Bismarck's Boneshaker Coffee Company has just the thing to give you that all-too-important morning jolt! In addition to gourmet and flavored coffees that can be served hot, iced or blended, the shop also features delicious cafe lattes, cappuccinos, cafe mochas, espressos and much more. Plus, you can also get a delicious muffin or cookie to complement your beverage of choice.
The ultimate goal of most nature lovers is to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and find solace in a relaxing, natural setting. In Bismarck, the McDowell Dam Recreation Area is such a place. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities that include paddle boating, swimming, fishing, and picnicking. If you want to make yourself comfortable there are shelters available for full or half-day stays.
For a touch of class–or classic–make music a big part of your evening when you plan to take in a performance of the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra. This highly accomplished group of musicians regularly performs at the Belle Mehus City Auditorium. An appealing mix of classics as well as the work of more modern composers is presented throughout the year, as well as special engagements with featured singers. There's also seasonal entertainment like The Nutcracker, but you will most definitely want to check out the symphony's excellent offerings all year long.
If you think that the concept of the cowboy was invented by John Wayne-types, Bismarck's North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame will challenge everything you think you know about cattle rustlers from the past. This attraction is an interpretive center for the history of Native Americans, and you will see the dramatic link between their culture to various “western” traditions like the rodeo, ranching, and the rustic “cowboy” lifestyle that owes much to the tribes that first inhabited the land.