Discover Upscale Nordic Influences and a Burgeoning Art Scene in Fargo, North Dakota

At the state's largest art museum, more than 4,000 works focus on regional and Indigenous artists from the 20th century to the present. The stunning free collection is housed in a renovated warehouse.

Related: 12 One-of-a-Kind Museums You Can Only Find in the Midwest

Built in 1926, the Fargo Theatre regularly announces blockbuster and indie movies on its mint green Art Deco marquee. It also hosts the annual Fargo Film Festival and other special events.

Visit in summer or fall to experience a favorite weekend tradition: the Saturday farmers market. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., stalls sell fresh produce and lunch items, including Nigerian food and fusion tacos.

See a replica of the Wright Brothers' Flyer and an unmanned drone at Fargo Air Museum, then grab the controls in a state-of-the-art flight simulator. Pro tip: Plan your visit around an air exhibition—many of the planes in the collection are flyable.

Just across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota, you'll find an impressive replica of a Norwegian Viking ship. The center is also home to a wooden stave church; peek inside to see intricate woodworking.

Related: Top Things to Do in Fargo

The annual Fargo Blues Festival gathers music-lovers from around the country for a two-day event at Newman Outdoor Field. Twelve bands play throughout the festival, typically the last weekend of July. 

Go on the hunt—for art. There are 15 bison sculptures scattered around the city, each painted by a different artist. Some live on the streets while others hide in businesses.

Start your day inside a midcentury modern furniture store. BernBaum's is known for bagel sandwiches like the MidEast with hummus, labne (yogurt cheese), olives, pickled turnip, sumac onion and lemony greens. 

Luna began as a coffee shop but also serves food from a James Beard Award-nominated chef. Soups and sides—including black garlic roasted potatoes—change frequently. Get an afternoon caffeine boost at Twenty Below Coffee Company, the city's longest-running indie coffee roaster. 

Rosewild at Jasper Hotel uses Nordic techniques to prepare fermented and foraged ingredients. The Rye Spaetzle is a knockout. Grab a seasonal marg at Mezzaluna before indulging in modern American dishes (think steak tartare with smoked oyster aioli). 

If you didn't 'gram the Fargo Woodchipper at Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center, were you really here? 

Have you ever wanted to take a shot from a Viking ship? At The Troll Lounge, you can. Aquavit flights are served atop little wooden ships in the Nordic-themed bar run by the Sons of Norway. Though the lounge is in the club's headquarters, it's open to anyone and also serves Norwegian dishes.

Subtle nods to Jasper Chapin, the "Father of Fargo" and the town's third mayor, are found throughout the chic new Jasper Hotel. Staff wear bow tie pins in honor of Chapin's signature look, and the 10th-floor halls are painted in scarlet, his favorite tie color. Spot Scandinavian design elements throughout the lobby and rooms.