Negative outlook on Minot.. (Fargo, Grand Forks: low crime, house, theater)

[tankgirl_wa]

We are highly likely to PCS to Minot this year. I was really worried at first. ALL I have heard is awful, negative things. - Boring, ugly, remote, nothing to do, nowhere to go etc.

I have to say now that I have begun to look into it I am starting to wonder why this is the opinion out there!? From what I can see it looks beautiful! My family and I are young (32) and we love to camp and fish and spend our time with friends and family . This seems like a fantastic place for all of that.

(originally from AK and Colorado currently in Germany)

Am I missing something!?

[HighPlainsDrifter73]

tankgirl_wa, Minot and North Dakota in general is one of the best kept secrets in the country. Most people that have negative opinions of North Dakota seem to be mostly urban people who see anything outside of a major city as boring. They view rural and small town as boring. Hey, to each their own. It is true though that North Dakota's winters are significantly harsher than the majority of the country. You just have to be prepared for that. I enjoy harsh winters so this is a desirable feature for me. Minot is a good distance from a major city like Minneapolis. You will like North Dakota if you enjoy smaller towns and rural areas like I do.

I live in the suburbs of Chicago and have rural acreage in the Williston area, and plan on moving to North Dakota within the next 2 years - at least part time considering I have a very well paying job in the Chicago area. My job in Chicago area is the only thing keeping me here. I sold my house last year and am in the process of selling my second house here also.

Minot is a nice town and I see nothing bad about it. It has lots of shopping from what I've seen. North Dakota is one of the nicest states I have experienced - small town/rural areas, very low crime, little traffic congestion, friendly people and a slower pace of life. If these are things you like, you will like North Dakota.

From my point of view, I hope North Dakota stays the way it is. I would never want to see hordes of people moving there.

[magiccity]

Minot is a very nice place to live. Today, Aug 7th, is military appreciation day at the zoo for free entrance, free lunch, and free admission to the water play area. Minot has rolling hills surrounding the city, we are currently going through a population explosion with the increased in military and energy people moving to Minot and the surrounding areas. We have a lot of people coming here telling us they are only here for 3 years and they are out of here. Well, 20 years later, they are still here. During the summer, we have free concerts in the parks, which last night was the last for the year. We have a lot of activities for people of all ages. It just depends on what you want to do. If you fish or hunt, you can't find a better state than ND.

[ElkHunter]

Outstanding.! My daughter and her husband were stationed there and loved it. They've since, been long gone, but they really loved every minute they spent there.

EH

[soundforlanguage81]

I lived in Minot for about a year and I have only good things to say about the area. It's a small city and has the amenities as such (zoo, mall, loads of groc. stores etc..) Winters are harsh, but if you've lived in Alaska and Colorado, you're no doubt used to some aspects of 5 months of winter. There is some outstanding outdoor life within a couple of hours of town: Lake Sakakawea, ND badlands/Roosevelt nat'l park, Maah Daah Hey trail is great for biking, and the amazing scenery of the desolate northern plains is neverending.

Boring, flat and unpopulated. It's a stereotype well known to most ND natives. If you're used to snowcapped mountains or cities packed like sardine cans, you're in for some shock. But ND has a strange way of growing on you.

[magiccity]

Don't forget we have the badlands, the National Park. Also, in Medora we have an outdoor amphitheater and pitchfork steak fondue. I go there every year for the show, dinner and golf. Bully Pulpit is one of the most beautiful courses you will ever see. Hole 15, signature hole, is where you tee off of one butte and land on another. Don't miss.

[Cain]

I went to college and Minot and I think the only bad I have really to say about the area is that at that time (1998 - 2000) the city really didn't clean there streets at all after the winter was over. Washing a car was at best a futile effort / one day stay clean affair. Not sure if they started to clean this up now since its been awhile, but that really was the only real issue I had with the city.

[Roloff1976]

Not to put a negative on all the positives, but I wouldn't go as far as saying Minot has the Badlands and National Park, and it is not near Medora. But it would make for a nice long day trip to go further west and south. These parks are located in extreme western North Dakota between the Williston and Dickinson areas. BUT...Minot can have bragging rights to being close to Lake Metigoshe and the beautiful Turtle Mountains area. And also means they are close to Bottineau and winter skiing (not Montana skiing, but nice enough just the same)

[jenhaan]

I moved to Minot from Detroit. If you like outdoor activities, it's an okay place to be. In the winter it can get pretty dull...going to the bar is about the only thing to do. But being from 'the city' I personally find this place quite boring. But the people here are wonderful! And it's probably the only state in the US that is not suffering from the economy.

[roundball]

I myself am not a big fan of Minot. Granted, its been a few years since I have been there. The impression that I remember the most is the ruted roads. To me the only worthwhile cities in ND are Fargo and Grand Forks.

I have a sister that lives there with 3 girls and she really loves it...each his own I guess. I know that ND is about the worst station you can get(perception wise). It's really not that bad, and I was and am sure you will be surprised at the number of Airmen that retire in ND.