Great Mall of America Attractions

Activities Not to Miss at this Massive Minnesota Tourist Destination

May 23, 2007

Petting sharks at Underwater Adventure, MOA

There's way more to the Mall of America than just shopping! Here's a guide to some of the fabulous and fun attractions.

If your Minnesota travel brings you to the Mall of America, you're bound to be overwhelmed by this sprawling mecca of shopping, entertainment, and food! This 4.2 million square foot shopping center has over 500 stores. According to the Mall of America website, over half a billion people have visited since the mall opened in 1992, making the MOA the largest tourist destination in the Midwest by far. It's truly the Disneyland of American shopping malls. Locals call it the Megamall.

Once you overcome the shock of how massive the place is, you're bound to have a blast! The Mall of America isn't just a place to shop; it's an entertainment destination where tourists can easily spend a day or more. In frigid Minnesota, where fun indoor activities for kids and adult are a must, they know how to make a great mall. In fact, the first indoor mall in the United States-- Southdale Center-- was built in nearby Edina, Minnesota in 1956.

So what attractions should you visit at this sprawling entertainment hot spot? Here's some of the best of what the Mall of America has to offer.

The Park at MOA. Yes, there really is an amusement park in the middle of the Mall of America, and a big one at that! The largest indoor amusement park in the country, which spans over seven acres, features two roller coasters, a log flume, and over thirty other rides and attractions. The Park used to be called Camp Snoopy until it lost its license to use the Peanuts characters. It has recently signed a deal with Nickelodeon, so expect to see attractions featuring SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer soon. Individual rides are pricey, but visitors can purchase a one-day unlimited ride wristband for $24.95.
Underwater Adventures Aquarium. Located beneath the Mall of America, this impressive aquarium contains over a million gallons of water. Visitors view the sea animals as they move through a long, curved tunnel on a moving sidewalk. The coolest park may be at the end of the tunnel, where visitors can pet baby sharks and stingrays. Adult tickets are $16.95 and kid tickets are $9.95, and tickets are good for a full day.
The food. MOA culinary choices range from the gourmet to the family friendly. Check out the best Mall of America restaurant options.
A.C.E.S. Flight Simulation. If baby sharks are too tame for you,, check out the military quality flight simulators at A.C.E.S. Visitors fly sophisticated simulations of WWII fighter jets and the modern F/A-18 Hornet jet. The cost is 30 minutes for $29.95 and an hour for $44.95.
NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway. Another exciting way to pass the time is in this race simulator that is built into authentic stock cars. The cost is $9.00.
LEGO Imagination Center. If you can ignore the blatant marketing, this large activity center is a blast for children. Kids can play with big tables of LEGOS and marvel and marvel at enormous LEGO creations, including dinosaurs and an interactive clock tower.
The Chapel of Love Yes, you can get married in the Mall of America! Be sure to take a peek at this real wedding chapel and the adjacent store where couples can rent everything they need. On Valentine's Day, there are multiple weddings every hour.
Shopping. Oh, and by the way, there are over 500 stores! The anchor stores are Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Sears. Be sure to check out some of the Mall of America's most unique stores.