The Biggest Mall In America is The Mall of America
The Mall of America or MOA is the biggest mall in America and the second largest mall in the world. It has the most visitors in the world with 40 million visitors annually. Inside this 4.2 million square foot mall is more than just retail stores and a food court one would expect to find at a mall. The Mall of America is a mixture of entertainment, shopping and the America spirit.
The Mall of America is located in Bloomington, Minnesota. The MOA has a rectangular floor plan with three main levels and a fourth level on one side. The MOA also has its own seven story parking garage, and parking on the north and south sides of the mall with all free parking spaces. Both the bus and light rail systems make regular stops at the MOA and provide transportation to attractions around the area. One interesting fact about the Mall of America is that it is unheated except for entrances. This may surprise some due to the extreme cold temperatures experienced during a Minnesota winter. Heat is instead produced by people, lighting and skylights. The real surprise is that even during the coldest temperatures the air conditioner still must be ran to keep the mall’s temperature comfortable for guests.
The Mall of America is built on the same site of the former Metropolitan Stadium which was home to both the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins. There is a plaque that pays tribute to the former stadium and a lone stadium seat left in the exact position it was in the stadium to tribute a home run hit by Hall-of-Fame player Harmon Killebrew. The construction of the mall began in 1989 and it was opened in 1992. In 2007 new construction will began called ‘Phase II’. This new construction will include a dinner theatre, ice rink, three hotels and a water park. It will also include IKEA as an anchor store.
The Mall of America is home to many attractions. Besides the numerous retail stores, including four anchor stores, the Mall of America features a variety of unusual attractions that one would not normally expect to see at a mall. The Park, formerly Camp Snoopy, is an indoor amusement park. The Park is the largest indoor amusement park in America. The Park includes two roller coasters and other rides. MOA also has a 14 screen AMC movie theatre, Underwater Adventures Aquarium, the Chapel of Love- a wedding chapel, a National American University campus, Lego Imagination Center, The River Church A.C.E.S. flight simulator, Aqua massage, Minnesota Vikings locker room and Dinosaur Walk Museum.
The Mall of America is a huge tourist attraction. They are open everyday except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Monday through Saturday they operate from 10 am to 9:30 pm and on Sundays they are open from 11am to 7pm. They seek to accommodate all visitors with a range of customer services. Visitors should also be aware of the Parental Escort Policy of the mall that requires children under 15 to be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 on Friday and Saturdays after 6pm.
The Mall of America is an amazing attraction. It is much more than a mall. It offers a one of a kind experience to visitors. With the new construction it will feature everything from shopping to water fun to hotels. A family could plan a whole vacation around the things to do offered at MOA. It can take days to go through every store and attraction located at the Mall of America. There is something for everyone, no matter their age, at the biggest mall in America.
