma lived.

[@joanrath126]

I was born an raised here for 58 years an married an raised my 4 kids here..never left.thanl you fir the wonderful honest video of our city.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

It’s a great little city.

[@stephaniehauge8270]

Did you smell the bison while you were there? You skipped over the whole native american exhibit in the heritage center. I encourage anyone who has time to really read ab0out the indigenous people who were here. They were a very tough people. I did like your analysis of the whole city. I live in Mandan, right next door, but it is mostly quiet and we like it that way.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We didn’t skip it, I didn’t include it in the video. I had to trim it, as the video was getting too long.

[@_kass3939]

Bismarck was nice and the weather I’m used to as it was like Oregon. the winter is brutal out on the reservation, my husband said he can’t take another year past October with the -25 and brutal windchill factor.

I've lived in Bismarck and Mandan for 60 of my 65yrs, a lot of history in this area from Custer and the Souix Indian that both lived just south of Mandan.

[@ushillbillies]

I traveled through there from Alberta Canada in the mid seventies , we camped near Bismarck a couple times . lovely place !!

[@priskagroetsch3250]

Yeah for Bismarck/Mandan ND. We wre moving there next week and are so excited to leave the big bad city behind. Less people-less crime-exactly what we are looking for. It all depends what someone percieves as 'dull' I guess.

[@anaaranda277]

Been here 10 years and love it you will too

[@nathanialpittman6949]

Make it your home, protect it like it's your own and you'll see you're never alone!

[@karenoberg4260]

Night life happens mostly Friday & Saturday night downtown with drunken loud bar crawls. North Dakota has the largest consumption of alcohol of the United States. They say they drink a lot because there's nothing else to do. The snow packs to ice which is deadly

[@stormyweather8798]

Always moee boozing in cold places. The north is like that. Like A aska. Hooch central.

[@lindastumpf7709]

This is a very cool spring. Last year at this time it was well over 95. Born and raised here. I moved away for like 35 years (5 different states) and I am now back. So happy to be back. Yes, winters SUCK! Will definatly winter somewhere warm in retirement.

[@ryanjennens1481]

Great video! i have lived in ND since i was 4 years old in 1986 and have lived in Bismarck since 1999. You actually walked past one of my construction job sites inside of the capitol building next to the Lewis and Clark room that you opened...it didn't make the cut though ;) you have no idea how much i myself enjoy the cold weather, i always have! i actually do tons of solo winter camping around here. Yes, i actually camp out in a tent when it is -20F. My favorite weather are the Arctic blasts that we get during winter. ND is full of state owned wildlife management areas that are a tent campers dream. i spend most of my free time exploring the wma's around here. Safe travels and God bless!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the great comment, Ryan! I enjoyed reading it. :)

[@ericg9802]

when i moved to bismarck six years ago i was told that a single winter would send me packing, as born and raised vermonter i scoff at the thought and don't need a jacket until it starts getting into the twenty's. the heat is something else though, the cold is easy for me but i melt real easy. funny enough theres an absurd amount of people that get vermont confused with virginia

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

LOL! Yes, Vermonters can definitely handle cold. :)

[@RONFELLINI]

I never got out of Europe, which is the reason why I love watching your videos so much, especially the ones that highlight the "empty" States of the U.S, Wyming, Dakota and the likes... Cheers to both of you and Greetings from Brittany ^^ ;-)

[@markaruski]

Nice video, not sure I'll be up to that part of the USA anytime soon, but looks nice, thanks for the video! Love the history and population footnotes you give. Hey video idea for you at some point on your travels: I'd love to see you review how your Ford Bronco Sport did on your mega drive, how the engine did, MPG averages and stuff!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We will be doing a one year recap in a couple weeks and we'll answer those very questions. :)

[@samihanski4086]

North Dakota seems pretty comfortable place to live. I doubt cold weather would be a issues since it is still below 50 degrees every morning here too and 37 this morning actually when I hopped on my bike and took off for work, riding in shorts. It would probably take more to getting used to all that flat plain that extends infinitely in all directions.

[@johnpauljones1499]

Sorry -50!!!,

[@ashleyerickson7001]

Born an raised an I love it ND PRIDE!

[@ldirk58601]

It’s at very cold summer so far. We are all missing the sun. Last year we hit over a hundred degrees in early June. Most of the dilapidated places are occupied by native Americans. They do seem to suffer more so than whites with substance abuse for a lot of reasons. In the winter we go from our auto start cars to our warm stores and we do everything others do we just bundle up. I’m from S.California. Been here 30 years. I do miss the ocean and palm trees but I don’t miss the race.

[@bigdript5991]

after watching your video, your comment makes more sense XD

[@stormyweather8798]

Od how alcohol is not tolerable to Indians. But they loVe it.

[@gregorylenton8200]

Hey Just found your vlog.........really enjoying them Thanks

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I dated a guy from Mandan so I drove over from Minnesota quite a bit, he had a boat on the river and we had some amazing times ! It was a great place to visit, I miss those times !

[@nathanialpittman6949]

I'm kind of glad that you came here when it was cool. Other wise people would find out what it's really like and everyone would want to move here! Shhh! Just tell them North Dakota is the most horrible place you've ever seen in your life and no one would ever want to live here! Thanks!

[@totustuus9782]

Agreed! Pass the word around!

[@tommysalami5268]

ND actually gets the most sun of any state bordering Canada. Also you drove past my house lmao

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Cool!

[@Balithazzarr]

He drove past my house too.

[@Balithazzarr]

I’m embarrassed to say it was in the sky view trailer park.

[@jadenramsey7495]

I was at Bismarck, ND 2 weeks ago and me and my brother had the pool to ourselves for a good portion of the day at Holiday Inn. I currently live in Minneapolis, MN. For a small city it looks cool!

[@royhooey3640]

Nice video, i was born and bread here in North Dakota. You have to be able to maintain your cool. Especially in the winter. Life is hard,but it's home.

[@mrf5347]

We love the 2 week long blizzards, zero visibility, snow drifts often over 10 foot tall, packed harder than concrete by the 40 to 65 mph winds. Another great feature, is the often -40°f that can last 2 to 3 weeks and fills in the gap between the blizzards. Always interesting here, droughts in western ND that last 5 to 7 years, while the eastern half often floods out when the snow melts, and rains so much, that many years the eastern farmers cannot plant there crops. When summer shows up for 45 to 60 days, 100°f sometimes happen. Just for a little variety. We have such a great economy, that we have the nations highest rate of multiple jobs ore person, just to pay the bills. Please drive safely. If you are in a hurry and drive like a fool, you should have left half an hour earlier. PS, watch out for the pasty knuckles with blue hair, they are old and do not fear death, they will take you out if you don't get out of their way.

[@gregoryodermann4223]

YES!!

[@Soupy_loopy]

LOL, 55 is almost time to put the shorts on, maybe not quite, but I definitely switch to shorts when it gets in the 60s

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I believe it. For us Texans, though, that's a bit on the cool side!

[@Soupy_loopy]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I'm in central New York state, this June has been a little warm being in the 70s. I love it between 50 - 75, after that it's kinda too hot for me. But it's only a few months of the year when we have "perfect" temperatures. I'm thinking of moving somewhere else, but I don't know where else I would be comfortable. I like the idea of winter in the south, but I can't tolerate the summers.