Mall of America Delivers Coaster Thrills, Underwater Wonders and Shopping Detours That Kept Us Coming Back Across Three Days.

September 19th – 21st, 2026

Roller coasters, underwater encounters, colorful shopping stops and an impressive food lineup turn this Minnesota mall into a vacation-sized adventure.

Emptying your wallet on things you didn’t know you needed is practically a national pastime. At Mall of America, though, the distractions offer considerably more payoff than another shopping bag. You can ride a roller coaster, wander beneath sharks, browse outrageous outfits and debate lunch options without ever heading back to the car.

My mom and I broke up our time here into visits over three days, fitting in stops at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, FinnFest, Minnehaha Falls and Paisley Park to explore a bit of Prince’s world along the way. It quickly became clear that spending just one day at the mall means making some tough choices. There’s shopping to do, sure. But there’s also an entire day of entertainment competing for your attention, and possibly your remaining phone battery.

Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the complex spans 5.6 million square feet, with hundreds of stores and more than 50 eateries. Its owner reports more than 40 million annual visitors. Those are enormous numbers, but the scale really registers when you’re looking across multiple levels of storefronts and realizing that the roller coaster below you is part of the same address.

Nickelodeon Universe supplies the seven-acre centerpiece. Beneath the skylights, colorful characters, rides and delighted children turn the middle of the mall into a moving, laughing spectacle. The little ones’ ear-to-ear smiles were matched by plenty of parents watching them. That happiness is contagious, even when your own childhood is several shopping seasons behind you.

Sharing a coaster outing with my mom was a highlight. There’s something wonderfully ridiculous about getting your amusement-park fix with Victoria’s Secret nearby. Retail therapy takes quite a turn here.

For bigger thrills, the park’s SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge brings loops, spirals and sharp turns. Even simply walking around the park offers an entertaining change of scenery between stores. It’s easy to see how a quick shopping stop becomes an afternoon.

SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium delivered another standout. Its 300-foot underwater tunnel puts the action overhead and alongside you, with sharks, rays and other aquatic life-giving visitors plenty of reasons to slow down. Watching my mom beneath that curved glass was a reminder that the best vacation moments don’t require an elaborate itinerary.

Elsewhere, rainforest displays, a viewing dome and a giant shark-jaw photo opportunity kept us stopping. The aquarium gives the visit a different rhythm, trading the bright bustle upstairs for the pleasure of watching creatures glide past. This detour was absolutely fin-tastic.

However, the entertainment options keep going. B&B Theatres offers a movie break, ClimbZone adds climbing challenges, and Tactical Urban Combat brings laser tag into the mix. We also spotted The Escape Game, Great Big Game Show and the glowing scenery of Rock of Ages Blacklight Minigolf. Picking a few priorities before arriving is sensible, although sticking to them may require more discipline than we brought.

At the Crayola Store, the rainbow wall of crayons and markers practically demanded a photo. Oversized crayon characters and shelves of colorful merchandise made even the retail area a cheerful stop, with Crayola Experience adding a separate attraction for visitors who want more hands-on fun.

Then there’s LEGO, where enormous brick-built creations make looking up as rewarding as browsing the shelves. Between those displays, the giant Toys“R”Us photo box and the collectibles at POP MART, adults have plenty of opportunities to rediscover their inner kid.

The actual shopping deserves its own time. Familiar names such as Macy’s, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters share the visit with boutiques and specialty shops that encourage wandering. Anime fans and collectors will find plenty to catch their attention, while fashion browsers can bounce from everyday clothes to full theatrical flair.

Our stops included pastel gowns, sparkling shoes, boldly patterned clothing and a feathered dress that hardly needed an introduction. Mom holding up that colorful creation was a photo opportunity in its own right. Window shopping here comes with a costume department.

There’s also a practical perk: Minnesota exempts clothing suitable for general use from sales tax. That doesn’t extend to everything you can wear or carry, but it gives eligible wardrobe purchases a welcome advantage.

Food presents another round of decisions. Noodles, pizza, wings, sit-down meals and quick snacks make it easy to accommodate different appetites. Noodles & Company is among the options, alongside spots such as DeLeo Bros. Pizza and Buffalo Wild Wings. With this much ground to cover, a food break earns its place on the itinerary.

The mall was very clean during our visit, and digital directories helped make its size manageable. Comfortable shoes are essential. Rather than trying to “finish” the place, leave room for detours and budget separately for the attractions you want to experience.

Getting there is straightforward, too. The mall’s transit station connects to the METRO Blue Line, which serves MSP Airport and downtown Minneapolis, including Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. Nearby hotels also offer courtesy mall shuttles; confirm availability with your property.

For all its opportunities to spend, Mall of America’s strongest selling point is how much there is to do together. My mom and I left with memories of a coaster, underwater encounters and wonderfully playful shopping stops.

And yes, a warm cheese pretzel from Wetzel’s Pretzels on the way out. One final twist before calling it a day.

Another visit? That would have been an easy sell.