“For those who are lost, there will always be cities that feel like home.”
― Simon Van Booy, Everything Beautiful Began After
I moved to Moorhead in the fall of 2006 to attend college. While completing my undergrad, I lived in three different dorm rooms and two houses - all within a six-block radius of campus. When I graduated, I planned to move to a new state ASAP, but fate had other plans. Three weeks after I graduated, I accepted a full-time position working at my alma mater in a job I loved. I got a nearby condo and began to explore the surrounding areas outside the "bubble" of campus. As time passed, I stopped dreading the long, cold winters and began to appreciate the quiet beauty of each new season.
- FALL: In my favorite season, the arrival/return of 30,000 young minds to campuses across our community is exhilarating. Students bring with them a sense of energy and passion for exploration that is both renewing and incredibly contagious. Other highlights: homecoming festivities, crisp October air, long walks, bonfires and the vibrant colors of trees along the Red River.
- WINTER: our longest season, means finding the warmth in people and places. I can't count the number of times a neighbor or friend has unexpectedly made my day by plowing my driveway or inviting me over for homemade potato soup. Favorite hangouts to beat (or join) the cold: cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at one of our 46 local parks, warm drinks at at cozy coffee shops and craft beer at our very first brewery.
- SPRING: You can't talk about spring in Fargo-Moorhead without mentioning flooding. In my nine years here, I've experienced several "500-year" floods, placed countless sandbags and been evacuated twice. More importantly, I've seen resilience as the best of humanity comes together to protect our city.
- SUMMER: Moorhead summers mean quiet streets as college students move on to new adventures. It means beautiful parks and clear skies. Summer concerts and street fairs. Road trips to neighboring lakes and states. Long weekends and camping trips. The smell of fresh-cut lawn and summer barbecues.
Two years ago, I bought my first house on a quiet little street not far from here. It takes me approximately 37 seconds to walk to my best friends house down the street. My favorite grocery store is within walking distance and has an endless supply of free coffee and donut holes. I take long walks through perfectly manicured campuses, along paths past the winding Red River and on calm residential streets lined with historic houses. The cost of living is inexpensive which makes traveling from our charming little airport easy. But nothing beats coming home.
So here’s to you, Moorhead.
Whether you’re a native of this area or just passing through, I’d love to hear about your favorite places, people and memories about this amazing little city.