7 Quirkiest Towns In The Northern United States You Didn't Know Existed

There are many compelling routes to take across the United States. You can roll the windows down and smell the Pacific seabreeze for weeks on end. You can set a course along America's backbone landscapes, such as the cloud-piercing Rockies, or tree-covered Appalachians. Or, you may follow in the footsteps of snowbirds and Spring-Breakers by seeking the beaches of the Gulf Coast. But if you're in the mood for a path less-traveled; for off-beat communities in the Northern reaches, then check out these quirky towns that you probably didn't even know existed.

Wallace, Idaho

You might not have heard of this reinvented mining town, but Wallace has gone out of its way to establish a name for itself. After surviving multiple major fires, the boom and bust of the silver industry, and FBI raids of its once-thriving bordello scene (the history of which can be explored at the local Oasis Bordello Museum), this Idaho Panhandle town was unwilling to succumb to an encroaching highway, and instead worked to have every single building in the downtown core listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Not only did this force Interstate 90 to pass up and around, rather than barrel right through, but it made Wallace one of the few downtowns in the country with such a designation. Snowballing on this momentum, less than a decade later a group of particularly prideful Walleconians stumbled out of an old-timey saloon (another of Wallace's quirks) and declared a manhole cover on the corner of Sixth and Bank as "The Center of the Universe." The aberrant idea caught on and was officially proclaimed by the mayor in 2004.

Copper Harbor, Michigan

Way out on the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula (an offshoot of the Upper Peninsula), Michigan's northernmost town is as quirky as it is isolated. Like Wallace, Copper Harbor developed around the 19th century mining boom - but this time copper, rather than silver, was the catalyst (hence the town's name). With only about 100 permanent residents, this unincorporated community relies on the modest tourism generated by its natural beauty and enigmatic history. Take a step back in time by visiting the 1850 schoolhouse (still in operation), Fort Wilkins Historic State Park (circa 1844), or by touching the US 41 terminus sign: a nearly 2000-mile highway that began as Native American trails, evolved into missionary and fur trader routes, and finally, into the motorway that now reaches the southern tip of Florida.

In terms of its wilderness, Copper Harbor boasts one of Michigan's last remaining stands of old growth white pines (which can be marveled at in multiple groves within Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary), and thanks to its dynamic and immersive trails, is a magnet for mountain bikers. And as for the town proper, Copper Harbor offers a modest but eclectic mix of watering holes, gift shops, and waterfront lodging.

Minot, North Dakota

If it's not along the coasts, amidst the Rockies, or surrounding the Great Lakes, then it tends to get overlooked in a typical overview of the Northern United States. So when it comes to the Dakotas, there are a number of compelling towns that you probably didn't even know existed. Case in point, Minot, North Dakota, aka "Magic City."

Plunked just 50 miles south of the Canadian border, this obscure but lively place is home to the North Dakota State Fair (i.e. the largest annual event in the state), the Dakota Territory Air Museum (a substantial collection of antiquated planes sure to satisfy all aviation buffs), and such family-first attractions as the Roosevelt Park Zoo and the Magic City Discovery Center. But Minot's primary asset in the quirky department is its Scandinavian Heritage Park. Here, visitors can step inside a monumental wooden Norwegian Gol Stave church and feast their eyes on a 25-foot-tall, bright-red Swedish Dala horse - not to mention the Finnish sauna, Dutch windmill, and various other historical statues and structures within this well-kept green space.

Bonus quirk: Since you're in the area, and since we've already seen the symbolic "Center of the Universe," why not check out the actual (or at least, very close to) Geographical Center of North America? This roadside novelty shrine isn't in Minot, but it's less than an hour east (a pretty minor detour by prairie standards), in the town of Rugby.

Bigfork, Montana

Montana has loads of well-known treasures, but one of its easy-to-overlook gems is the little town of Bigfork. Located on the slower-going eastern shore of Flathead Lake (i.e. the largest natural body of water in the Western U.S.) but obscured from the highway by an idyllic harbor, Bigfork is for those willing to pause en route to Glacier National Park and indulge in a well-rooted community. The best way to experience Bigfork is as a generalist. Try your hand at paddleboarding, take a walk along the Swan River Nature Trail, vie for a patio seat at Flathead Lake Brewing, catch a performance at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, or dine/shop along the aptly-named Electric Avenue. But my favorite part of my fortuitous overnighter in Bigfork was the Monday Market, which gathered a robust crowd full of families, couples, and one-off itinerants outside of River View Bar in the name of live music, barbeque, and pop-up vendors.

Cascade Locks, Oregon

Hidden within the epic Columbia River gorge, where Northern Oregon greets Southern Washington, the nonchalant community of Cascade Locks does things a little differently. This Pacific Crest Trail town welcomes cross-county trekkers as they make their way to either the Canadian or Mexican border, starved for hot food, cold beer, and a bit of socializing. Find them at Thirsty Coffee Bar or across the street at Thunder Island Brewing, or making their way across the iconic Bridge of the Gods. Everyday visitors can partake in the same leisure, or better yet, board a sternwheeler, or rent a kayak/canoe for an even better view of the lush, towering gorge. And one last thing, on your way into or out of town, pay close attention to the various waterfalls turnoffs. There are several spectacular options lining the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Highway, both East and West of Cascade Locks.

Ashland, Wisconsin

People passing through Ashland, Wisconsin are typically en route to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. While this rustic shipping town prides itself on being the "gateway" to the 21-island archipelago in the southwest corner of Lake Superior, it also has a few local quirks worth seeing first. For starters, Ashland is the "Historic Mural Capital of Wisconsin." Strolling down Main Street, it immediately becomes obvious why. Throughout this eight-block Historic District there are no less than 20 building-engulfing paintings showcasing different aspects of Ashland's settlement and development over the centuries. Along the way, stop for a cuppa at the cozy and totally unpretentious Black Cat Coffeehouse (there's a little library seating area in the back, or you can socialize in the colorful front corridor), and maybe end your afternoon with a flick at the Bay Theatre vintage cinema.

Grand Marais, Minnesota

Yet another gem along Lake Superior's shoreline is that of Grand Marais, Minnesota. This kooky Cook County community is the North Star State's oldest art colony. Since 1947, contemporary artists have sought inspiration from the isolated scenery offered by Grand Marais. Its lighthouse-tipped, whale's tail-shaped peninsula wades well into the Great Lake, offering painters and photographers deep blue waters with scattered sailboats as their foreground, and the wild boreal forests of the Sawtooth Mountains as a backdrop. No wonder this place is called Artist's Point. If you're looking to fan the creative flames further, consider registering for a class (there are tons to choose from, almost year-round) at the North House Folk School, or poke your head into one of the many revered galleries that are all clustered conveniently in Grand Marais' commercial core.

Parting Thoughts

These seven small towns are sheltered by undeveloped geography and capricious off-seasons. It is that healthy amount of separation that keeps such Northern United States destinations undiscovered, and delightfully strange. So what better way to shake off the ubiquitous corporate beige and rediscover one's love for America than by delving into the quirky communities of its less-traveled regions?