Minot, ND

I might just have to visit Tim in the near future as North Dakota is one of the 2 states I haven't been to. Not a coffee drinker - but a cuppa hot chocolate will work. Tim jr.

Hope so! Tim's knowledge of transportation info is amazing!

I was there once in Feb. One quickly learns to stay in hotels with dining rooms. Going out at night during this time of year is dangerous. Still get chills just thinking about it!

Tim is a treasure for this site.

Before the praise gets too lavish, you need to but it in perspective: only two people live in Minot.....................the other one is Mrs. Tim.

Thanks for the compliments (even yours, Ed).

It looks like I need to set the world straight about Minot! The population is 35,000, with another 12,000 at the Air Force base north of town. Minot is home to Minot State University, the North Dakota State Fair, and Hostfest (the largest Scandinavian festival in the US) and is the economic and transportation hub for northwestern North Dakota. Thanks in part to the expanded drilling in the oilfields to the west, Minot is booming.

The Air Force base consists of two wings, a B52 bomber wing and a Minuteman missile wing. The stories are legion about Air Force personnel, particularly those from the South, who learn that they have been assigned to Minot and are convinced they will not survive it. Once they learn how to drive on snow and ice, their chances of survival increase dramatically and more than a few of them choose to stay here after they are discharged.

Between Delta and United there are multiple daily flights to Minneapolis, Denver and Salt Lake City. Minot is a major stop on Amtrak on the route from Chicago to either Seattle or Portland.

Yes, it gets well below zero here in the winter, but not for extended periods of time. If you want real cold, go to the Red River Valley on the eastern edge of the state. (You all saw the movie "Fargo", didn't you?) If you picture North Dakota as one gigantic pancake and all open prairie with no trees, you will be wrong. While it's truly flat on the eastern side of the state, the western side has lots of rolling hills. Minot is in the Souris River Valley and we have lots of trees, both in the valley and on the hills above it.

Can't afford a trip to Europe this year? If you come to Minot, the coffee is on Kathy ("Mrs. Tim") and me! We serve fair trade organic French roast coffee and we grind our own beans.

Awwww, happy to see Tim recognized for his help on this board.

I ran out of room in my previous post. Here are four more things Minot has going for it.

Josh Duhamel, probably best known for his role in the TV series "Las Vegas", grew up in Minot. A few years ago he opened 10 North Main, an upscale (for Minot) restaurant. The food and service are very good and you won't have to pay New York prices if you eat there.

A few blocks south of 10 North Main is Off the Vine, a delightful wine bar that also serves scrumptious desserts.

Of course, if you want to sit in a booth and eat typical American cafe food, you'll have lots of places from which to choose. And if you're like the male farmers and ranchers around here who feel naked without their caps, you'll feel right at home and you won't have to remove your cap in the cafes and diners.

There is a large Barnes & Noble book store at the mall, but you'll have more fun visiting Main Street Books, a lovely independent book store.

Minot is big on music and the arts. We have a full symphony orchestra whose director previously played violin in the London Symphony Orchestra. There are four community choruses (mixed, men, women, and children) and a barbershop chorus. We are home to the Western Plains Opera. Besides the drama department at Minot State University, there are two community theater groups. There are several dance companies, including a ballet and modern dance company directed by a former dancer in the Bolshoi Ballet Company. And I almost forgot the Minot Brass Band. Do you like Celtic music but you can't swing a trip to Ireland? Greenman, a local Celtic band, will not disappoint you.

I am so glad a passenger train stops in Minot. I assume you know the schedule!

Anyway, you do a great job here. Thanks.

Fascinating info, Tim! Thanks. It amazes me how much we can all learn from the Wall....I would never have expected to learn something about the US at ETBD but here it is...a town I never heard of until Tim Treasure Minot showed up with his excellent transportation knowledge. (Thanks Tim!)
PS: Tim, your middle name is Treasure, isn't it?

Tim - Do you like marshmallows in your hot chocolate?

Karen - Since there is only one Amtrak train per day in each direction, it's not hard to keep track of the schedule. Guaranteeing that the trains will be on time is another matter altogether!

Darcy - You may not have known anything about Minot, but I know a lot about Lewiston. Why? I used to live there! (I'll tell you more in a PM.) My middle name starts with an "H". I'll leave it to you to guess what it stands for.

Hooray for Tim!

Have to admit, Minot is my Birthplace, my family was one of many that moved through the AF base there. I actually hope to make it through there again.

I must admit, that I too am tempted. Maybe the University will pull me there. North Dakota is one of the last three states I've yet to visit. Pam

I'd like to elect Tim as our Minister of Transportation (and, apparently, the Minister of Tourism for Minot. Who knew?).

Tim, my hat is off to you for your years of dedicated (and patient!) advice here. Thank you!

Minot sounds like a great place to live (besides the cold) there is so much to do there.

Tim - I think your middle name must be Helpful.

Adding to my list of things to know about Minot: Birthplace of Paul.

Andrea - I like my new middle name.

Kudos to Tim!

As for the two trains each day arriving as scheduled in Minot. It is Amtrak, does it not count as on time if it arrives sometime on the day in which it was scheduled to arrive? I know that one can set their watch by Swiss trains, but with Amtrak it seems to be enough to just check your calendar.

Kevin,

Since Amtrak trains have been known to arrive in Minot more than 24 hours late, I think your arrival-on-the same-day definition of being on time is good!

However, this past Christmas there was a major blizzard that shut down all major highways all across North Dakota and all airports in the state. Only Amtrak was running. My daughter, who was flying from Houston to Minot, got as far as Minneapolis on Christmas Day and was told that it was unlikely planes would be flying before late the next day. We told her to get on the train that same evening and she arrived in Minot right on time the next morning. We got 26 inches of snow on Christmas Day. Even though I live only six blocks from the train station, I got my 4-wheel-drive pickup high-centered twice when I went to pick her up and had to shovel my way out both times.

BTW, how do you actually pronounce Minot:

1) Minute
2) Min-noh
3) Mee-noh
4) Mee-nit

or???

:)

MY-not...P.S. Tim...my first-ever girlfriend was from Pekin

Norm has it right. He should, since he once lived here. (You did tell me that in a PM a few years back, didn't you, Norm? I'm not making this up, am I?)

The most popular pronunciation among telemarketers is Min-oh.

Haha! We used to get the old orange-and-black GN trains into Winnipeg...their yard was near my house. In Regina, we used to get KXMD out of Williston as the CBS affiliate. And, of course, much of the booze that Al Capone's gang shipped out of your city during Prohibition came from liquor warehouses in Winnipeg and Regina! Never lived there, but visited often, and loved the place!

James, my wife and I know a few non-white AF types who like it here. However, I'm sure if one were to take a poll, a very strong majority would affirm what you wrote. Minot's non-Caucasian population is very small. There's not even much of a Native American presence in town, although there are reservations in this part of the state. If you're looking for cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity, you won't find it in Minot. And frankly, IMO, that is one of its drawbacks. Most of the people here are of either Scandinavian or German descent.

Yay for Tim! He directed me to the world taxi meter website, I never even knew there was such a thing!!

Here's what I like about Tim:
1. Lots of HELPFUL info
2. Non-judgemental response to questions
3. Doesn't cruise the board looking for an excuse to
pounce on some poor soul

All in all, one of the great resources of this board. Thanks for all the help, Tim. (BTW, our pastor's son lives in ND. He's been home for the last week and I think their getting ready to ship him back before he overcooks!)