Mall of America
 

Been there? How do you like it? What's not to miss inside?

Any reasonable lodging nearby? Good not to miss eats?

The MOA website is probably the second best Mall website around (West Edmonton wins hands down) so if you haven't looked there, I definately would.

For accommodation, Crown Plaza would be my suggestion. It's only six miles from the Mall and a great hotel.

Tiger sushi is a bit different. Usually pop into MOA for that on my way to the airport when I am in MSP.

We stay at the Embassy Suites nearby (< 1mi) and right on the light rail.

Lots of shopping, both a Nordstom and a Nordstrom Rack, plus a couple of fun rides in Camp Snoopy.

Homewood suites
 

My personal fav is Homewood suites across the street from MOA. They have a shuttle but it is also walking distance to the mall.

Walking the 3 floors of shopping is good exercise. :)

Short

Priceline doesn't work well for the area all of the time unless you have a car. But if you have a car and use Priceline there are some real great deals around there that are easily arrived at using the usual techniques including that of www.betterbidding.com and www.biddingfortravel.com.

Really, any of the airport area hotels would work fine for a vist to MoA. Worst case, the courtesy shuttle can take you to the airport and you can take the light rail a couple of stops south to the mall. But often times, if the courtesy shuttle isn't busy, they won't mind dropping you off at the mall, maybe even on the way to/from MSP. Just ask nicely. :)

I can't think of any one particular "must see" at the MoA other than just devoting enough time to walk it. Each section (North, East, South, West) is themed in name and decor, so it's fun to walk between the sections and watch everything change to something new. There are a few clubs/bars way up on the top floor, and I think there is still a comedy club in there, too. The movie theatre is great for a rainy day/mall day, and there a good mix of sit down restaurants and typical mall food court stands. If you're into marine life, oceanography, or just being under water, a visit to Underwater World might be a good idea. It's a little pricey, but it's fun, even as a grown-up. :) If you look around the web, Entertainment books, etc. you can usually find some discount coupons for entry.

I liked staying at the Wyndham in Bloomington because they'll both pick you up at MSP and also take you to and fro MOA.

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changes at MOA
 

Updates on things posted....the comedy club is gone, as are most of hte clubs/restaurants on the 4th floor. They were all owned by one owner and closed at once.

Also the kids area is no longer Camp Snoopy, it is now the Parks at MOA. Gone is big ole snoopy and all the themeing.

As for hotels, behind the mall there are 3 hotels just across the street (a days inn, a homewood suites and I forget what the third is) and as many others have said, all the hotels in the area have shuttles to the mall.

The mall is actually about to undergo an expansion and will have it own hotel in the near future.

If you are going with kids there is a new hotel near the mall that might be of great interest (as it is an indoor water park) http://www.waterparkofamerica.com/

I would have to agree LeHava and stay at one of the Hotels behind MOA. I think the 3rd Hotel is a Country Suites. By staying there, you are across the street from the Light Rail, which will allow you to go downtown in 30 minutes. There are great places to see and do in downtown as well.

Being from Minnesota, I cannot imagine that it would be worth it to plan on spending more than 1 day of a trip here. The mall is large, but completely walkable, and many of the stores have multiple locations throughout the mall -- no need to go into any one store twice.

Note that whether MOA is worth it for you depends on where you live. It's a lot of stores concentrated together, but most of them are chains that you can find elsewhere. Other than Nordstrom, which I don't have in NYC, I personally prefer to shop at the Galleria in Edina, which has slightly more offbeat stores, if somewhat more of a limited selection of them. BUT, if you live in an area without a whole lot of options, it might be a worthwhile trip for you.

That being said, I still can't see spending more than 1 day here, so I might recommend staying downtown and taking light rail TO MOA. There's a TON of great dining options downtown and it's really in a period of revitalization for nightlife as well. You're also superclose to uptown, which is a great, funky neighborhood with lots to do and see (walk around the lakes, hit the Walker Art Museum, try out all of the cute coffee shops on, etc.) and one of my favorite parts of the Twin Cities area.

Agree 100%, I cant imagine spending more than a 1/2 a day there (and that is if you do the aquarium also). It's a mall, its just a big mall. Only store I find there I cant get elsewhere is the QVC store, but otherwise its another mall. It is great to go once to say you have been there, but as a destination....yaawwwnnn. And even less exciting now that camp snoopy is less interesting as Parks at MOA

4-6 hours at MOA is plenty, unless you REALLY like to shop. And yes, that includes the aquarium. If you are travelling w/ kids, I'd suggest the aquarium and Lego stores are "musts".

Is it just me, or is the MOA not as big as one would expect?

I saw it for the 1st time yesterday while landing at MSP, and it does not look all that big. I swear places like Woodfield Mall in Chicago and South Coast Plaza in Orange County are larger.