1. Splash Parks

I vividly remember hot summer days when my mom used to turn on the backyard sprinkler so my friends and I could run through the cool rushing water. Throw in some Otter Pops and it was the next best thing to Disney World.  But man…if only I could be a kid again.  Because Greater Grand Forks offers some amazing splash parks that put your backyard sprinkler to shame.  With outdoor [free!] locations at Elks Park, University Park, and Choice Fitness in Grand Forks, as well as Sherlock Park in East Grand Fork, the nearest splash pad is probably only minutes away via foot, bike, or car. If you’re looking for a reprieve from the sun or to enjoy year-round splashing, Splasher’s of the South Seas at CanadaInns offers a 40,000 square foot indoor water park that will knock your socks off. But really, your socks shouldn’t have been on in the first place!

 

2. Red River of the North and the Red Lake River

The Red River of the North and the Red Lake River both offer great recreational opportunities right in the heart of the Greater Grand Forks. There are five boat ramps and many quiet places on shore for anglers looking to bring home “the big one”. The rivers boast more than 70 species of fish including channel catfish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, and lake sturgeon. Even though the rivers are popular with anglers, there are still many miles of quiet and peaceful water for paddling.  Head over to the Boathouse on the Red (just south of the Sorlie Memorial Bridge), The Outpost at the UND Wellness Center, or Outdoor Recreation on Grand Forks AFB (for those with base access) to rent a kayak or canoe. Just make sure to row, row, row your boat gently UP the stream first – otherwise you’ll have to battle the current to get back to your starting point. If your arm strength and cardiovascular endurance aren’t up to snuff, you could float gently down the stream indefinitely and live the rest of your days in a boat in the middle of Lake Winnipeg.

 

3. Turtle River State Park

Close your eyes and imagine the roaring waters of Niagara Falls. Actually, that was a bad idea. Keep your eyes open so you can read this and just imagine the roaring waters of Niagara Falls. Then think smaller.  Way smaller. Like if Niagara Falls had a baby. And that baby had a baby. And several generations later you’d have the waterfall by the CCC Shelter at Turtle River State Park. Which is actually pretty awesome, because it’s the perfect size for your little (or big!) ones to splash around in on a hot summer day. Plus, the park offers several access points to the miles of slow, meandering river that is perfect for wading, tubing, and picnicking on the shaded shores. Turtle River State Park also offers approximately 13 miles of dirt trails that are fantastic for hiking and biking, along with a playground, dog park, and campground.  It’s really a wonderful park and one of my absolute favorite places to spend time recharging my batteries.

 

4. Larimore Dam Recreation Area and Campground

Dam, Larimore is nice! Wait, I meant Larimore Dam is nice! Really. Dam nice. Ope!…nice dam. [Face palm]. But seriously, it’s a little piece of paradise dropped just 30 minutes west of Grand Forks, with easy access off of Highway 2. The dam and recreation area were built from 1977-1979, which created a 72-acre reservoir that boasts a swimming beach, boat ramp, picnic areas, disc golf, an arboretum, year-round fishing, and a large camping area. My favorite part is that no gasoline powered boats are allowed.  Just canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and nuclear powered submarines (if you have one laying around).  But no gasoline powered boats. Which means the lake is quiet and the water is relatively clear for splashing around. The Larimore Golf Course is right next door and there’s a 3-mile paved trail that takes you right into downtown Larimore. Just know that horses are not allowed on the trail. (I don’t know why, but it’s aggressively marked…so consider yourself warned!) All kidding aside, it’s a great place to spend some time relaxing on and off the water in the glorious peace, quiet, and slower pace that rural small-town North Dakota offers.

 

5. Red Lake Falls

45 minutes due east of Grand Forks sits the small town of Red Lake Falls, which bills itself as an oasis in Northwest Minnesota between the Clearwater and Red Lake River. The town offers several parks, the Oak Knolls Golf Club, a public swimming pool, and miles of paved trails to explore. The star attraction, however, are the tubing trips offered from the Voyageur’s View Campground, which runs seven days per week during the summer. Their four-mile tubing trip is open to adventurers of all ages and includes a leisurely float through five sets of flowing rapids past small islands, towering eroded cliffs, and steep wooded banks. For those of you who are feeling a bit more adventurous, Voyageur’s View also offers kayak trips ranging from four to twenty miles down one of Northern Minnesota’s finest class II kayak routes. The only thing missing on a hot summer day is you! So grab yourself an inner tube, a six-pack and a bag of ice, cue up some Brad Paisley music, and start laughing all the way to the river bank.

 

6. Golden Lake

Golden Lake is an hour directly southwest of Grand Forks and it is super easy to find. Just drive out into the farm fields, followed by more farm fields, still more farm fields, around a gentle s-curve in the road, and then just a few more farm fields. Basically, just keep going through farm fields until your wife says, “There can’t possibly be a lake out here!” and then you’re there!  Or you could use Google Maps. Come to think of it… Google Maps is probably the better option. But once you get there, the lake is pretty cool.  There’s a boat launch, small playground, and tent camping at the southwest corner of the lake. Over on the east side is Golden Lake Acres which offers a restaurant, bar, boat launch and RV campground along with a sandy beach. The lake is stocked with pike, walleye, and perch for you anglers. And the water is usually abuzz with jet skis and motorboats pulling water skiers, knee boarders, and all other sorts of towable contraptions. Definitely a fun place to spend a day out on the water.

 

7. Icelandic State Park

My favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is Michelangelo. After all, he was the laid-back, wisecracking, skateboarding, pizza-loving younger brother with nunchaku. Essentially what I was as a kid… minus the nunchaku. But I digress. Icelandic State Park is located on the shores of Lake Renwick approximately 90 minutes northwest of Grand Forks. The lake offers boating, swimming, fishing, and has a wonderful little beach and picnicking area that is right next to a small snack bar. It’s a pretty awesome little place for families to relax and spend the day. The park also has an amazing campground, restored historic buildings, the Pioneer Heritage Center highlighting North Dakota’s homesteading years, and a 3-mile trail system through North Dakota’s first dedicated state nature preserve. When I went with my family, we rented kayaks and took straight to the water. While we were paddling in the northern part of the lake, my favorite part of the trip happened – the rocks started to move! Turns out we had stumbled (paddled?) upon a massive turtle colony. I know the real Ninja Turtles live in my home state of New York, but I thought that maybe – just maybe – we would see their Icelandic cousins. We spent quite a while checking the hundreds of turtles for colored bandanas, but no luck.  Maybe next time!