Are you looking to fill your calendar with summer fun for the kids? At Rydell Cadillac, we think you’ll love this list we’ve put together for you to do just that in Pembina County, less than 90 minutes away from our dealership.
Book a Camping Cabin at Icelandic State Park
For $60 a night, you can book a camping cabin with bunk-style beds for you and your kids to enjoy. There are plenty of fun, kid-friendly summer activities to do at Icelandic State Park, for example boating, swimming, and fishing. Rent a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard for fun in the water. Teach your children how to grill and spend quality family time sitting in the picnic area adjacent to your cabin. You can also camp directly outdoors in one of the park’s campsites. Hike or bike seven different trails and challenge your kids to learn how to geocache on site with you. If you check in with the staff, you may be able to borrow a GPS unit.
Looking for a little educational fun? Sign your kids up for a motorized safety course, so they can learn how to operate off-highway vehicles (OHV) and become certified to drive in OHV-designated areas. You could also tour restored historic buildings nearby or walk through the Pioneer Heritage Center, which highlights North Dakota’s homesteading years.
Do you enjoy scavenger hunts? You might check out the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Adventure Challenge, which in 2021 comes with the possibility of winning one of three prize packages! Keep in mind this challenge incorporates visits to other parks within the system. Check out the details on the challenge’s website.
Icelandic State Park is located in Cavalier, North Dakota, Pembina County’s seat. Find it at 13571 Highway 5, just under 90 miles away from our dealership in Grand Forks.
Summer in the Catfish Capital of the North
Named by original settlers after their hometown in Ontario, Drayton today is located only 30 miles from the Canadian border in Pembina County, North Dakota. Since originally organizing in 1880, two years after the 12 original settlers came to the area, Drayton has evolved from being an important boat landing on the Red River to now being known as the “Catfish Capital of the North.”
Kiddos interested in Drayton’s history would love visiting the Ox Cart Trails Historical Society museum at 201 Almeron Avenue. Call 701-454-6103 for an appointment and have their knowledgeable staff give you a guided tour.
Check out beautiful Schumacher Park, as well, where you and the kids can set up camp in one of the 24 sites and play sports like basketball, softball, and tennis. The outdoor swimming pool is open Memorial Day through the summer, and you can go canoeing on the Red or Pembina rivers. If you want to teach your kids a little about owning a business, you could even rent out the concession stand on the premises and make some money from fellow campers! For more information, call ND Parks and Recreation at 701-328-5357.
Last but not least, we recommend checking out the Catfish Capital Challenge, a two-day summer tournament on Red River with a guaranteed $10,000 first place prize. This is a fairly new activity in the area, drawing in contestants from surrounding states. Check out their website for more information, and read about 2020’s winners, Darwin Lunski and Trever Lunski.
Bonus: Fun in Walhalla and Grand Forks
Do you and the family enjoy mountain biking? You can’t miss out on the trails in Frost Fire Park. With 350 feet of elevation and three different trails of varying difficulty, you and the kids are sure to have a blast. Frost Fire provides the only mountain bike lift service in the state. There are four more trails under construction for this summer! Google reviews for this park are averaging 4.4 stars.
Check out Frost Fire Summer Theatre, which has been running a summer show for the past 36 years. In 2021, there are Wednesday and weekend shows of The Marvelous Wonderettes, an off-broadway hit featuring four harmonizing best friends Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy who go to their senior prom in 1958 and later reunite a decade later. The show features classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s; we know you’ll end up singing along. Even the kiddos will love catchy songs like “Lollipop” and “It’s My Party.” You can buy online or through the box office by calling 701-549-3602.
Frost Fire Park isn’t in Pembina County, but we just couldn’t leave it off this list of fun summer activities to do with the kids! You can find the park at 11950 County Highway 55 in Walhalla, about 110 miles from our Grand Forks facilities. Bike trails are open weekends only and helmets are required. Visit the Frost Fire Park website to get more information about bike rentals and day or season passes.
In case you’re looking for something closer to our dealership in Grand Forks, we also recommend checking out Splasher’s of the South Seas, a water park featuring a “cannonbowl” slide, an activity pool, kiddie pool, slide pool, kids play area, and much more in a 40,000 square foot indoor facility. Kids will enjoy splashing around in the water, speeding down the slides, and playing in the arcade. Mom and Dad can hang out in the adult hot tub or in the three-foot deep “lazy river.”
If after all the splishy, splashy fun you’re looking for a nice warm beverage, check out our 8 Great Coffee Shops in Grand Forks, ND, article for some great local café recommendations.
So there you have it. At Rydell Cadillac we know quality time with your family is important, so we hope you enjoyed this article. What did you think of our recommendations? If you would like us to add one of your favorite summer spots, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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