Non-shopper's Guide to Minnesota Mall of America

World's Largest Themepark, Underground Aquarium, Movies Add Options

Aug 14, 2008

You're not a shopper? Don't worry. The Mall of America's a lot more than just a bigger than usual shopping space.

While your shopping friends rush madly from one of the 520 stores to another, you’re sure to find a movie you want to watch on one of the 14 screens at the AMC Mall of America Cinema.

NASCAR, A.C.E.S. and Nickelodeon Theme Park

Want more action? Just hop into a seat at the NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway simulated experience; or imagine you’re a pilot at A.C.E.S. flight simulators. If you have youngsters with you – or even if you don’t – meander over to the center of the mall where you’ll find the nation’s largest indoor amusement park . Formerly the hangout of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang, the seven-acre park was rebranded in early 2008 and now it’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer territory. If you’ve been to the park previously, you’ll note that some of the 30 rides look suspiciously like the old ones before the $25 million makeover, while others – such as Avatar Airbender, the world’s first upside down roller coaster – are brand new.

Builder’s Paradise

The greatest attraction for both young and old kids who like to build with blocks is the four-story LEGO store. That’s where millions of the __x__ interlocking blocks reach new heights in the form of more than 30 giant structures. There’s a huge dinosaur and an interactive clock that looks as though it were designed by a mad scientist.

Underwater Adventure

Visitors get up close to the resident sharks by walking through a 300-foot-long glass tunnel 14 feet below the water’s surface . The path through the curved tunnel is actually a moving walkway that gives viewers the illusion of snorkeling without the mask. Along with the sharks, about 4,500 additional sea creatures – from stingrays and giant sea turtles to schools of tiny tropical fish - live in the Underwater Adventure Aquarium, which is the largest underground aquarium in the world. Other features include Starfish Beach, where you can find out what it feels like to touch a shark and “The Plunge”, a virtual submarine ride. $18.95, adults; $11.95, 3-12; Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.;Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Additional Options

You can play a round on the Moose Mountain Adventures miniature golf course which has a

Minnesota North Woods theme, or see what’s going on in the mall’s 5,000- square-foot Rotunda. Through the years, the Rotunda has been the setting for an eclectic array of events including everything from robot combat competitions and cooking demonstrations to charity auctions and concerts featuring stars like Kenny Chesney.

The copyright of the article Non-shopper's Guide to Minnesota Mall of America in Minnesota Travel is owned by Connie Emerson. Permission to republish Non-shopper's Guide to Minnesota Mall of America in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.