Book It: 4 of the Best Places to Read in Grand Forks

Readers, I love books. I love them hard. Growing up as the only kid on a farm, entertainment was either playing in the trees of the shelterbelt (here’s a handy resource for those non-Midwestern-born who are wondering what on earth a shelterbelt is) or curling up with a novel. I did a lot of both, but reading is a more acceptable pastime when you’re an adult, so I leaned into that.

I maintain that the absolute best place to read is at home, wrapped up in a quilt with coffee nearby during a North Dakota thunderstorm or a blizzard. However, I’m always packing a paperback in my bag. When the urge hits when I’m away from home, these are a few of the places around the region that provide the best surroundings and natural sound (not too little, not too much).

There are few better ways to immerse yourself in a book than immersing yourself in books. Libraries create an unbeatable backdrop for novel gazing, and our region has some fantastic ones. I grew up visiting my wonderful Larimore Public School libraries and Edna Ralston Library in my hometown (as many small-town North Dakotan nerds are wont to do). You can still find these quaint libraries in communities around Grand Forks and Polk counties and the Grand Forks Air Force Base, and supporting them and their programming is more important than ever.

When I moved to the “big city” of Grand Forks in 2006, I suddenly had access to even larger libraries with the Chester Fritz Library (University of North Dakota), Grand Forks Public, and the Campbell Library (East Grand Forks). These were my new book-time oases. Flash-forward another sixteen years and these facilities are now better than ever, with major facelifts in the last couple of years. Grand Forks Public is now exactly what its tagline promises – “a playground for curious minds.” With a bright color palette, modern new seating from sofas to swings, and a – I kid you not – two-story pink tube slide, it’s hard to find a more perfect environment for introspection, intellection, and inspiration.

I’m not sure if you know this, but the Greater Grand Forks area is riddled with city parks. The City of Grand Forks alone has 44 of them. I’m lucky enough to live right across the street from one of the 44 – Jaycees Park. It has everything you want in a park, including a pond with a bridge, a playground, an ice rink, and a top-notch kickball diamond. (Note: This diamond is likely for softball, but kickball is more my speed.) But the best part of a park is the expansive green space and smattering of trees primed for throwing out a blanket and reading. As long as I have SPF 50 on my skin, this is one of my favorite getaways.

If you want to make your reading session a little wilder, I would suggest one of the area’s state parks. They often have several scenic waterside corners that are excellent for winding down a bit after a hike or simply becoming one with the nature around you. I’m going to give Turtle River State Park near Arvilla, N.D., props for being a lovely place to get both physically and mentally fit in one outing.

The Other Half has quickly stolen my heart as a preferred place to read, work, and get general business done in Grand Forks. In fact, I’m writing this blog in The Other Half RIGHT NOW. The place has the ideal blend of ambient chatter, caffeine, and Real Good Cookies for a book binge. I tend to gravitate to The Other Half when I have an hour or two to kill between commitments or when my husband and I are craving an afternoon date (a couple that reads together, stays together).

This coffee shop is next level because it serves not only delicious lattes but also a great selection of craft beer from the Red River Valley. For this reason, it is the home of two of my favorite books clubs in town – the Pints and Pages book club coordinated by Grand Forks Public and the Greater Grand Forks Women’s Leadership Cooperative’s biannual book study. Chatting about books is the best. Chatting about books over a brew is the best + one.

I never did it as a student, but the culture of the hammock “study ‘n snooze” was evolving during my four years employed at UND. Now, it’s become so popular that the school has installed several hammock posts across the quad to make sure there’s a safe and tree-friendly place to hang and read. I mentioned in a previous post that I love swinging through campus occasionally, and this might be my new way to blend in with “my fellow youths.”

There are the additional benefits of hammock reading. First, you can stash bonus bookworm snacks and beverages within arm’s reach without anyone knowing how many Hot Tamales you’ve actually consumed. Also, you can hide your face if you’ve accidentally grabbed a real dud and find yourself asleep.