I came directly from the airport on Minneapolis’ metro, the city’s main source of public transit.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The metro conveniently has a stop right at the mall, which is actually located in a suburb of the city.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Luckily, there were lockers available to rent right before entering the mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The bigger sizes were large enough to hold carry-on luggage or maybe even a medium suitcase. The process reminded me of renting lockers at a theme park.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The metro dropped me in a station that was essentially a parking garage, so I had to take escalators up to the actual mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Mall of America is the largest mall in North America, and the ninth largest in the world.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The mall has plenty of exhibits that wouldn’t be found in a typical mall. I had to walk past the aquarium entrance to reach the main area of the mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Visitors have to buy tickets to enter the aquarium, so I peaked down into the expansive space below the main shopping areas.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Part of the center is occupied by a large basketball court, which is surrounded by a net. There’s also a stage in the center of the court.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The first real store I entered was the M&M store, which was much bigger than it first appeared.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Though there were plenty of things to purchase, it was set up more like an experiential tour than a store.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The M&M store alone was three stories tall, with escalators and an elevator inside.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I took the elevator up the M&M store, and exited into the Nickelodeon theme park in the center of the mall.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Nickelodeon Universe is the largest indoor theme park in the US, with 28 rides across seven acres.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
It operates more like a carnival or county fair than a typical amusement park. You buy virtual tickets at kiosks located around the park.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Then you get a pass that can be scanned to enter rides.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Larger roller coasters required more tickets than smaller kiddie rides.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I rode a few rides, but my favorite was the Fairly OddParents spinning roller coaster.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I was impressed at the scale of rides in the indoor setting, though admittedly this one made me a bit nauseous.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The rides were neatly integrated into the mall since there was no roped off area for ticket holders, and many rides had their own accompanying stores.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Many of the rides seemed intended to generate nostalgia in visitors, with imagery from older Nickelodeon shows no longer on the air.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Past favorites like “Avatar the Last Airbender” and “Spongebob Squarepants” made appearances.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I enjoyed the inclusion of details from the shows …
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… like a bounce house replica of Spongebob’s iconic pineapple house.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Other rides more directly appealed to younger children.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Some of the items, like this “Rugrats” puffer coat, were a bit baffling to me.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
A large store next to the rides was completely decked out in Nickelodeon merchandise, from toys to socks to slime.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
To recover from riding roller coasters, I waited in line at the Lego store.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I admired some of the huge Lego sculptures while I waited. The multi-story nature of the building made it possible to view the sculptures from different angles and distances, and really appreciate them.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
