On a recent to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, I was overwhelmed by the exhausting amount of walking that lied ahead. If you have never been there before, don't underestimate the number of stores, kiosks, vendors, and food stands contained in the 4.2 million square foot structure. Your best bet is to enter into this shopping trip like a military campaign. Bring rations, choose your weapons carefully, and formulate an exit strategy. Here is how I got through my last trip, which included 5 adults and 4 children.
First off, never step foot in the Mall of America during the weekend. The place is like a zoo, and you’ll be lucky to make it out alive. Instead, try a Tuesday morning or Thursday afternoon. The crowds are thinned out, and the best part: all the kids are in school and most adults are busy at work. This unfortunately isn’t always the case around a holiday, especially Christmas. During the month of December, all bets are off, so it’s best to avoid the mall entirely during the holiday rush.
I planned my attack by checking out the Mall of America’s website. There is a detailed list of stores, restaurants, and attractions. The mall has four stories, and I knew that the one store that was a must see was Sephora. For those of you who are not educated on the subject, Sephora is the place to go for high end makeup and other beauty products. It is basically every woman’s idea of Nirvana. That particular establishment is on the second floor, so I planned my day around hitting the second floor first.
Next, I knew I would have to placate the children in our group. That was actually quite an easy feat to accomplish because the Mall of America has two amazing attractions for kids: Nickelodeon Universe and Lego Land. These are the two best options because they are both free to wander through, but if you want to build a skyscraper, or ride the log chute, it will cost you. There is also the Underwater Adventure, but I would skip this exhibit all together. The lines are long all week, and the admission is very pricey.
This is usually the point in your trip where you will hear children begin to whine. That is the signal it is time to eat. I usually hit the third floor food court, and stay away from the theme restaurants such as The Rainforest Café or Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The prices are high and you’ll be lucky if you are seated within an hour. After all, you’re there to shop, not eat. So grab a quick bite, and hit a few more stores.
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Now that the shopping has been completed, the kids have been fed, and your credit card limit has been reached, it’s time to head out. Hit the bathrooms on your way to the exit. The traffic in and around the mall can get pretty hectic, especially if you wait until closing to make your departure. Hopefully the experience wasn’t too overwhelming. I know that my last trip was actually kind of fun, and I am already making plans to visit this mega-mall on Halloween for their massive indoor trick or treat. I must be out of my mind!
Tags:
travel,
shop,
store