The Bully Pulpit, Medora Photo by Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation

Where does Dave St. Peter, president of the Minnesota Twins, go to relax?

“A return to my home state of North Dakota has consistently been my “go-to spot” for soul searching, mind-clearing, and relaxation. Trips typically include spending time in my favorite ND communities of Bismarck and Grand Forks. Whenever possible, these visits include UND hockey and/or golf at two spectacular courses: Hawktree (Bismarck) and The Bully Pulpit (Medora).”

If you go:

• For a family-friendly outing, head to Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo, a 90-acre facility home to more than 600 animals. Don’t miss the tunnels at the Jack and Joyce Schuchart Big Cat Complex for an up-close-and-personal view of Bengal tigers and snow leopards.
• You can’t go to Grand Forks without stopping at UND’s Ralph Engelstad Arena, the 400,000-square-foot home of the Fighting Hawks hockey team—and the alma mater of many NHL pros. Although it’s not the “State of Hockey,” many Minnesotans will still feel right at home.
• Take St. Peter’s advice and book a tee time at Hawktree Golf Club, a par 72, 18-hole course not far from the Missouri River. Watch out for the last hole, a long par 5 that’s historically known as Hawktree’s biggest test. Or, escape to the North Dakota Badlands at Bully Pulpit Golf Course, another 18-hole course ranked by Golf Digest as one of the nation’s top 100 public courses.
• For a western-style experience, consider staying near Bully Pulpit at the historic Rough Riders Hotel, where President Theodore Roosevelt once stayed.