One of the most difficult things to do when deciding on a place to go as an entire family is to find a place that the whole group will enjoy. There are not many places out there that can entertain adults and children equally. As far as destinations that cater to absolutely everyone in your family go, there are few out there that can compare to Bloomington, Minnesota’s Mall of America.
The Mall of America sits on the site of the former Metropolitan Stadium which was home to the Minnesota Vikings football team and the Minnesota Twins baseball team until 1982. An agreement was reached to build the mall in 1986 and the groundbreaking for it happened in 1989, the mall would open its doors to the public in 1992 and the rest is history. At the time of its opening, the Mall of America had more total store vendors in it than any mall in the United States. The mall has hosted live television events, concerts, and also has been seen as a vacation destination since its opening. Many hotels and resorts have sprouted up around the Mall of America since its opening and they cater largely to visitors who have come to the area primarily to spend time at the mall.
At the heart of the Mall of America is an indoor theme park called Nickelodeon Universe which features roller coasters and other rides, many of them feature characters and television shows familiar to those with children who watch the Nickelodeon television network. The theme park caters to children and the features available in this indoor amusement park are simply amazing. Within the amusement park complex itself is a home plate plaque that sits in the exact spot where the original home plate did when the old Metropolitan Stadium resided on that site. If you have children, Nickelodeon Universe might be the only part of the Mall of America they wish to see.
Another of the feature attractions at the mall is the Underwater Adventures Aquarium. The highlight of the aquarium is a clear acrylic tunnel that visitors can walk through and view the underwater creatures from a completely unique perspective, that being from within their own habitat. The tunnel is almost as long as a football field and is an experience you won’t soon forget. The aquarium features rays, sharks, sea turtles, lobsters, octopuses, and more, all of them in easy to view exhibits. There are also freshwater exhibits as well that feature giant catfish, alligators, and more. The Underwater Adventures Aquarium is worth a visit to the Mall of America by itself alone.
Other features of the Mall of America:
- The Chapel of Love wedding chapel
- NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway
- The seat from Metropolitan Stadium where former Twins star Harmon Killebrew hit his longest home run
- 14 Screen movie theater
- LEGO Imagination Center
- Miniature Golf Course
- Flight Simulator
The Mall of America serves well as both a side trip during another visit to the Minneapolis area or as the prime destination of a vacation trip as well. With all of the combined features listed above added to the more than 500 different shopping opportunities within the mall, the Mall of America truly does offer something for everyone.
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