There is some compelling evidence that the so-called Kensington Runestone in Minnesota represents what was almost the deepest incursion into North America by Viking explorers.
Associated with this find are some sites in Lake Winnipeg which these explorers would've traversed (via Hudson's Bay, Churchill River, Lake Winnipeg, thence the Red River into Dakota/Minnesota country). Plus, we are presented with a genetic source for tyhe blonde hair and blue eyes that Lewis & Clark found in the Mandan tribe.
I've pinged blam to the thread since he authored an extensive thread on the Kensington Runestone here on FR and could post a link for us.
Moreover, I discovered a striking image of a Viking longship, complete with extended prow, square sail and a row of oars, with round shields mounted along the deck rails at Three Rivers Petroglyphs near Tularosa, NM back in 1966.
I'm not saying the Vikings ever got there...but stories about their boats certainly did.
Yeah, I think there was far more traveling going on but not a lot of written history being kept. Written history and record keeping was mostly a southern European thing.
Look how the tribes spread all across the vast south pacific to places as far away as Hawaii and Easter Island.