SHOPPERS' UTOPIA
Image by TJ Turner/Greenspring Media
Image by Todd Buchanan/Greenspring Media
Morning:
Get a great parking spot upfront in one of the many lots that flank all sides of the megamall and start your day walking, which is not just a healthy idea but a practical one as it allows you to see, first-hand, the incredible array of shops to explore. Getting the proverbial lay of this land is paramount to a successful shopping excursion. Stores typically open at 10am but life explodes well before then. One lap around a single level of The Mall is .57 miles…plenty of time to window shop.
When the shops do open, you’ll be ready. Spend the morning hours focusing on levels 1 and 2. Most locals will tell you the best way to navigate the expanse is to simply walk in a circular motion around each level, always taking the same set of elevators or escalators up to the next. The key is to pace yourself, and enjoy the people watching as much as you do the merchandise.
Image by Todd Buchanan/Greenspring Media
City Secrets
Valet at your disposal is just one of the latest perks offered by The Mall. Simply pull up to a valet station at either the North MOA entrance off of Lindau Lane (main entrance or underground ramp), the Radisson Blu, or the JW Marriott. When you’re done shopping, use your mobile device to contact valet, and your car will be brought to the location nearest you. Other incredible MOA must-visits: Crayola Experience (seriously amazing for kids and grown ups alike), SEALIFE Aquarium, VOM FASS. And don’t forget the incredible spa experiences at Radisson Blu and JW Marriott. Get pampered!
Lunch:
With 50 restaurants to choose from, it’s admittedly tough to call your attention to just one. However…one of our favorites is newcomer Cantina Laredo for a sit-down meal, or head to Culinary on North and experience a new kind of food court that blends the old standbys with incredible sit-down, newcomers-to-go. In this case, try Piada Italian Street Food, which is a fast-casual chain of made-to-order piadas, pastas and chopped salads.
Image by Todd Buchanan/Greenspring Media
Afternoon:
Spend the afternoon finishing up level 2 and immersing yourself in level 3, stopping for a mid-afternoon caffeine fix at local favorite Caribou Coffee. Its unique location allows for spectacular people-watching.
Evening:
Dinner options abound, but some of our favorites are Crave, Tucci Benucch, Twin City Grill, or the adjacent FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar at the Rad (as in Radisson Blu) or the incomparable Cedar + Stone at the JW Marriott. Better yet, have apps and a pre-dinner cocktail at one, and dinner at another. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
Follow up an incredible meal by heading to the level 4 of MOA. An entertainment zone for all tastes. Choose from 21+ theaters showing Hollywood’s latest in which you can order your beverages of choice, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, or catch your favorite sports team in action at Sky Deck Grille & Lanes…think Chuck E. Cheese for adults!
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER ITINERARIES
What’s So Funny About Fridley?
Comedian Mary Jo Pehl doesn’t joke about her hometown, a suburb of Minneapolis, anymore.
Willkommen! The “New” New Ulm
The historic German-founded town, located in southern Minnesota, is more than just a beer and schnitzel hub…
Très Chic: Holiday in (50th &) France
The Edina intersection offers an upscale and modern shopping experience, all just minutes away from the Twin Cities.
Winter in Winona
The southeastern Minnesota college town feels familiar—but it’s full of surprises.
The Great (Urban) Outdoors
17 ways to get your nature fix—without leaving the urban Twin Cities area.
Midwest Scuba Diving
You can learn to scuba dive in the dead of winter, without having to break any ice on Minnesota’s frigid lakes.
A+ Family Vacation
College visits can be a “last hurrah” for many families, so make them memorable by visiting the best attractions in and out of the Twin Cities.
Golf Getaways
Tee it up at one of Minnesota’s best resort courses before the Ryder Cup.
Vacation of the Year: Circling Superior
A weeklong loop reveals the many moods of the world’s largest freshwater lake, located on Minnesota’s North Shore.
Old Meets New in White Bear Lake
The revitalized downtown, located northeast of the Twin Cities, balances trendy city life with laid-back lake culture.