Mall of America [advice]

[der_kluge]

Since I'm not going to GenCon this year, I'll end up having a handful of vacation days that I can do something with.

So, the misses and I have been debating possible locations where we could go that would be a relatively short distance from Kansas City.

After I shot down my wife's bizarre suggestions of "Graceland" and "the Grand Ol' Opry" (still baffled on that one!), I suggested the Mall of American. Minneapolis is some place that I had considered moving to since they seemed to have a good I.T. market, and it would give us a chance to consider the area as well.

So, I'm looking for advice from people that live there. Is it something you'd recommend? Is it fun and exciting?

Now, keeping in mind that we have a 14 month old. We're thinking that she should be ok in the stroller, and so long as we have comfortable shoes, we should be good to go.

Is there anything else worth seeing in that area?

 

[Bloodstone Press]

Never been to Minneapolis, so I can't comment on that one, but I can say Kodos on talking her out of Grace Land. I've never been there either but I know it is in the projects and I hear it sucks.

 

[der_kluge]

Well, she was just mentioning some places that she had never been to, so she didn't know. She just though it might be fun. I've been to both GraceLand and the Grand Ol' Opry. Well... been to is accurate, been inside would not be true. We didn't go into either of them.

But my intense dislike of country music made me shutter when she mentioned the latter. And yes, Graceland (well, all of Memphis from what I remember) is a wasteland. A friend of mine is just moving away from there, and he is so glad, because he totally hates it.

 

[janta]

I live in Minneapolis (well, a suburb thereof, actually), and have been to the MoA (AKA in my house as the Grand Temple of Capitalism) several times. My main impression of it is that it's exhausting, even on short trips. You know how in most malls, you can kind of see the general layout? The MoA isn't like that at all, and it can be disconcerting -- unless you're near one of the entrances to the park area, all you can see is a three- or four-story hallway. I tend to get a bit disoriented in there, because it's difficult for me to envision the layout. Also, there's a second-rate amusement park in the center, with all that entails. (I'm not a big fan of amusement parks, so mostly I find it annoying) The aquarium they have there is OK, though, and your daughter might like it.
Overall, the Megamall is perhaps not the greatest place for very young children. I'd be hesitant to take my 15-month-old son there for a long visit -- I think the noise and activity and general sensory-overload might make him really cranky. (And my son is pretty even-tempered most of the time.)

If there's other stuff you're interested in here in the Twin Cities, then it's probably worth checking out, if for no other reason than to boggle at the place. It really is Consumerism Distilled into its brassiest essence.*

Oh, and here's their website:Mall of America

--Janta

*Don't get me wrong, I'm all for buying stuff, but the MoA is enough to make even a hardened capitalist wince.

p.s. -- oh, you asked for other sights to see. Well, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts is decent, and free except for their special exhibits; the Science Museum is supposed to be good (haven't been there since they moved into new digs); and St. Paul also has a CHildren's Museum that your little girl might enjoy (they have a section just for toddlers, assuming she's walking). Hm. Let me think on it a bit more.

ETA: Here is a fairly lengthy list of many Twin Cities attractions. And if you're here around Gencon time, then the Renaissance Festival will be going on here too. OK, I'll stop the boosterism for now.

 

[Tewligan]

This badmouthing of Graceland makes my very soul ache. C'mon...Graceland! It's freakin' awesome!

 

[der_kluge]

Please. It's an old house in a dilapidated part of town.

 

[Tewligan]

Faddle. Well, okay, that part of town isn't exceptionally awesome. But I've been INSIDE the glory that is Graceland. The tour is great. A lot of cool stuff on exhibit - outfits, gold records, photos, memoribilia, airplanes, cars, videos, etc. I loved it. Of course, if you aren't an Elvis fan, you may not be as impressed. Heathen.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Heh heh. SHE wanted to go to Graceland and YOU wanted to go to a mall.

Way to go! You show those pesky gender roles who's boss!

 

[jgbrowning]

After Bubba-Ho-Tep I'll never look at Graceland the same way.

joe b.

 

[ASH]

I have been to the Mall of America a few times, living in northern Iowa we are only a few hours away from it. Its a big mall. Thats about it.. They do have a neat little snoopy park in the middle of it that is a bit too old for a toddler..but could be interesting.

As far as the area, the Minnesota Zoo( link: http://www.mnzoo.com/ ) is on of my favorite places to go, as is the Science Museum ( Link: http://www.smm.org/ ) Then you have Valleyfair (Link: http://www.valleyfair.com/ ) which is fun too!