An Enchanted drive through North Dakota
If you have thoroughly and properly read previous posts, you know of my 3,500 mile driving trip from a couple years ago. I was checking off states that I needed to visit. Along the way, I visited oldest bars and tracked down a few noteworthy oddities. In my brief 24 hours or so in North Dakota…I managed to get them all done.
First, I offer my apologies to North Dakota. In our brief pass through the state, we were not able to accomplish a lot. However, that is not to say our visit was not enchanting. We started that morning in Wyoming and our target city for the night was Bismarck, ND. Bismarck is home to the oldest bar in North Dakota…the Peacock Alley. But, on the way to Bismarck, we had the unique opportunity to drive along the Enchanted Highway…
Pheasants on the Prairie 
Tin Family
THE ENCHANTED HIGHWAY
The Enchanted Highway is a 32 mile dirt road that connects Regent, ND, to Gladstone, ND. The Enchanted Highway is a north-south road that generally got us closer to Bismarck, so it was time well spent. Along the Enchanted Highway, there are 7 very large, metal sculptures. It hard to get scale from my pictures, so you will have to trust me that these things are all 2-4 stories tall. I do not know who made them. I do not know how they were funded. And of course, I do not know why they built any of it. Its in a fairly remote area of ND as evidence by the 32 mile dirt road…so not that many people can see it. There is a pull off at each statue so you can safely get out of your car and enjoy the sculpture. We saw very few other humans along the way. There is no admission fee. There is not even a place for donations. But, if you are willing to come out to the middle of no where in North Dakota…this giant, metallic exhibit is 32 miles of driving fun. I do not know of anything else like the Enchanted Highway.
Teddy Roosevelt Rides Again 
Grasshoppers
PEACOCK ALLEY – American Grill and Bar
After our enchanting drive through North Dakota, we spent the evening in Bismarck, ND. Bismarck is a fairly unremarkable city where the oldest bar in ND is located….the Peacock Alley. My wife and I had dinner and drinks at the Peacock. Its not a dive bar like I like…its probably one of the better restaurants in Bismarck. The Peacock offers a large menu with the predictable emphasis on beef and steaks. The building has some good history (formerly the Patterson Hotel) that is displayed throughout the bar. The building itself was the tallest building Bismarck at one time. It used to host significant boxing events and was a key focus for the state political world. The hotel is now defunct, but the Peacock Alley – American Grill & Bar is still open. Its not a bad place for a fine meal and a drink…but they do not serve PBR. PT
Peacock Alley, oldest bar in ND 
Romantic dining at the bar
