Mall of America
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The Mall of America opened in 1992 in Bloomington, Minnesota. It is a four-story mall with over 500 stores and dozens of attractions, including SEA LIFE Aquarium, Nickelodeon Universe, and FlyOver America. Triple Five Group won the development rights for the former Metropolitan Stadium site with their proposal to build a mega-mall that included an amusement park, a hotel complex, and a convention center. By 2022, 1.2 billion people had visited Mall of America.
How to Get There
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is a few miles from the Mall of America. You can take the light rail from the airport to the mall. Over 50 hotels offer shuttle services from the airport to the mall as well.
Rent an RV For Your Visit to Mall of America
Visit Mall of America
Nickelodeon Universe, located inside the mall, was the first indoor theme park in the United States. Here, you can experience more than 20 rides of varying thrill levels. Alternatively, Crayola Experience offers more than 20 hands-on activities to explore your creativity. You can create your own crayon, make a coloring page, and try 4D art.
If you are interested in aquatic life, you can check out Sea Life Aquarium, the largest in Minnesota. The exhibits include seahorses, sea turtles, stingrays, jellyfish, and sharks.
When planning your trip, keep in mind that the mall is the busiest on weekends, holidays, and celebrity promotions. You also may want to avoid a visit during July and August as these are the busiest times for tourism in the Bloomington area.
Ticket Information
Admission to the mall is free. Some of the attractions, however, require a ticket. A regular admission ticket for Nickelodeon Universe is $49.99 per person. It allows you to spend the entire day at the park. A two-day wristband is available for $59.99. Annual pass cards range from $175–$350.
Family-Friendly Options
Nickelodeon Universe has a meet-and-greet where young kids can meet some of their favorite Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob, Blue, Chase, Cosmo, and Diego. Additionally, many of the rides in the amusement park are kid-friendly.
At Crayola Experience, the entire family can have fun creating coloring pages, crayons, and other types of art. While visiting, you may want to have an individual or family picture taken that employees will turn into a coloring page.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
The Mall of America has miles of walking, so you'll want to wear comfortable shoes. If you plan on doing a lot of shopping, consider buying the coupon book at the Mall of America Gift Shop when you arrive to save money.
Arrive early and shop on the first floor first to avoid the crowds. This floor has most of the popular stores, so it becomes more crowded as time passes.
Don't miss the Amazing Mirror Maze. It has over 2,500 square feet of mirrors. An activity that may intrigue thrill-seekers is the zipline at Dutchman's Deck Adventure Course. You can also climb 56 feet above Nickelodeon Universe for a great view and then plunge down a long spiral slide.
Walking through the 300-foot ocean tunnel at the aquarium is a must, and exploring the Brave the Rainforest is another popular activity. It's full of interactive experiences and animal encounters. You may come across tarantulas, crocodiles, and lizards.
Mall of America Accommodations
On Site Accommodations
There are two on-site hotels that you can stay at. JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America has a fitness center, an executive floor, meeting facilities, Wi-Fi, and room service. You can save money by booking their Mall of America Getaway Package or Mall of America VIP Shopping Package. Radisson Blu Mall of America also offers these packages and has similar amenities. Unlike the Marriott, you can bring pets to Radisson Blu for a fee. This hotel also offers children's activities.
Campgrounds Nearby
Dream beneath the stars while surrounded by tranquil forests up against the lakeshore. This is what you’ll get at Lebanon Hills. The campground offers the perfect destition for a weekend fishing trip or a long-term get away.
Town & Country RV Park and Campground is situated in the Minneapolis suburb of Savage. A wonderful RV campground facility that is geared toward a fun family getaway, the park is highly rated for its first-class amenities, including its heated saltwater pool and relaxing hot tub. Top Amenities Number of Sites: 80 Daily/Weekly/Monthly Rates: $44-up/$270-up/$850-up Full Hookups: Yes 30/50 Amp: Both Back-in/Pull-through Sites: Both Pool/Hot tub: Both Showers: Yes Pets Allowed: Yes Cell Reception: Yes Wi-Fi: Yes
Dakota County Fairgrounds has sites on level grass with water and electric hookups for eventgoers and RVers looking for a place to park their rigs. The campground is located directly on the fairgrounds and has reasonably priced sites and clean restroom and shower facilities. The park is pet-friendly and people-friendly, and staying at the fairgrounds is an opportunity to meet other folks from all over the country as well as to take in some of the many events at the location.
Activities Near Mall of America
Things to Do
Fishing
Less than a mile from the mall, you can go fishing at Bass Ponds in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Long Meadow Lake is another area that is a popular destination for anglers. Fish you may catch include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, catfish, and sunfish.
Hiking
Hillside Trail is in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It takes you through a wetland area to an observation platform where you can view Peterson Pond.
Nature watching
You may spot beavers, turtles, muskrats, and waterfowl while hiking Hillside Trail. Another excellent wildlife viewing location is Blue Lake Trail, which travels close to marshes. Many species of waterfowl build nests here.
National Sites
Weather, Safety & Accessibility
Weather & Packing
In winter, the highs range from 24 to 29 degrees in Bloomington. You should pack warm clothing and coats if visiting during this time. The mall offers lockers to store bulky clothing if you do not want to carry these items while shopping and visiting the attractions. Pack layers for fall and spring because they tend to be chilly. Summers are mild, and daytime temperatures rarely go over 85 degrees.
Safety & Accessibility
The Mall of America has a team of highly trained security professionals to protect each person who walks through their doors. Team members go through some of the most extensive training in the industry. This training includes how to respond to health emergencies.
When you arrive, you'll find accessible parking spots in the east and west parking ramps and the oversized vehicle parking area. On levels one and four, you can enter the mall directly without navigating any steps.
All restrooms in the mall have wheelchair-accessible stalls, and the mall's doorways, halls, and public spaces are ADA-compliant. Additionally, you can rent a wheelchair or an electronic cart at the guest service desks on the first floor.
Conclusion
Making a trip to the iconic Mall of America is a fun way to do your yearly clothes shopping while visiting one of the top attractions in the U.S. There are plenty of other engaging activities at the mall to keep you entertained, including a theme park, an aquarium, and creative activities. Other notable shopping destinations in the US that you may want to visit after the Mall of America include The Galleria in Houston, Newbury Street in Boston, Charleston City Market in Charleston, SC, and the Magnificent Mile in Chicago.
FAQ
There are several campgrounds available in the area. For instance, Lebanon Hills Campground is 8.3 miles away. Full hookups, a dump station, and a laundry facility are available at this site.
RVs are allowed to park in the Lindau Lot. However, no overnight parking is permitted.
The mall has a code of conduct that you'll want to read before visiting. You're not allowed to wear apparel with obscene gestures, words, or graphics. Chanting, singing, and offensive language are also prohibited.
The Mall of America has tight security and a code of conduct to maintain a safe, peaceful atmosphere. There are plenty of activities for kids as well.
Pets aren't allowed in the mall unless they are service animals. However, the on-site Radisson Blu Mall of America hotel allows pets.