The natural scenery in and around Bismarck can be described as rustic and expansive. To get a view of it all in a most spectacular way, take a trip to visit the Crow Flies High Scenic Overlook. This popular outdoor vantage point is a one of the area's most picturesque views in which miles of rolling prairie and majestic hills and rocks complement the wide open view of the sky in an unforgettably mesmerizing way.
Get a taste of what life was like for the various individuals who served as North Dakota governor when you spend some time at the Former Governor's Mansion State Historical Site in Bismarck. This impressive mansion and museum was originally built back in 1884 as a private residence by Asa Fisher. It remained the governor's residence from 1893 until 1960. Those years are detailed through the use of vintage items, personal effects, exhibits, documents and photographs that all go to tell the story of what life was like for the man who had the responsibility of holding the highest political office in the state of North Dakota.
The Missouri River's winding trail through Bismarck affords the people of the area an excellent source of aquatic sports fun. The river is known as an excellent fishing destination, but it also attracts fans of swimming, water skiing, and of course, sun bathing!
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.