If you're like me, when you think of the Mall of America (MOA) you just think of shopping-- lots and lots of stores. When we stopped by the mall to see for ourselves what it was all about, we were surprised to find that shopping is only a fraction of what this place has to offer! Thanks to our friends over at MOA who hooked us up with passes to some of their current attractions, we got the chance to try more than just shopping. Stick with us-- we're going to walk you through what we got to try and show you how it's SO MUCH MORE than just a mall.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUreIeo_6z8&t=1s[/embed]
For a up close and personal ocean adventure, head to the Sea Life exhibit. I'll be honest, I thought this was going to be a nicely decorated collection of fishtanks in a mall. Turns out it's WAY better than that! You start the adventure walking through a rainforest exhibit with spiders and crocodiles (and more!). Then transition on to fresh and salt water tanks full of massive fish and sharks. This just may have been our favorite thing at the mall! Various ticket packages are available, be sure to purchase online ahead of time here to save some extra $.
Crayola ExperienceThe Crayola Experience is a hands-on exhibit geared towards the younger members of the family. While we did have fun being kids here, we were definitely the oldest people there (oops). The Crayola Experience had hands on crafts, a playground, interactive technology, and you even got to name the color and wrap your own Crayon! All in all, this exhibit was a lot of fun but is definitely focused on the elementary age crowd. You can purchase tickets by the day or as an annual pass (a great option if you're local). Be sure to check the different prices and deals here ahead of time to see if they have any specials going on.
Nickelodeon UniverseEveryone knows the Mall of America has a rollercoaster, but did you know they have 23 rides in total?! I certainly did not. The long list of rides include rollercoasters, water rides, swings, and more! If you or your kids love Nickelodeon characters such as Spongebob or Dora the Explorer, you'll enjoy walking around in their world full of bright colors and rollercoasters. Ticket prices vary from ride by ride pricing all the way up to two day passes. Keep in mind that if you're in mall (or even the Minneapolis area) for a few days, consider buying the two day pass as you can come and go whenever you want.
Not really in the mood the high energy amusement park but still want an interactive date night or quality family time? Head over to Moose Mountain Adventure Golf! This 18 hole mini golf course is a lot of fun and is definitely the nicest mini golf course we've ever to! You can purchase tickets individually or as a family 4 pack for a discount upon arrival.
If you've been around here a while, you know we love food of just about every shape, size, and variety. Mall of America is full of options to choose from. Even your pickiest eaters in your group will be satisfied! We decided that while at the mall we would try two things (because we're on a budget): 1 local option and 1 major chain option. Our choices? Shake Shack for our chain option and Caribous Coffee.
Wait. Aren't malls all about shopping? We've talked about hours worth of fun things to do in the mall and we haven't even touched on shopping. I'll be honest, we aren't huuuuge shoppers. Mostly because we're on a budget and like to spend our money more on experiences rather than things. However, that doesn't mean we don't shop at all. In fact, we took advantage of having all of our favorite stores under one roof to do some "errands". For the most up to date and complete list of shops checkout the mall directory here.
We only scratched the surface of this place. In addition to other full time exhibits and attractions, the MOA also regularly hosts all sorts of events, so be sure to check their calendar of events before you go to help you get the most out of your visit.
