I got here straight from the airport on Minneapolis’ metro, town’s principal supply of public transit.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The metro conveniently has a cease proper on the mall, which is definitely situated in a suburb of town.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Fortunately, there have been lockers obtainable to hire proper earlier than getting into the mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The larger sizes have been massive sufficient to carry carry-on baggage or perhaps even a medium suitcase. The method jogged my memory of renting lockers at a theme park.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The metro dropped me in a station that was primarily a parking storage, so I needed to take escalators as much as the precise mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Mall of America is the biggest mall in North America, and the ninth largest on this planet.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The mall has loads of displays that would not be present in a typical mall. I needed to stroll previous the aquarium entrance to succeed in the principle space of the mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Guests have to purchase tickets to enter the aquarium, so I peaked down into the expansive house beneath the principle buying areas.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
A part of the middle is occupied by a big basketball court docket, which is surrounded by a internet. There’s additionally a stage within the heart of the court docket.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The primary actual retailer I entered was the M&M retailer, which was a lot greater than it first appeared.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Although there have been loads of issues to buy, it was arrange extra like an experiential tour than a retailer.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The M&M retailer alone was three tales tall, with escalators and an elevator inside.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I took the elevator up the M&M retailer, and exited into the Nickelodeon theme park within the heart of the mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Nickelodeon Universe is the biggest indoor theme park within the US, with 28 rides throughout seven acres.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It operates extra like a carnival or county truthful than a typical amusement park. You purchase digital tickets at kiosks situated across the park.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Then you definitely get a move that may be scanned to enter rides.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Bigger curler coasters required extra tickets than smaller kiddie rides.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I rode just a few rides, however my favourite was the Pretty OddParents spinning curler coaster.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I used to be impressed on the scale of rides within the indoor setting, although admittedly this one made me a bit nauseous.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The rides have been neatly built-in into the mall since there was no roped off space for ticket holders, and lots of rides had their very own accompanying shops.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Lots of the rides appeared supposed to generate nostalgia in guests, with imagery from older Nickelodeon exhibits now not on the air.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Previous favorites like “Avatar the Final Airbender” and “Spongebob Squarepants” made appearances.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I loved the inclusion of particulars from the exhibits …
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
… like a bounce home duplicate of Spongebob’s iconic pineapple home.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Different rides extra straight appealed to youthful kids.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
A number of the objects, like this “Rugrats” puffer coat, have been a bit baffling to me.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
A big retailer subsequent to the rides was fully decked out in Nickelodeon merchandise, from toys to socks to slime.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
To recuperate from driving curler coasters, I waited in line on the Lego retailer.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I admired among the big Lego sculptures whereas I waited. The multi-story nature of the constructing made it attainable to view the sculptures from completely different angles and distances, and actually recognize them.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider