When you are looking for something fun to do around Thompson, North Dakota, we are here to help. Whether you’re looking to grab a bite for breakfast or dinner, want to spend an exciting day outside with the whole family, or prefer to experience some local history and culture, we’ve got you covered at Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks. We have searched out some of the best local places for you to experience and created a list just for you. Let us know if you try out any of these suggestions.
Thunder Road Family Fun Park
If the family is ready for some action-packed fun, Thunder Road Family Fun Park is one of the best places to visit. With several different attractions, it’s sure to have something that will appeal to everyone. Get the fun started and the hearts pumping with a family game of laser tag in the 5,000-square-foot laser tag arena spanning multiple levels. After that invigorating warmup, head outside and test out the unique bumper cars, designed to look and act like bumper boats.
Next you can challenge your family to a race (or two) around the 1100-foot go-kart track. The sports lovers in the family can pick up a bat and try out the batting cages. Offering slow-pitch softball or a variety of baseball pitches, your hand-eye coordination will be tested.
If you’ve still got time and energy left, spend it playing another family game, this one at a much slower pace as you try out one or both of the two different 18-hole mini-golf courses complete with ponds, rivers, waterfalls, and even an active volcano! Finally, you can head back inside and using a swipe card system, lose yourself in the video arcade while you recover from all the physical activities of the day.
Darcy’s Cafe
Start your day off right with a delicious and hearty breakfast from the quaint and adorable Darcy’s Cafe. The warm family atmosphere and friendly staff will make you feel at home as you enjoy a scrumptious home-cooked meal.
The diner’s high-quality food will fill you up with generous portions and a menu that will satisfy every palate. If you have a sweet tooth you will love the cinnamon roll pancakes. For something a little more savory, try the German sausage, kraut, potatoes, and eggs meal. For a convenient grab-and-go breakfast, you can order a breakfast sandwich for carry-out. The menu also features a variety of burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Darcy’s Cafe is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Darcy’s serves breakfast until close (which is good to know if you aren’t a morning person).
Empire Arts Center
The Empire Arts Center was built in 1919 and spent 75 years as a fully operating movie theater before closing down in the mid-1990s with the arrival of the local multiplex. Renovations started later to revive the theater and bring it back to life in the form of a multi-purpose downtown arts center.
Today, the theater is a popular cultural center offering live theater performances, films, concerts, presentations, and community events. It also hosts the UND Art Collections gallery, which features the work of local, national, and international artists.
Dempsey’s Public House
When you are ready for food or a drink, it’s worth the trip to visit the legendary Dempsey’s Public House, where you’ll feel as if you’re walking into an old-fashioned Irish pub. With a friendly atmosphere, cozy booths, and brick walls, Dempsey’s will make you feel right at home.
Enjoy some appetizers like garlic cheese sticks, the pickled egg basket, or the local favorite: pretzels with a tasty beer cheese sauce. Or feast on one of their specialty artisan-style hand-tossed pizzas. Featuring live entertainment, karaoke, bingo, and trivia, you will be entertained while you enjoy your meal and beverages.
North Dakota Museum of Art
A wonderful place to explore painting, sculpture, and other fine arts, the North Dakota Museum of Art is the official art museum of the State of North Dakota. Displaying contemporary artworks in all media, the museum also features a survey collection of Native American art.
The museum also hosts special events, such as outdoor concerts in the park in the summer or the annual Autumn Art Auction in the fall, which features the paintings, photographs, print, and sculptures of local artists.
Turtle River State Park
If you’re ready to enjoy the outdoors, Turtle River State Park is the place to bring the family. Your family will be able to enjoy year-round activities as you explore the 12 miles of hilly trails along the Turtle River. You can camp in the cabins or at a campsite and take a hike before you have dinner around the campfire. Don’t forget your mountain bike for the trails or your fishing pole, the river is stocked with trout.
Winter months are just as enjoyable where you can enjoy the trails and get a great workout in by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Or bring your sleds and have some family fun before you all warm up with some hot chocolate.
Grand Forks County Historical Society
There are many things to do when you visit the Grand Forks County Historical Society. Created to preserve and share information about the history of Grand Forks County, the society preserves and displays documents and artifacts chronicling the area’s history and development.
There are six different buildings for you to explore on your visit, including Grand Fork’s original post office built in 1868 and a schoolhouse featuring a coal stove. The carriage house was built to display examples of historic vehicles and inside you will discover a 1929 Ford Model A, a surrey from the 1880s, a historical buggy, and a cutter sleigh. There are also two period houses to explore along with the Myra Museum, which exhibits many different relics of Grand Fork’s history.
The historical society hosts a variety of public events such as bands, live theatrical performances, and horticultural shows.
Contact Rydell Cadillac
We would love to hear your favorite things to do in Thompson! Stop in at Rydell Cadillac of Grand Forks and share your ideas with us, or send a message to let us know what to add to the list in the future.
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