{"id":178,"date":"2008-12-22T08:54:33","date_gmt":"2008-12-22T14:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/12\/mall-of-america-vacation-offers-much-more-than-shopping\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T13:45:49","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T19:45:49","slug":"mall-of-america-vacation-offers-much-more-than-shopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/12\/mall-of-america-vacation-offers-much-more-than-shopping\/","title":{"rendered":"Mall of America vacation offers much more than shopping"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Amy Carey <\/em><\/p>\n

The Minneapolis area, with its renowned Mall of America<\/strong><\/a>\u00ae, is an easy place to cure — or feed — retail fever. For travelers who want a pure shopping experience, there are plenty of hotels close to the mall. Or, visitors can choose to stay in one of the downtown Minneapolis hotels<\/strong><\/a> and take advantage of the city’s restaurants and cultural attractions.<\/p>\n

\"Mall<\/a>
\nMall of America\u00ae is located in Bloomington, Minnesota — only 15
\nminutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul — and an easy
\nlight-rail ride from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport<\/strong><\/a>. As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, Mall of America<\/strong>\u00ae features something for everyone, with approximately 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore. Here are some highlights.<\/p>\n

Nickelodeon Universe<\/strong>: This number-one entertainment spot for kids in the middle of Mall of America\u00ae features seven acres of unique attractions and entertainment. This is a great place for children to have fun during the cold winter months.<\/p>\n

Indoor Playground<\/strong>: The nation\u2019s largest indoor amusement park features more than 24 remarkable rides<\/strong> and the largest underground aquarium in the country<\/strong>, and it was named \u201cBest Shark Encounter\u201d by the Discovery Channel. Kids of all ages may enjoy building towers or another unique creations at Lego\u00ae.<\/p>\n

Fashion<\/strong>: The mall is home to the kings of couture, like Armani, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, and the Spades — both Kate and Jack. Well-heeled clientele can stroll over to Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo for fashionable footwear. (Shopaholics will appreciate the extra savings that comes from having no sales tax on shoes or clothing!)<\/p>\n

Dining<\/strong>: Visitors will not go hungry with the more than 50 restaurants offering adult and kid-friendly choices. Find food-court favorites as well as sit-down restaurants, like Rainforest Caf\u00e9, Wolfgang Puck Express and Napa Valley Grill.<\/p>\n

Hotels near Mall of America\u00ae<\/strong><\/p>\n