Discover Winter Magic
Walsh County’s Hidden Gems Will Warm Your Heart!
By Adrienne Montonye
January 23, 2025
I have lived in Walsh County for seven years and still consider myself a Northeast North Dakota newbie. It took me a while to find my footing, but I’m starting to get comfortable here. North Dakota is cold, right, but Northeast North Dakota is the coldest region in the state! That is something to get used to. I let it deter me from enjoying the winter the last couple of years, but this year I’m getting out and finding that Walsh County is a fun little winter wonderland. Small businesses and communities do an excellent job of providing some down home fun for us. Here are some of my favorites:
Local Flavor: Comfort Food and Community Connections
A few friends and I decided we’d had it with the winter weather and drove down the street to Beaver’s Cafe and the Harvey Ave. Saloon and enjoyed some great food. We bonded over BLTs and mingled with our neighbors through the night. The fries are always seasoned just right and way too good to pass up!
Rural Convenience Meets Quality
Can I just brag about Hugo’s in Grafton for a minute? It’s rare to live rural and have good shopping nearby, but Walsh County is equipped with more than enough for its residents when it comes to shopping. I love that I recognize the workers, the shelves are always fully stocked, and they have a full bakery, butcher shop, and off-sale onsite. Did I mention that Caribou Coffee serves up the yummiest winter drinks, too?! It’s a big plus to live rural and not have to hit up the big city when we need groceries.
Winter Wonderland: Community Celebrations and Festive Lights
The communities in Walsh County make an effort to make winter magical and that makes winter walks and drives delightful! My family drove through Leistikow Park in Grafton over the holidays and were thoroughly de”light”ed (see what I did there?) with the Christmas light display! Many towns around the county held light display contests resulting in charming decorations to enjoy around the holidays. The effort hasn’t stopped with the holiday season. Minto Park boasts improvements like new basketball and pickleball courts, and the tucked away bridge that runs over the Forest River is lit up with lights that make for an enchanting view in the twilight of these long winter days. Walks in Minto have been good for my soul this season!
Winter Recreation Playground
In an effort to keep myself active this winter I’ve discovered little winter gems in my little town of Minto. The city park is always a great place to go, but it was just this year I started to use it for winter recreation, and it doesn’t disappoint! A long tree-lined loop makes for a beautiful winter walk. There’s plenty of room to pull my kids around on the sled too.
Small Town, Big Hearts
Local events that get you out and having fun bat the winter blues away! This month alone Minto hosted a Trivia Night and a Cash Bingo night! There’s often a few things going on throughout the month that get me out my door and having fun with my neighbors. A perk of so many events is a number of volunteer opportunities for my kids and me. The town gives so much to us, giving our time back in the way of serving at an event just seems right. It’s also a great way to build character and meet new people.
While my list is short, there is so much to do to make the best of winter! Alongside the perks of rural living like great communities to raise our kids to knowing everyone from the firemen to the school teachers, you still have a great set of reasons to enjoy winter in Walsh County! Don’t be like me and take seven years to find that out! Get out there and enjoy what we have to offer!
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About the Author
Adrienne Montonye is a resident of Minto, North Dakota and host of the podcast How to Love North Dakota (When you Hate North Dakota). She has spent the last five years of her life finding the positives in rural surroundings. Her employment as Communication Manager at the LCMS ND District, studies at the local University of North Dakota, and time volunteering in Northeast North Dakota communities have kept her grounded in rural life.
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