8 Fun Family Things to Do Near Grand Forks

The town of Thompson is home to Rydell Outlet Center, our used car dealership where you can find a quality used car at an affordable price. After you've purchased your next car from us, we want you to have a good time exploring the area and finding places to take your partner on a date. more Thompson may not have a lot of places to go on a date, but Grand Forks has plenty of great options for the two of you to go for something fun to do. Following is a list of fun date ideas you can find in the area while driving in your new-to-you car. Boathouse on the Red Image via Flickr by RichardBH | License CC by 2.0 Boathouse on the Red, also known as Red River Boathouse, offers reasonably priced adventures on the Red River via canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. Take a canoe for two and paddle down the river to watch wildlife do its thing, enjoy the calm of gently drifting near the riverbanks, or take an adventure camp that challenges your physical fitness. The activities offered by Boathouse on the Red are perfect for bonding exercises that help you get to know your date better. It's also a great way to blow off the stress of the week. All activities offered by the boathouse include experts in physical fitness who are there to help people enjoy themselves without getting hurt. The expected outcome from an experience or adventure includes expanding your introspection, responsibility, verbal communication, and ability to help others out during a tight situation. Of course, there's always the opportunity to rent a watercraft and enjoy the simplicity of life with a date on the Red River. Sakura Japanese Steakhouse Looking for something out of the ordinary in farm country? Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in Grand Forks delivers authentic Japanese dishes and fusions. Start out with an appetizer of crab meat and cream cheese stuffed in jalapenos, then fried up with tempura and served with eel sauce and spicy mayo for a perfect fusion. Then make your way to a bowl of tonkotsu ramen featuring bamboo soup, noodles, fish cake, scallion, seasoned egg, and pork chashiu. Sakura's sushi menu is extensive and is full of delicious flavor combinations prepared in traditional Japanese fashion along with popular American-style sushi options. The hibachi dinner menu has multiple protein options that please all palates and are made with Japanese-influenced flavors. Finish off your date experience with a glass of boba tea or some mochi ice cream. Sakura Japanese Steakhouse offers authentic flavors and dishes that excite and delight with their origins in another country. JL Beers Sometimes you just want to sit down in a restaurant and not be challenged by the menu. When you and your date feel the same way, head to JL Beers in Grand Forks. This award-winning restaurant is known around the area for simple, yet delicious food and drinks that deliver comfortable satisfaction when you're finished. The menu states at the top that its "ingredients come from someone's backyard," ensuring that your food is made from the freshest available ingredients. The menu features burgers that go by the name of the Humpty Dumpty, Mt. Mushmore, Totally Slawesome, Smokey the Beer, and more. Fries, chips, and pretzels with dips are available to complement your choice of entree. The beer menu features local brews, national favorites, and import brands to round out the selection. JL Beers is about the burgers and the brews, but not much else, and there's nothing wrong with that when it comes to good eating. Lew Flynn's Red Ray Lanes Grand Forks Lew Flynn's Red Ray Lanes is a vintage bowling alley that's a great place for doing something different on a date night as long as you make sure to go on a non-league night. All of your games are tracked on old-school CRT monitors using software that dates back to the 1980s. Make sure to bowl during the cosmic night for a total 80s flashback experience. Other bowling experiences include laser bowling and extreme bowling to help change up the experience. Once you're done throwing strikes on the lanes, and hopefully not with your date, stop by the Kegler Lounge for a drink or two. The bowling alley is open from early in the morning to late at night during the week, and it's open even later on the weekend. It's a great atmosphere for a casual date and gives both of you something to do when there's not much in the way of other activities available. Lotus Yoga Yoga is a meditative exercise style that is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Lotus Yoga offers a wide variety of classes that anyone can execute regardless of whether they're a beginner or expert. It's a great place to come with a date to try out yoga as a shared experience and compare notes on the physical and mental journey each of you went on. The studio also offers dance exercise classes in case you want to do something different to get your blood pumping and your body moving. Not sure where to start with yoga? Lotus Yoga can help you decide which type of yoga is right for you and your date. The ultimate goal of Lotus Yoga is to help participants release stress, let their minds relax, and allow energy to move freely through their bodies. You don't have to commit to classes if you don't want to, making Lotus Yoga a great place for a date and a shared experience. So there you have our list of five fun date ideas to do in the area around Thompson that explore the available options that are on and off the beaten path. Do you feel we missed something that should be included in the list? Drop us a line to let us know, and we'll be sure to include your favorite destination for a date. Meanwhile, come see us at the Rydell Outlet Center to get your next set of affordable wheels.

If you live in the Fargo or Grand Forks area and are looking for something to do you'll find many events throughout the year that can be fun for the whole family. Summer festivals bring communities together, while holiday fairs offer a chance to support local makers while shopping for gifts. From outdoor activities like skiing and car shows to indoor theater shows and holiday markets, there is something for everyone no matter your interests. Whatever the season, there's plenty going on in eastern North Dakota. Here are some of the top annual events you might want to check out. more noteaser Greenway Ski Day Happening each year in February, Grand Forks' Greenway Ski Day is a fun way to get outside, get active, and enjoy some winter fun with your friends. This free event takes place at Lincoln Drive Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more. Kids will love participating in the cardboard sled race which happens at 2 p.m. You can build your own cardboard sled with materials from the Ski and Bike shop which can be picked up before the event. This shop also provided some complementary equipment for the Ski Day. Art on the Red A staple of Grand Forks since 2001, Art on the Red takes place on the second weekend in June. It usually takes place downtown along the Red River, but some recent years it's been held at University Park due to ongoing construction. At Art on the Red, you can shop from 100 vendors selling all kinds of quality goods from handmade jewelry, rugs, pottery, paintings, and delicious food. It attracts the best of North Dakota's artists, artisans, and food vendors, as well as musical acts from around the country. There are also kids' activities making this a great day out for the whole family. Grand Forks Downtown Street Fair The Downtown Street Fair in Grand Forks happens on a Friday and Saturday in August. You can find everything here from fresh produce to food carts, to handmade crafts and other products. Throughout the fair there are busking musicians, live portrait artists, and kids activities, making it a fun weekend experience for the whole family. The hours on Friday are from noon to 8 p.m. for street vendors, while food vendors operate until 10 p.m. On Saturday the Street Fair starts at 9 a.m. Come early to get the best local produce and avoid the afternoon crowds. Rydell Car Show Image via Flickr by recubejim CC BY-SA 2.0 The Rydell Annual Benefit Car and Bike Show takes place in late September in Grand Forks at the Rydell Dealership at 2700 South Washington Street. This is a benefit show that raises money for local charities. Each year a charity is chosen by the Rydell employees, and up to $40,000 is matched, as well as all the donations going to the recipient, no expenses taken out. This event has been taking place here since 2007 and is still going strong, and in that time has raised over 700,000 in benefits for the community. This full-day event starts with registration and coffee and rolls for participants who want to display their vehicles at 8 a.m. At 11 a.m. the car show opens to the public and goes on until 4 p.m. At the Rydell Annual Benefit Car and Bike Show, you can expect to see a range of fun and cars, trucks, and bikes, including corvettes, street rods, muscle cars, unique custom vehicles, international imports, rat rods, classic cars, and more. There's also a silent auction of donated prizes with the proceeds going to the charity or organization that has been chosen to benefit. North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival The North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival and Summit happens in November and takes place at several locations in Fargo as well as at satellite screenings around the state. Now in its fifth year, you can attend the festival in person or via virtual cinemas. There will be morning seminars and educational workshops held at the Plains Art Museum, followed by afternoon film screenings and discussions at the Fargo Theatre. Films will cover important topics about local and worldwide human rights issues, showcased through the narrative as well as documentary films both feature-length and short, with awards for various categories. Christkindlmarkt Fargo's popular German Christmas Market, the Christkindlmarkt, happens in late November at the Fargo Civic Center. It runs from Thursday evening through Sunday, with live music each day. Performances take place in the Bier Hall and include modern pop and rock, bluegrass and country, traditional polkas, German music, and of course, holiday favorites. There is also a ballet performance with scenes from the holiday classic "The Nutcracker," and a holiday performance with aerial silks. Family activities include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and storybook readings with the West Fargo Public Library in the Entryway Lounge. In the Christkindlmarkt you'll find a food hall with food vendors serving up German fare that smells like Christmas should along with hot drinks to help you warm up from a cold November day in North Dakota. The Sweet Shop provides all the sweet treats you and the kids could need. When you're fueled up head to the Vendor Village to get a start on your holiday shopping. The Winter Wonderland is where you'll find Santa and his team, as well as the carolers where you can gather around fire pits to enjoy the festive singing. There are so many community events throughout the year in Eastern North Dakota. Whatever the season you can find something fun to plan for that both adults and kids can look forward to. If you're looking for some yearly activities to attend we at Rydell Outlet Center hope you have found this list helpful. Have you been to any of these events already? Drop us a line and tell us which is your favorite annual event in the Fargo or Grand Forks areas. Have we piqued your interest with any on this list?

Grand Forks, North Dakota, takes pride in harboring some of the best colleges and universities in the U.S. These institutions include The University of North Dakota, which opened six years before North Dakota was established as a state. Every year, thousands of students visit this city to start their college life. While these students come from different states, they all have something in common — finding a hangout to unwind after a long day of studies. If you want to start your college life in this vibrant city, you can meet and make new friends in the following hangouts. more Herd and Horns Image via Flickr by drewtarvin via CC BY 2.0 Herd and Horns is located at North Dakota State University. This bar is decorated with brick walls and reclaimed wood accents, giving it a unique decor. You'll also see bison sculptures, decorated horns, and students adorned in gold and green attire. The main items on the menu in this bar and grill include burgers, bison, and beer. You will also find tacos, soups,  salads, and different types of mac and cheese. The restaurant also takes pride in having an outdoor eating area and serving vegan-friendly dishes. Semi-private rooms are also available for group and club member meetings. Besides food, this restaurant also features dart boards, pool, arcade games, and shuffle games. Trivia and bingo are also available at least once a week, giving you something to look forward to. This restaurant also features strategically positioned televisions, making it a favorite hangout spot for students who love watching sports in a comfortable atmosphere. Location: 1414 12th Ave N., Fargo, ND Sertoma Park Located only 0.8 miles from The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, Sertoma Park provides students and locals with a tranquil environment for unwinding after lectures. This park stretches 22 acres across a natural landscape with several bodies of water. Sertoma Park provides amusement parks, poetry boxes, public art, restrooms, picnic areas, 11 shelters, and play equipment. It also has biking and walking trails located inside and around the park. Sertoma Park is also home to eight playgrounds, but perhaps the most phenomenal one is Ali's Boundless Playground, designed to serve people of all abilities. The park also offers tennis and sand volleyball courts. Sertoma Park is also home to the Japanese Gardens awarded to Grand Forks by its sister city in Awano, Japan. This garden is famous for its picturesque rock allotment that forms a serene meditation area. This garden also has three lanterns made of natural granite rocks. Each of these lanterns has a name and a significant meaning in life. Location: 3300 11th Ave. South, Grand Forks, ND 58201 Albatross Indoor Golf Club Located just 40 minutes from Mayville State University, the Albatross Indoor Golf Club is an ideal chilling spot for students seeking a unique golfing experience. This indoor arena features realistic golf simulators that allow you to hit real balls with clubs. You will, however, follow the ball on a realistic screen. The simulators also allow you to play over 50 courses from different parts of the world, including Harbour Town Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, TPC Sawgrass. You will get golf lessons from PGA Teaching Professionals and a trackman at the arena if you need in-depth swing analysis. The simulators also allow you to practice hitting a bull's-eye or shatter a pane of glass. You can also take a break to relish pizza and snacks, along with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Besides, you can enjoy a private meeting with your friends in a rental venue and chit-chat about your golfing experience. Location: 2800 S. Columbia Road, Space 232, Grand Forks, ND 58201 River Cinema 15 Located in downtown Grand Forks, River Cinema 15 provides you with a perfect study break and a great way to spend a romantic moment with your partner. This locally owned movie theater houses 15 rooms that play different movies. It also offers a wide assortment of movie snacks, including soda, popcorn, pretzels, hot dogs, slushies, and Dippin' Dots. Patrons who are of legal drinking age also get to enjoy alcoholic drinks. The River Cinema 15 also has several theaters with luxury seats featuring reclining and heating capabilities to make your session more comfortable. The theater also collaborates with universities such as UND to provide students with free movie tickets. Location: 211 Demers Ave. # 4, East Grand Forks, MN 56721 Red Pepper At Campus Place If you want to relish a hearty meal, try out Red Pepper At Campus Place, located just a few minutes from University Avenue. This restaurant was established in 1989 and is synonymous with mouthwatering delicacies. Some of their dishes have recipes that have not been altered for decades, giving patrons the original taste. Savor the famous grinder by taking a sub bun and adding turkey or ham, lettuce, a squirt of hot sauce, salami, Swiss cheese, and taco meat. To top it off, add the restaurant's secret creamy white sauce. This restaurant also serves hard and soft shell tacos, bean burritos, enchilada, and tostadas. You can enjoy your food in the restaurant's large sitting area with your friends. Red Pepper At Campus Place also features ample parking space. Location: 1011 University Ave., Grand Forks, ND 58203 Tea and Crepe When the sun is scorching and you're looking for a place to cool off, try Tea and Crepe. This restaurant is located on Demers Avenue in downtown Grand Forks, and true to its name, it sells milk teas, assorted crepes, and Thai rolled ice cream. In addition, it offers appetizers that you can enjoy when you are a little hungrier. Besides delicious beverages and appetizers, this eatery offers an upbeat environment where students engage in a little fun to relax their minds. It also provides a couple of games that you and your friends can play to pass the time. Location: 307 Demers Ave., Grand Forks, ND 58201 There you have it; these are six of the best college hangouts in and around Grand Forks where you can spend quality time with friends when you need to break away from your studies for a little while. These places include bars, grills, and restaurants, as well as indoor and outdoor spaces. If you have other suggestions that we may have left out, please know Rydell Outlet Center so that we can help more college students find a place to hang out.