Is the Mall Of America worth a weekend trip?
Dec 27th, 2011, 11:13 AM
#1
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Is the Mall Of America worth a weekend trip?
I thought it would be fun to take my fiancee on a trip there over the weekend in May 2012 before our wedding. She is addicted to shopping and movies (i see it has 14 theatres). Just thought it would be a fun little weekend trip. Thought it would be fun to actually see the Mall of America.. Thoughts? Any idea how far airport is from mall?
Dec 27th, 2011, 05:28 PM
#8
Todd, there is plenty of stuff to do there for a weekend. Many hotels near the mall that have free shuttles to and from the airport and to and from the mall. May is a great time to visit Minnesota. There is public transportation available from the mall if you wish to explore Minneapolis, St. Paul or other suburbs. The mall is actually located in Bloomington. Sun Country airlines is the local discount airline that flies out of MSP and I think they fly to Boston. My wife of 33 years and I are going to the mall in Janurary so I will let you know what I think of the Courtyard By Marriot hotel. It costs about $100.00 a night. Enjoy your trip, ziggypop
Dec 27th, 2011, 07:35 PM
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Minneapolis itself is worth it. Train to the Mall and everything you want to see is EASY. Picture a straight line system with the Mall at the end. Easy, easy user friendly transport everywhere. In fact, no rental car needed whatsoever. In May you could also use their excellent bike rental system. It's awesome to take and drop for museums etc. Ball park is awesome too.
My SO is old, I guess. But really did LOL when he saw the American Girl Dolls' Hair salon and Spa at the Mall. Stood and viewed the dolls getting their hair done etc. through the glass. Said he has seen it all, could not believe it. He is NOT a shopaholic and had a good time. We saw a show there too.
My SO is old, I guess. But really did LOL when he saw the American Girl Dolls' Hair salon and Spa at the Mall. Stood and viewed the dolls getting their hair done etc. through the glass. Said he has seen it all, could not believe it. He is NOT a shopaholic and had a good time. We saw a show there too.
Dec 28th, 2011, 04:08 AM
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Do you enjoy (or at least tolerate) spending a day at the local mall with her now? If not, planning an entire weekend at MOA could be self inflicted torture worse than waterboarding.
Or is your plan to drop her off and you hit the amusement park?
Or is your plan to drop her off and you hit the amusement park?
Dec 28th, 2011, 04:12 AM
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Dec 28th, 2011, 05:04 AM
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Ha i saw the brawl too this morning. I think its one of those things that you want to do once. You always see the Mall of America on TV. I can get a great deal $464 for 2 people and hotel for 2 nights.
Dec 28th, 2011, 05:15 AM
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We spent a Memorial Day weekend in Minneapolis a couple of years ago and had a great time. Yes we even made it out to Mall Of America. My review is below:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...inneapolis.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...inneapolis.cfm
Dec 31st, 2011, 06:45 AM
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I've been there once. It was interesting enough.
I would think it would actually be hard to truly shop there. Anyway, it would if you wanted to do any sort of comparison shopping. The place is just too huge to easily make your way back to a store you'd already been to.
I would think it would actually be hard to truly shop there. Anyway, it would if you wanted to do any sort of comparison shopping. The place is just too huge to easily make your way back to a store you'd already been to.
Jan 2nd, 2012, 09:02 PM
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As a Minnesota native, the Mall of America is my second choice when I need to shop- it is about a 20 minute drive from my house. My opinion is YES! it is definitely worth a weekend trip... (I should add the only reason it is my second choice is because when I need to get in and get out, it simply takes too long.. But I LOVE shopping at the MOA).
Airport is SO close. The mall has many attractions but in all honesty, I am not sure there will be any "new" or "exciting" stores compared to what you have out in Mass.. I was out in Boston in August but mostly did the tourist thing, but went to a few malls in Maine over the summer and they had all the same stores. That being said..It really is a shoppers heaven, LOL. No sales tax, and it is a lot of fun to walk around and people watch and just see what it has to offer. The movie theater will serve you alcoholic drinks if you pay an extra fee- as well as serve you food, which I had never seen before. There is a cute amusement park in the center of the mall, which is fun to go on a few rides to unleash the inner child in you both
there is an underwater world where you can go see all sorts of sea life, it's pretty amazing with tunnels and a moving walkway. There is usually some type of exhibit up on the 4th floor, changes every few months or so.. IKEA right across the street (walking distance)- not sure if you have them out in Mass but it is fun to look around there and see all the swedish goodies!
I can't say much about the hotels in the area, all I can say is that they are VERY close, just about in the parking lot of the mall!
Come to Minnesota- do the MOA one day, and go downtown for the rest of your trip. LOTS to do in Minneapolis, and May will be such a nice time to visit!
Airport is SO close. The mall has many attractions but in all honesty, I am not sure there will be any "new" or "exciting" stores compared to what you have out in Mass.. I was out in Boston in August but mostly did the tourist thing, but went to a few malls in Maine over the summer and they had all the same stores. That being said..It really is a shoppers heaven, LOL. No sales tax, and it is a lot of fun to walk around and people watch and just see what it has to offer. The movie theater will serve you alcoholic drinks if you pay an extra fee- as well as serve you food, which I had never seen before. There is a cute amusement park in the center of the mall, which is fun to go on a few rides to unleash the inner child in you both
there is an underwater world where you can go see all sorts of sea life, it's pretty amazing with tunnels and a moving walkway. There is usually some type of exhibit up on the 4th floor, changes every few months or so.. IKEA right across the street (walking distance)- not sure if you have them out in Mass but it is fun to look around there and see all the swedish goodies! I can't say much about the hotels in the area, all I can say is that they are VERY close, just about in the parking lot of the mall!
Come to Minnesota- do the MOA one day, and go downtown for the rest of your trip. LOTS to do in Minneapolis, and May will be such a nice time to visit!
Jan 2nd, 2012, 09:04 PM
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In response to JeanH- it is very possible to shop there. There are many duplicates of stores, and lots of maps at every corner. Essentially it is one big square with 3 floors of shopping and the 4th floor more restaurants and movie theaters. The center of the square is the amusement park.. You just need to spend some time there and be patient with the crowds! I love shopping at the mall of america, definitely the place to go when you want to get a lot done in one place!
Jan 3rd, 2012, 07:18 AM
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And here's mine (trip report and not long), it might contain something you can use:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...han-5-days.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...han-5-days.cfm
Jan 3rd, 2012, 07:20 AM
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And I agree, it is not at all hard to find locations/stores in that Mall. As opposed to places like Woodfield in Hoffman Estates, IL which have the ramps etc. M of Am. is a like a grid street system. Easy.
Jan 3rd, 2012, 07:37 AM
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I definitely think she'd enjoy seeing the mall and as others have mentioned, it's right by the airport. But I don't actually think the stores are that different than you'd find at a big mall in the NY area or at King of Prussia, or even the outlet malls.
You could drive down to NY, and spend a day at Woodbury Common mall, and then come into NYC for a day trip if you wanted (or go shopping at Palisades mall outside NYC). You'd cover different stores, and it would be easier to drive home with all your packages. You wouldn't have to pay NYC hotel rates either.
But this is a very sweet ge4sture and wherever you decide, I'm sure she'll have a great time.
You could drive down to NY, and spend a day at Woodbury Common mall, and then come into NYC for a day trip if you wanted (or go shopping at Palisades mall outside NYC). You'd cover different stores, and it would be easier to drive home with all your packages. You wouldn't have to pay NYC hotel rates either.
But this is a very sweet ge4sture and wherever you decide, I'm sure she'll have a great time.
