Alicia Underlee Neslon is Rediscovering Home

Rediscovering Home

Alicia’s career has positioned her as a figure in the Fargo-Moorhead community, both as a freelance writer and as a local enthusiast— making her a fitting voice behind this particular project. With a career spanning over a decade, Alicia’s journey as a writer began as a fulltime endeavor following the birth of her son, marking a significant transition from part-time pursuits to a dedicated professional path. Her diverse portfolio includes a book that looks at North Dakota’s history with beer, as well as others on Midwestern road trips and state park adventures.

Her career navigated from theater to radio sales and eventually to writing, however, the constant throughout has been her love for storytelling and her ability to connect with a broad audience. Whether it was through her blog, her contributions to local publications, or her insightful travel books, she found that she has always been able to connect with her readers.

That might have something to do with a piece of advice that Alicia said was the best she’s ever gotten: write the stories that you want to write. And, although that felt like a big leap from her advertising-style writing background, it’s something that she has been able to position her writing style and career around—including this newest
work

“You write the stories that you’re interested in and you become known for writing those stories,” she said. “So, I’m kind of the girl people go to for overlooked, underthe-radar destinations, and North Dakota and Fargo definitely fall into that category.”

Alicia’s writing style, deeply influenced by her extensive travels, reflects a blend of local insight and global perspective. Her travel experiences, ranging from New Mexico to Spain and Germany, have inspired her work with a depth that goes beyond the typical travel narrative. These journeys have helped shape her professional approach, as well as her perspective.

In her personal life, Alicia’s roots are firmly planted in the Midwest. Originating from Hendrum, MN, a small town about 30 miles north of Moorhead, she has always viewed Fargo as the “big city,” like many others who grew up in the rural area. Her academic journey took her to Illinois and Minneapolis-St. Paul before returning to complete her degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

“I’ve had the ability to travel all over, and I think the one thing that all of my work has in common is, I’m very interested in slow travel,” Alicia said, “I am interested in slowing down and living like locals do, seeing things from the ground up as a local would. I do a lot of work with tourism departments and government agencies, and they’re wonderful for helping you find those marquee experiences and helping connect you to interesting neighborhoods, people, and experiences, but I think a lot of my best work comes from talking, not just to the concierge at our hotel, but talking to the taxi driver or asking my barista where they’re going on their day off. And going to that restaurant or that club, and then asking someone there where they would go, and I get a very different, layered approach.”

Alicia’s approach when writing is personal and community-oriented. Her interest in ‘slow travel’—a concept focused on “hidden,” local experiences—resonates through her work to showcase the diversity of the places she explores, especially her home region.

Alicia’s approach when writing is personal and community-oriented. Her interest in ‘slow travel’—a concept focused on “hidden,” local experiences—resonates through her work to showcase the diversity of the places she explores, especially her home region.

“I was able to approach my own community in the same way that I would approach another community where I was visiting,” she said. “I made my list and I had some fun, quirky things that I definitely wanted to include, but then I also had to do a hard look as I do whenever I write. What are my blind spots? What am I missing? What are the things that I’m not as knowledgeable about, but that are also important?”

" I think sometime we need to see familiar places with new eyes."

-Alicia Underlee Nelson, Author of :100 Things to Do in Fargo Before You Die"

With “100 Things to Do in Fargo Before You Die,” Alicia invites readers to see FargoMoorhead through her eyes in that same way, offering a guide that is as much a narrative of her own experiences as it is a testament to the vivacity of the local community.

“I think it’s a very Midwestern thing to be selfdeprecating and to put ourselves down, to say, ‘Oh, there’s nothing to do here.’ That’s a common comment that I get whenever I travel to any city, people who grew up there always, always say, ‘Oh, this place is so boring. I cannot believe you came here.’ And I think that should make us feel a little bit better here in Fargo and the Midwest—we’re not the only ones who do it,” Alicia said.

Alicia has written several books about the Midwest culture, history, and attractions. Check them out! If you’re interested in getting your hands on any of these books, head to prairiestylefile.com/store!

North Dakota Beer: A Heady History

In this book, Alicia recounts the journey of North Dakota from being a dry state to a thriving hub of craft beer. This book is a comprehensive exploration of the state’s beer history, including the rise of local breweries and the evolving beer culture.

Midwest Road Trip Adventures

Co-authored by Alicia, this anthology takes readers on a journey along some of the most storied highways and byways in the nation. The book features a variety of destinations, including historic lighthouses on Lake Erie’s shores in Ohio, canyons in Kansas, springs in Michigan, Underground Railroad sites in Illinois, and the iconic Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. It’s a celebration of the Midwest by authors intimately familiar with the regions they cover.

Midwest State Park Adventures

Another collaborative effort, this guidebook covers the world of Midwestern state parks. It features over 170 state parks, each selected for its unique landscapes and exciting activities. The book provides insider tips, organized layouts for five distinct regions in each state, and practical advice for planning adventures. This guide is an invitation to explore the natural beauty and diverse ecosystems of the Midwest’s outdoor offerings.

In a place where locals so often use that phrase, “There’s nothing to do here,” it was satisfying for Alicia to be able to show how that isn’t true, in 100 different ways.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dResearching and writing a book like this was a task that was just as challenging as it was rewarding, but one thing she was sure of—”I knew I could get 100,” she said. In fact, Alicia said that she actually had to narrow down her list to just 100. The difficulty wasn’t in finding enough content, but rather, in what had to be left out.apibus leo.

“The hardest part was to narrow it down and make sure that it felt balanced,” she said. This balance was about including a variety of activities, while also capturing the essence of the community in its entirety—its culture, its people, and its spirit.

“For some reason, with a book, I always want it to be something that will last for 20 years, which is probably not possible. With that in mind, I really wanted this book to be a snapshot of what’s happening now, but also to show the many different cultures that make this place what it is and to see how those are going to grow,” Alicia said.

As she was writing, It became less about the individual bullets in the list and more about weaving each bullet together in a way that best represented the community and its variety, diversity, and, equally as important, affordability.

“It’s hard, especially if you have a family, so I included free and affordable things in this book because I think it is absolutely vital and everybody has the right to fully experience their city,” Alicia said. “We are lucky in that there are lots of places that are free, lots of things that are super affordable and interesting for families… I mean, many of us have had times when our dreams were bigger than our budget, and that’s okay, this book has got you covered.”

Alicia always tries to show diverse and affordable options in her travel writing—she knows that travel and exploration are a privilege, and her works seek to bridge the gap, making it a more inclusive and accessible experience. By highlighting low-cost or free activities, she opens the door to a wider audience, allowing more people to experience the joy of discovery and the thrill of adventure that brings; and that’s not lost on her own community.

The authenticity in Alicia’s work stems from her personal connections and experiences within the community.

“I think it’s really easy to go a little bit blind to the place where you live, we miss a lot of the charm and the uniqueness of neighborhoods and cities and state when we are used to seeing them. I think sometimes we need to see familiar places with new eyes,” Alicia said.

In her travel writing, Alicia does a lot of work with street food, breweries, and handmade local artists and creatives— something that sounds pretty similar to the lineup here in the FM area.

“I realized that we have attractions, neighborhoods, artists, breweries, and restaurants here, that can absolutely hold their own with places where state and and national governments are throwing their money behind to pro

This led Alicia to rediscover Fargo-Moorhead, finding beauty and excitement in places she had perhaps overlooked or taken for granted. Her book encourages both residents and visitors to do the same, to explore their surroundings with curiosity and wonder

In “100 Things to Do in Fargo Before You Die,” Alicia Underlee Nelson has created more than a travel guide; she has crafted almost a love letter to Fargo-Moorhead. It’s a book that invites readers to explore, to discover, and to fall in love with a community that, while it may seem unassuming, is filled with life and culture.

As Alicia herself puts it, “[It’s] not just the marquee destinations, not just the things you’ll see in terms of a brochure, but the stuff that you gather when you live here and work here, and when you have to keep your creative juices flowing.”

This book is a journey through Fargo-Moorhead, guided by someone who knows it best, and it’s an invitation to see this vibrant community through her eyes

Local or not, rediscover Fargo-Moorhead and get a copy of “100 Things to Do in Fargo Before You Die” at prairiestylefile.com

Q: So, this book potentially could have volume two in the future?

A: I think so. And I think that’s what makes a book like this interesting— you can pick it up and you can read it, cover to cover if you want to, that’s fine. If you’re more interested in sports and recreation, or food and drink, you can start there and read through it. Or you can just pick your favorite number, whatever seems interesting, and liven it up. Make it a party game if you want. It also arranges things by itinerary style if you want great photo-ops or date night ideas. You can also search by season, which is nice because people think there’s nothing to do here in the winter, and that’s clearly untrue.

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