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Red River Valley

The Red River flows north along the far northwest border of Minnesota, through a fertile agricultural region rich in natural and cultural heritage. The river itself is known to anglers for its catfish. Buffalo River State Park, along with the adjacent Bluestem Prairie preserve, is one of the largest tracts of native prairie in the state. The state parks and wildlife refuges of the area are great places for birding.

Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks-East Grand Forks are the cultural and commercial centers of the valley. Especially interesting is Moorhead’s Heritage Hjemkomst Center, home of a replica Viking ship. The greater Grand Forks area features an array of arts groups and shops, plus the Red River State Recreation Area. Crookston has a charming downtown of historic shopfronts, and Thief River Falls features a riverwalk and pioneer village. Inner tubing on the Red Lake River is a fun summertime cool down. Hunting is big here in the fall, and snowmobiling is the wintertime sport of choice.