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Covering more than a million square miles from central Canada to northern Mexico, the prairies are a major part of North American geography. Otherwise known as the Great Plains, this expansive ecoregion cuts between mountain ranges and is defined by domineering grass, low precipitation, and one-horse towns. Those stereotypes do not tell the whole story, of course. Providing access to relaxing retreats and wondrous wilderness, prairie towns are among the best destinations for a captivating vacation. Behold the seven not-so-plain settlements on the greatest plains.

Medora, North Dakota

Prairies are more than just brittle grass on flat land. They encompass various types of vegetation and landforms, most of which can be found near Medora, North Dakota. This tiny settlement is a gateway to arguably the grandest prairie preserve in the United States: Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Aptly named for the grandest person to ever inhabit the White House, TRNP showcases the Wild West region where Roosevelt roamed before his presidency. It spans over 70,000 acres of plains, hills, valleys, buttes, hoodoos, and clinkers (colorful coal-baked rocks) over three separate units. The South Unit is closest to Medora, so after hiking, camping, and/or wildlife watching, you can get instant R&R at Pitchfork Steak Fondue, Theodore's Dining Room, and numerous other retreats. Perhaps the ultimate retreat from a wilderness romp is the Medora Musical, a summer-long revue in a giant outdoor amphitheater 1,753 miles off Broadway. Dubbed "The Greatest Show in the West," said musical is yet another surprising superlative in small-town North Dakota.

Alliance, Nebraska

Not all prairie landforms are natural. Outside the small city of Alliance, Nebraska, Jim Reinders erected a monument to honor the modern prairie landscape. This High Plains Druid built Carhenge, which is a replica of England's Stonehenge made of automobiles. Thirty-nine cars鈥攃hiefly classic Cadillacs, Fords, Chevys, and Pontiacs鈥攚ere painted grey and arranged in a circle measuring roughly 96 feet in diameter. Though Reinders died in 2021, his monument is still one of Middle America's top attractions. It was even featured in the Cars spinoff series. In addition to Carhenge, Alliance is a gateway to the Sandhills, another unique faction of the prairies. Tourists can get debriefed at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center before hiking the hills for real.

Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Pawhuska, though home to only around 3,000 people, tells a story of almost all prairie people. Pioneers are represented by haunts like the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and the Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum. Native Americans are represented by the Osage Nation, whose headquarters are in Pawhuska. Clashes, of which there were many, were recently represented by Killers of the Flower Moon. The 1910s-1920s Osage oil boom made Pawhuskans among the wealthiest and most persecuted people on Earth. Beyond cultural touchstones, Pawhuska neighbors the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, which, at 40,000ish acres, is considered the 海角社区's largest protected area of tallgrass prairie. Yes, prairie grass comes in different sizes: short, mixed, and tall.

Val Marie, Saskatchewan

One of the best examples of a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem is outside Val Marie, Saskatchewan. Dubbed Grasslands National Park, it was "Canada鈥檚 first national park established to represent the mixed-grass prairie." GNP preserves spear grass, wheat grass, and blue gramma grass in two blocks that are miles apart. But do not think grass is the only attraction in Grasslands. Unique vegetation covers unique geology and wildlife, ranging from rolling hills, massive coulees, and deep ravines to coiled rattlesnakes, angry bison, and the only wild black-tailed prairie dogs in Canada. Additionally, the East Block is among Canada's richest repositories of dinosaur fossils, while the whole park is a Dark Sky Preserve. Val Marie, as gateway to the more popular West Block, is stocked with serene and scrumptious sites like the Prairie Wind & Silver Sage Museum and Val Marie Bar & Cafe, respectively.

Wall, South Dakota

Thanks to Wall Drug, a free-water-offering drugstore turned into South Dakota's tackiest tourist trap, Wall is considered by many to be a novelty. But, like most of the towns on this list, Wall is also a gateway to genuine, pristine prairie. Called Badlands National Park, this 244,000ish-acre preserve is known for its titular turbulent geology. Mixed with buttes and pinnacles, however, is America's largest undisturbed patch of mixed-grass prairie. Guests can explore the badlands/grasslands on foot, bike, or horseback. Though you might enter the park thinking Wall an eyesore, you will probably exit thinking Wall a savior. It can soothe the body and mind with Wall Drug's numerous modern offerings, including wine, donuts, and an art gallery.

Canadian, Texas

The second Canadian on this list is not even in Canada. It is a 2,300ish-person "city" in the high plains of the Texas Panhandle. Named for the Canadian River, which runs through town, Canadian is surrounded by oases, such as the Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area a few miles east and the Black Kettle National Grassland at the Oklahoma border. The former spans 5,394 acres of sandsage/midgrass rangeland and cottonwood/tallgrass bottomland while the latter has 31,300 acres of sand hills, red shale hills, and mixed-grass prairie. If, after exploring those preserves, one takes a moderate trip southwest to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, they can check off nearly all the Great Plains ecosystems. Following such a comprehensive tour, they would be wise to unwind in Canadian proper at the Stumblin' Goat Saloon or The Cattle Exchange.

Strong City, Kansas

We briefly touched on tallgrass prairies in the Pawhuska entry, but those towering tracts are among the most spectacular and endangered landforms on Earth. Due to human encroachment, less than 4% of the original 170 million acres of tallgrass prairie survives in North America. Much of it occupies the Flint Hills region of Oklahoma and Kansas. Oklahoma's main preserve is the aforementioned Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, while Kansas' is the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, headquartered in the super-small settlement of Strong City. After fueling up at the Ad Astra Steakhouse or Jacalito Mexican Restaurant, penetrate the several-foot stalks of this 11,000ish-acre grass jungle. Watch for rattlesnakes鈥攁nd bison. Those big bovines were reintroduced to the preserve in 2009 and currently number about 100.

"Great Plains" is a double entendre. Yes, this ecoregion is great in size, but it is also great in attraction. Although one might be tempted to imagine the prairies as featureless flyover land, a trip to Medora, North Dakota; Alliance, Nebraska; Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Val Marie, Saskatchewan; Wall, South Dakota; Canadian, Texas; and/or Strong City, Kansas will prove that they are as captivating as the mountains and the coasts. Go admire the big sights of small prairie towns.