Five Forksful of Fun Family To-Dos
Looking for ways the whole fam-bam can have a blast together? Whether it’s at a picturesque local park or in the region’s most heralded arena, our two Forks always offer up one Grand time for kids of all ages…grown-ups, as well!
UNDER GRAND SKIES
For some great outdoor fun, load up your sled or cross-country skis and head to the The Greenway. While our scenic trail system offers more than 20 miles of groomed paths, I find Lincoln Drive Park is the best spot for gliding down a hill or through the snow. Cross-country ski rentals are available at the Lincoln Park warming house (on a first come, first served basis) weekdays from 3:30 to 8:30 PM and 12 to 8:30 PM on weekends. Located Downtown on the corner of DeMers Avenue and 3rd Street, Town Square Ice Rink is the perfect place to take a flying camel spin or sharpen your broomball skills. Just a short 17-mile drive east on Highway 2, scenic Turtle River State Park boasts options for sledding, skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Warm up after all your alfresco escapades with a bowl of homemade knoephla soup and some fresh baked goodies at Bernie’s.
SPLASH AROUND
When the temps are a little bit too chilly, get your good times on inside! Canad Inns Destination Centre features Splashers of the South Seas, a tropical themed water park, along with a large arcade area for both guests and non-guests. Likewise, Choice Health & Fitness offers an amazing water park and pool area, in addition to basketball and tennis courts, premier workout equipment, a variety of exercise classes and more. The Other Half Coffee & Tap House is an ideal spot for all ages to enjoy a flight of hot chocolate or specialty coffee drinks, while those 21+ can also partake in the beer, wine and mimosa variety. One of their charcuterie boards filled with lots of flavorful treats is a must-try.
GOLDEN GOALS
Maybe your girl or boy wants to be the next Jocelyn Lamoureux or Jonathan Toews? The legendary Ralph Engelstad Arena, home to championship University of North Dakota Hockey, offers weekday guided tours, at 1:30 PM, that will take your future Olympic gold medalist throughout the entire $100+ million, 400,000 square-foot facility. [Please call 701-777-6636 beforehand to schedule.] While at The Ralph, make sure to purchase tickets for an upcoming Fighting Hawks game, then head over to the Sioux Shop and pick out some stylish new UND logo wear. Next stop is SCHEELS Sports. Along with offering top of the line clothing and sporting gear, their in-store cafe serves up delicious homemade fudge, ice cream, sandwiches, soups and more. For the non-shoppers, SCHEELS provides cool to-dos that include a multi-sports simulator, mini bowling alley and bubble hockey.
JUMP AROUND
Everyone will be jumping for joy while at Northern Air Action Park! This fantastic facility features a 10,000 sq. ft. Trampoline Park complete with two dodgeball courts, foam pit and dunk station to complement the open jump area. Northern Air also offers a 30+ game Arcade, Laser Tag, lots of Inflatables and an awesome Hologate Virtual Reality game. Afterward, round up the gang and mosey on over to our nearby Pizza Ranch for some tasty chow plus more games and good times in their large arcade.
BREAK OUT
If you want a unique way to have tons of family fun, grab your partners in crime and make a grand escape...to the Grand Forks Escape Room! Never heard of an escape room? It’s a physical adventure game where a team of players must use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and get out within a set time limit. Book a spot now, then get ready to try tackling one of their latest themes: "The Vault", "Oz Has Alice", "Trapped in the 80s" or “The Haunting”. When your adventure is done, reward or console yourselves with some tasty eats and ales (NA or full strength) just down the street at Half Brothers Brewing Company.
Additional information on these and many other activities, events, restaurants, stores and more may be found at VisitGrandForks.com. We also invite you to follow Visit Grand Forks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.