When you hear Fargo, you probably picture snow, a certain wood chipper and people saying, “You betcha.”

On our recent visit to Fargo for the Photowalks show, we found all kinds of reasons to look beyond those stereotypes: a walkable downtown filled with murals and historic buildings, independent cafes, Scandinavian-inspired food and a movie theater worth photographing more than once. Just outside town, the landscape changes to wide-open roads, old barns and enormous prairie skies.

Here’s how I’d organize a two-day visit based on our PhotowalksTV trip.

Day One: Walk Downtown, Follow the Murals and Stay for the Lights

Begin at Broadway Square, a gathering place that helps explain downtown Fargo’s transformation. Once a parking lot, it’s now a place to meet, relax and start exploring on foot.

Our downtown guide, Rocky, took me on a roughly one-mile photowalk through historic streets and alleys. Give yourself time to wander rather than treating it as a march between attractions. Look up at the old buildings, turn into the alleys and watch for the murals that bring color to the neighborhood.

Among my favorites were the Bob Dylan mural (did you know that the Minnesota native began his early career in Fargo?), the playful Super Mario mural and the “Greetings from” design. Graffiti Alley offers a different experience: a space for experimentation alongside the more finished public artworks elsewhere downtown.

Late Morning: A Homemade Pop-Tart at Moonrise Cafe

Stop at Moonrise Cafe on Broadway for coffee and a pastry that takes considerably more work than its familiar name suggests.

The staff told us their homemade Pop-Tarts take three days: make the dough, assemble the pastries with filling, then bake and finish them. Flavors change; during our visit, spiced plum was among the offerings.

Afternoon: The Wood Chipper and a Minnesota Detour

Head to the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center to see the famous wood chipper from Fargo, along with movie memorabilia. Even if you came to discover the city beyond the film, this is a fun stop.

Then cross the Red River into Moorhead, Minnesota, for the Hjemkomst Center. Its centerpiece is a remarkable replica Viking ship whose story includes a voyage to Norway. It adds another dimension to the area’s Scandinavian heritage—and gives you a reason to explore both sides of the river.

Dinner: Scandinavian Flavors at Prairie Kitchen

For dinner, we visited Prairie Kitchen at 701 Eateries.

I ordered true local fare: skillet cornbread and Swedish meatballs, leaning into the region’s Scandinavian connections. It was a different side of Fargo’s food scene from the cafes and contemporary food halls.

Evening: Photograph the Fargo Theatre

Build your evening around the Fargo Theatre’s illuminated sign. Of everything I photographed in town, this was the landmark that kept drawing me back.

The scale, the glow, the nostalgia dominate the skyline and screams FARGO to the world. Arrive around sunset so you can try the marquee against both a fading sky and the deeper colors that follow. During our shoot, clouds added texture to the background and made the scene even better.

Start directly across the street, then explore an angled view from farther along the block. The compositions feel surprisingly different.

If the programming fits your visit, make a night of it with a movie or live performance inside. We love that Fargo can support a year-round independent cinema.

Day Two: Food-Hall Finds and the Open Prairie

Morning: Revisit Your Favorite Downtown Corners

Use the morning for anything you rushed past on day one: another mural, an interesting storefront or a historic building that deserves a closer look.

Downtown rewards a second pass. With the landmark shots already covered, you can pay attention to smaller details and spend more time in the places you enjoy.

Lunch: Browse and Eat at Brewhalla

Make Brewhalla your lunch stop. Built around Drekker Brewing Company, it combines food, shopping, drinks and space to gather.

The variety is part of the attraction. People traveling together can choose different meals and still share the experience.

I went for pizza, with fresh dough and sausage made in-house. It was one of the food highlights of the trip—and evidence that Fargo’s dining scene reaches well beyond the expected.

Afternoon: Leave Room for the Backroads

Then head beyond downtown for the landscape that became my favorite part of visiting the area.

The city gives way to fields, barns and straight roads beneath huge skies. After a day of murals and architecture, the open space makes a striking contrast.

We found sunflower fields during our visit, but treat those as a seasonal possibility rather than a guaranteed stop. The broader attraction is the prairie itself.

Where We Stayed

Our base was the Best Western Plus Kelly Inn & Suites, which hosted our stay. Its lodge-style decor includes carved bears that give the property a personality of its own.

Best Western supported and hosted the accommodations for this PhotowalksTV visit.

Before You Set Out

Check current opening hours, theater programming and restaurant menus when arranging your days. For the Fargo Theatre photograph, confirm when the marquee will be illuminated.

Fargo gave us the recognizable movie connection, but the trip became much more interesting when we followed the murals, talked with residents, sampled the food and drove out into the prairie. Give it two days—and leave room for the surprises.