​Snack, sip, shop and stroll Medora

The quaint little western hamlet of Medora, bordered by the rugged badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, attracts history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe. But you definitely don’t have to be a scholar or the active type to enjoy this gorgeous corner of North Dakota. Medora is a compact, walkable town with plenty of hidden gems and unexpected surprises for foodies and shoppers. And it’s small enough that you don’t need a map (but you’ll find them all over town anyway). Here’s where to start your stroll.

Snack and sip

For a quintessentially “Medora” experience, combine an egg bake and bacon with rousing musical entertainment at the Medora Gospel Brunch on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9:30am (The show starts at 10:30). Spring for a mimosa or a Bloody Mary -- or both, since you’re walking! -- from the cash bar any day except Sunday.

If brunch isn’t really your thing, try a low-key al fresco lunch at Maltese Burger. This laid back little burger stand serves up hearty double burgers and fries that are ready fast, so you can order, take a quick break at a picnic table and get right back to exploring.

Hidden Springs Java is the perfect spot for a quick caffeine and carbohydrates boost. Sip a latte or refuel with a bagel or something sweet on their cozy front porch.

Sugar fiends should also make time to enjoy handmade ice cream at Medora Fudge and Ice Cream Depot. There are a few places to snag a fresh-scooped cone in town, but this busy corner shop offers great people watching along the main drag, Medora-made fudge and a sunny outdoor patio.

For a foodie-friendly dinner, don’t miss Theodore’s Dining Room in the Rough Riders Hotel, one of Medora’s oldest historic structures. The menu features hearty entrees like braised bison osso bucco with horseradish cream, that’s so tender it falls off the bone; pretty salads that eat like a meal (try the roasted beet salad with goat cheese crumbles, pistachios, apples and a blood orange vinaigrette); cocktails and luscious desserts (silky crème brulee, anyone?) in a quietly upscale atmosphere.

For cold beer at pretty much any time of day, seven days a week, head to Boots Bar and Grill. This lively watering hole offers a full menu, darts, pool, live music and the biggest selection of beer from Beaver Creek Brewery in nearby Wibaux, Montana in the state of North Dakota.

Shop

The western-style storefronts of Medora are chock full of treasures, from jewelry and artwork to classic cowboy hats and oh-so-necessary camping gear. Jump start your western makeover at Medora Boot and Western Wear. Look for hats and colorful cowboy boots, jeans for men and women (functional for the guys, fun and bling-y for the gals), and lots of fringe, turquoise and silver jewelry and embroidery for a little extra flair.

The kinetic (and vaguely hypnotic) wind spinners outside of The Buffalo Gap Gift Shop draw shoppers in for games, puzzles, pottery, jewelry, nifty pocket knives and hundreds of other weird and wonderful gifts you never knew you needed. The shop also operates a custom embroidery business that sells its clothing to both businesses and tourists.

Western Edge Books, Artwork, Music focuses on western, frontier and Americana narratives with a large selection of books and artwork that focus on the region. The shelves are stocked with fascinating titles, from tales of chiefs, cowboys and iconic individuals like Theodore Roosevelt and Sakakawea to campfire cookbooks and children’s picture books. This place is a must-see, even if western isn’t your go-to genre.

Speaking of Theodore Roosevelt, the presence of the 26th President of the United States has loomed large over Medora since he lived and ranched nearby, way back in the 1880s. Joe Ferris General Store has operated in Medora since 1885 and Joe (who once served as Roosevelt’s guide) kept a room ready above the shop for when his buddy Teddy came to town. Now you can find eccentric (and occasionally tongue-in-cheek) gifts, clothing, jewelry and decorative items with a distinctly modern edge for sale in this historic building.

Roosevelt’s Outpost, located near the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is a new addition to the Medora shopping scene. It offers all the camping and hiking gear you might have forgotten, including water bottles, walking sticks and an extra jacket for those chilly nights. It also carries prints and photographs of the beautiful badlands that Roosevelt – and countless other visitors, both then and now – fell in love with.

[Editor’s note: Alicia Underlee Nelson operates prairiestylefile.com and her first book, “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History” will be available in bookstores and on her website July 17, 2017]