North Dakota: Lewis and Clark, Creating a Family Field Trip. Everyone loves a great field trip and kids are no exception. The good news is that noted historian Clay Jenkinson in collaboration with North Dakota Tourism staff have made it easy to travel the Lewis and Clark Trail by creating a paper guide and audio guide. Make plans and taka a family field trip.

Welcome to the real world.  The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center has been described as both exceptional and world-class. Overlooking the Upper Missouri River the Interpretive Center has displays and exhibits that make the Corps of Discovery's journey seem very real. There is an enormous river canoe carved from the trunk of a cottonwood tree. It shows the extent of preparations made by the Corps members as they prepared for the next part of their journey. This museum is user-friendly and basically fun for all ages. (McLean County Highway 17, Washburn. 1(701) 462-8535 or www.fortmandan.com)

Get the rest of the story at the fort. Located two miles west of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center is Fort Mandan. Also on the Upper Missouri River it is near the site of the original 1804 winter quarters and the Mandan-Hidatsa Indian village. The now reconstructed Fort Mandan has full sized replicas of the original rooms built and used by the Expedition. They have created an inviting way to experience the past with interpreters providing year-round tours of Lewis & Clark's 1804-1805 wintering post. Visitors may try on a bearskin while passing a peace pipe or enjoying frontier fiddle music. (McLean County Highway 17, Washburn. 1(701) 462-8535 or www.fortmandan.com) 

There’s no place like home. The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is located a half hour west of Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center this location was once the home of Sacagawea and her husband Toussaint Charbonneau. The Museum has exhibits of North American Indian artifacts and crafts, an orientation film and a replica of a full-sized earth lodge. There are the remains of three village sites where one can see circular depressions, cache pits, fortification ditches, and travois trails. There are 13 miles of trails for hiking through natural areas and around the cultural sites. (Stanton. 1(701) 745-3300 or www.nps.gov/knri)

CD Aids Lewis & Clark Experience. An audio adventure has been created of the Lewis and Clark Trail by noted historian Clay Jenkinson and North Dakota Tourism. It traces the Lewis and Clark Trail in North Dakota providing  background of the expedition with suggested stops along the way.

The 68-minute CD covers the historical background of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and how it ties to North Dakota today. It also covers other regions in North Dakota that are tied to the Lewis and Clark Trail. A map that accompanies the CD will help listeners visualize the adventure and includes historical campsites and interpretive sites along the trail and shows other regions that can be linked to the Lewis and Clark story.

This audio CD is designed to give tourists and North Dakotans alike a thematic introduction to the 215 days the expedition spent in what is now North Dakota,” Jenkinson said. “There is nothing I would rather do than be the voice welcoming visitors to North Dakota and telling them of some of the cultural heritage of this place. I'm a North Dakotan right to the core, and my mission is to convince some of our visitors to make this great place their home. Meanwhile, they will learn a good deal about the most important exploration in American history." The audio adventure is available at visitor centers and gift shops throughout the state. The cost is $4.95. Circle of Cultures concluded Oct. 31, 2004 but the path of adventure remains for all to enjoy. For more information www.circleofcultures.com  

Editor’s note: This CD is an excellent companion to the video and Lewis and Clark Adventure kit created by KOA. Both provide ways for parents to create an extraordinary family field trip through the American West. Even if Lewis and Clark is not on the vacation agenda, North Dakota is an awesome adventure playground for a family vacation. Friendly people, glorious nights filled with star-blankets and the chance to see cowboys at work. Hawks, eagles, antelope provide wildlife moments; maybe even see a few bison not behind bars.

Additional Resources 

USA National Park Service. The National Park Service’s award-winning "Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future" is traveling the country through 2006 the details may be found at www.lewisclarkandbeyond.com/schedule/  The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail offers a general resource for events nationwide. The information is www.nps.gov/lecl/

National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. This is a a comprehensive website offering materials to enhance any family adventure. For example available to parents and educators a CD-Rom (underwritten by Qwest), which contains an educational curriculum developed by the Missouri Historical Society for elementary through high school students. Saint Louis, MO 63112-0040. Toll-free 888-999-1803 or www.lewisandclark200.org

Montana: Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. This is a marvelous resource site with not only pages for kids but many useful links by region and season.  Toll-free 1-888-701-3434 - 600 Central Avenue Suite 327 Great Falls, MT 59403 or www.lewisandclark.org

South Dakota: Lewis and Clark Association. The Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce along with the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan has created Lewis and Clark's Historic Trail site to celebrate Yankton's place in history. The maps showcase not only South Dakota but the entire route. The site is great and it provides one more resource for community events. www.lewisclark.net

South Dakota Lewis and Clark Audiotape. A useful companion on the road the audiotape is available on loan at any of the South Dakota Information Centers along I-90 and I-29. Listen to the stories about the Corps of Discovery as you drive the trail. Additionally some businesses along the trail also sell the tape or you may order one from the Southeast South Dakota Visitors Association. 1-888-353-7382. 

Content updated by TravelComunications.net 8/2009. Details, accurate at the time of writing, need to be confirmed prior to making plans.