Look, if people fly all the way from Japan to see and shop something, the least you can do is hop a flight from Omaha and do the same. Minneapolis/St. Paul’s Mall of America doesn’t define the modern mega-mall, it goes way, way beyond that. For a moment, forget the shops and think destination. Lots of families do precisely that. Among other things you can do:
– Explore the wonders of Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor amusement park packed with rides, and populated by Nick TV characters. It’s a great place to let the kids wear themselves out so they’ll behave later on when you take them to eat at one of the mall’s restaurants.
– Stare slack-jawed at the sea creatures who somehow managed to elude mall security and set up shop at Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium. The highlight is a 300-foot ocean tunnel. A pair of Giant Green Sea Turtles call it home. The rest of the aquarium is replete with thousands of sea creatures, including a Giant Pacific Octopus. Parents tend to get caught up in Sea Life as much as kids.
– Peruse the plastic at the LEGO. If you can imagine it, they’ve probably already built it—larger-than-life—in this flat-out fascinating place. Sure, they want to sell you. But all you’re obligated to do is look, and dream.
– Eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., a quintessentially family-friendly eatery that caters to kids.
As for getting there, Mall of America is a short, cheap train ride from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: www.mallofamerica.com)
