A Few Minutes with Josh Duhamel / Enjoy Summer in Minot
July 09, 2014
By : Inspired Woman Magazine

by Deb Seminary

When Josh Duhamel gets back to North Dakota, and he is not spending time with family, he likes to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

“I usually go golfing,” said Duhamel. “About a year and a half ago we did a golf tour – Bully Pulpit out in Medora, Red Mike, which is now The Links of North Dakota, Hawktree in Bismarck and toured around the state in my dad’s Winnebago. And, I like to go fishing. I went fishing at Sakakawea last year down by the Tailrace, which was crazy fun.”

He admits to having a lot more appreciation for the state now, than he did when he was growing up. “It took my moving away to really appreciate the beauty of the state,” he explained. “There’s nothing like going down any highway in North Dakota and seeing the sunflowers and the wheat fields, especially close to harvest time. You also don’t have anywhere near the traffic we do here, (in L.A.) which is always nice.”

Duhamel also talked about how he wants his son to take advantage of the outdoors: “This is North Dakota, it’s where I’m from. I value the experiences I had. I spent so much time outdoors that my mom literally had to drag me in by my ears at dark in the middle of summer, because all I wanted to do was play outside. Growing up out here, around Los Angeles, kids don’t get that same opportunity, and being outdoors is something that I want to be a part of Axl’s life. I want him to have some of those same experiences that I grew up with and we are actually creating some of that here at our place in LA. It is not that easy to find those things to do here, so it is up to me to make sure he does those things. It is important he learn to get outdoors, learn how to fish, go camping, things like that.

Since he does get back to the state as often as he can, sometimes he feels like he never left. “All of my best friends are still in North Dakota (and Minnesota). It’s hard to recognize Minot though, it is growing so fast. It is incredible what has happened to that whole side of the state. My hope is that they are able to keep up with the infrastructure and not it’s not just about the oil, but about really building a community and doing it the right way. It seems like they are, and Minot is becoming a solid city in that part of the country.”

Duhamel’s mom, Bonny Kemper, who the family calls the ‘Queen of Downtown’, has had a lot to do with that positive growth. Kemper is the Executive Director of Minot’s Downtown Business and Professional Association. “My mom has always been generous, no – beyond generous, with her time,” said Duhamel. “She has always been someone who volunteers for everything. She gets a lot of enjoyment from helping. Downtown Minot is where it all began, I see exactly what she is trying to do, and I think it’s great. You can expand and grow as much as you want, but you will never have anything with as much history as downtown Minot.”

Duhamel just finished filming Lost In The Sun, sort of a modern western. His character is desperate for money, and while traveling from Texas to New Mexico with a kid (his partner is crime), they knock off convenience stores, steal cars and do whatever they can to make it. “It is not the most endearing character I’ve ever played, but it was probably the most fun,” said Duhamel, summing it up. There is no release date for Lost In The Sun, but fans won’t have to wait long to see him on the big screen. He is starring next to Hilary Swank and Emmy Rossum in You’re Not You, a drama that is scheduled to be released later this year. And, coming mid-season this fall, he will be playing a detective in Battle Creek on CBS.

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Enjoy Summer in Minot

Minot is the perfect place to get out and play during the warm summer months. From their beautiful parks and golf courses to brand new hotel accommodations, restaurants and retail shops, rediscover the magic of Minot. From live music and festivals to 5k races and wine walks, Minot has great events planned all summer long.

Visit an african warthog or a plains zebra at the Roosevelt Park Zoo. Get your country music fix with tickets to Brad Paisley and Lady Antebellum at the North Dakota State Fair. Head downtown for some retail therapy or gaze at some art. Here is just a sneak preview of some of the upcoming events in Minot:

June 6 – Blue Hawaiian Holiday

June 13 – Get Out & Play Day

June 20 – Midsummer Night Festival

June 27 – Hot Summer Night Wine Walk

June 28 – Integrity Jazz Festival

July 11 – Great American Wing Ding

July 18-26 – North Dakota State Fair

August 9 – Give360 Color Dash 5k

August 15-17 – Rock the Leaves Festival

August 16 – Burli-Mot Half Marathon

August 22-24 – Why Not?! Music and Arts Festival

August 23 – Festival on Main/Street Dance

August 23 – Illuminight 5k

For a complete list of upcoming community-wide events, be sure to check out our calendar of events at visitminot.org.

What are you waiting for? Come visit us in Minot! We’re ready for you.

 

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