I was in Minneapolis this past September, visiting a few friends, and we took one afternoon and devoted it to the Mall of America. While there wasn’t a lot there that I couldn’t find in malls closer to the hometown (southern Indiana), I had a good time. Part of it was just marvelling at how different the people can be in such a small distance. Where I come from, if two people bump into each other in some crowded venue, they WILL apoligize, but glare at each other like it’s really the other person’s fault. In the MoA, I had a woman apologize profusely for ALMOST bumping into me. I kept looking at her like “What the hell’s the matter with you?” All in all, I’d say go, just so you can say you’ve been. Next visit up there, I’m heading for the Twine Ball.
I’ve had the pleasure or displeasure, depending on your POV, to visit both West Edmonton Mall and MofA. West Edmonton is better in the sense that it has themed areas, but the problem is that there only about 100 stores repeated ad nausem.
Mall of America didn’t have any repeat stores when I was there. However, it is just a big mall. If your idea of a good vaction is being inside a mall than go and visit. If you just want to visit you can probably trek the mall in a couple of hours. Your time in Minneapolis is probably better spent at the Walker or that museum by the U(FYI magnets don’t stick to it, I tried).
It’s called Minnesota Nice[sup]TM[/sup].
That reminds me of another story. My brother was walking out of the Metrodome after a Twins-White Sox game. In the street in front of stadium there was a long line of cars back up behind a stoplight and into the parking lots. The cars were all silently waiting their turn. A White Sox fan asked my brother what was going on and why they weren’t honking their horns. “In Chicago everyone would be laying on their horns if they were in a back-up like this.” My brother just explained how that would be considered rude in Minnesota.
It does sound a lot like WEM actually… I go to WEM only ocassionally though since I don’t have a car and the buses take forever to get there. The best things about our mall at least are Millenium (a store), the Waterpark, Playdium and the 2 story HMV. I rarely do anything or go anywhere else other then that when I go.
Balduran That was awhile ago that stabbing… about 96 I think on Boxing Day (You can imagine the crowds)… just this year actually someone drowned in the lagoon. He was there with buddies at the bars and was dared to swim in it… he drowned. According to the papers then there was about 7 deaths at WEM since it opened.
adam yax Actually not all the stores are repeated… just some and they are on opposite sides of the mall like Level 1 and 4 just because some people when they go to the mall they stay close to one area and not walk all the way across the mall (though I have done that). So much stuff in there it’s easier to stick to one area so you don’t get lost. Even I get a bit lost sometimes and I live in the city and been there… not a whole lot but enough to generally know my way around.