Going to the Mall of America is always a good day, whether you’re hanging out with a group of friends or on a date. There’s four floors worth of shops, restaurants, and stands to check out. Here are some of the must-sees of the MoA experience.
Alpaca Connections: This is a store that has all sorts of things made of Alpaca fur. They have some of the comfiest sweaters, mittens, and gloves you’ll ever wear. Or slippers lined with the fur. They also have rugs and pillows that are so soft you’ll want to fall asleep right then and there. They’ve also got stuffed animals made of, you guessed it, Alpaca fur. There are teddy bears, otters, and of course Alpacas.
Hot Topic: This place used to be mostly band shirts and trip pants. Now it’s converted into a place for people who are giant nerds and proud of it! They still have a huge selection of band shirts, but there’s also just as many with internet memes and anime characters. They have tons of merchandise from popular TV shows too, with a section for Adventure Time and Doctor Who.
The Vaase: This store is run by a Vietnamese man who’s supporting his family back home. It’s the store you always wanted to go in as a kid but your parents never let you: filled with the coolest looking weapons you’ve ever seen. There are daggers, both practical and decorative, at some reasonable prices. Then there are all kinds of neat little figurines: dragons, elephants, frogs with coins in their mouths… and last, the shop has a huge collection of swords. Some of them are just plain awesome, but there’s also a collection from Anime, video games, and movies. Some of the gems of this store include Aragorn’s sword from the Lord of the Rings, the Cloud Buster from Final Fantasy 7, and the Master Sword from Legend of Zelda.
Rybicki Cheese: Don’t forget this store! This is a crucial part of any cheese-lover’s journey through MoA. Not only do they have fantastic cheese, but there are always free samples outside!
Typo: The MoA website says this shop is for office supplies, but a more accurate description would be any writer’s dream come true. There are endless amazing things here, including fun notebooks, stamps of all kinds including ‘Like’ and ‘Dislike’ stamps with a thumbs up or thumbs down, old fashioned flip clocks and alarm clocks, and paper lanterns. Even the paper bags they put your stuff in are amazing; they’ve all got that tie you see on official-looking manila folders.
Ragstock: This store has some of the oddest and coolest clothing items, like eighties-style jackets, shiny red pants, and top hats. Of course, there are more normal options as well, and most are reasonably priced. But one thing is for sure, this store is a haven for hipsters.
The Rainforest Café: This restaurant has been an iconic part of the mall for years. The atmosphere is truly rainforest-like, with darker lighting, fake plants hanging down all around, and the sounds of rainfall and jungle critters in the background. They have huge fish tanks that you can walk under, and the bar is under a giant mushroom. The food is a little pricey, but the experience is definitely worth the money.
Those are some of the more unique stops at the Mall of America. But don’t hesitate to check out everything. Make a day of it and scan the mall, one level at a time. All that walking is great exercise, but it won’t feel like it! With all these amazing shops, you’re bound to walk away with some great finds.
