Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier
The Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the Western Hemisphere. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, it spans 5.6 million square feet and has over 520 stores. Indoor theme parks, a fantastic vacation destination, drawing millions of visitors annually.
If you’re a shop until you drop type personality, Mall of America will be a paradise. The Mall does not charge sales tax on clothing and shoes on all four floors. I did a little shopping as this rare incentive was irresistible!
However, they do charge for the theme parks, aquariums, wheelchairs, electric scooters, plus a refundable deposit for these vehicles. A valid ID is required to rent the mobility vehicles. There is a 7-minute walk from the entrance to the area where the mobility vehicles are located.
I’m wild for indoor aquariums and have visited some of the country’s biggest and best.
Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium is a 1.2-million-gallon aquarium featuring a 300-foot underwater glass tunnel surrounded by exotic fish, sharks, sea turtles, and much more. There is an interactive virtual attraction, where you put on a headset and virtually go deep in the ocean! Oh, my goodness it seemed real with sharks, star fish, and the vastness of the sea.
Maze of Mirrors is an interactive experience and takes about 10 minutes to complete; you have to wear plastic gloves in order not to smudge the glass. The maze is located on the 3rd floor, near the food court, and there is a fee to enter.
The JW Marriott Hotel is attached to the Mall of America and offers direct access to world‑class shopping, dining, and entertainment. Complete with a sleek modern elegance with several suites and rooms to choose from. Guests with Platinum Elite status or higher receive complimentary daily breakfast on the hotel’s 15th-floor.
I was told the rooms were updated a few months ago. Big bathtubs and showers. Reading material and books were available in the suite. The mattress offered a blissful night’s rest. Smooth high quality bed linens and bold artwork to inspire the senses. The hotel doesn’t offer a free shuttle from the airport.
Cedar+Stone is the hotel’s restaurant and offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Vegan Chorizo Hash with vegan chorizo sausage, roasted sweet potatoes, crispy chickpeas, with avocado salsa was incredible. Lunch was a big smoked turkey sandwich with aged white cheddar, watercress, apple slices, and garlic aioli.
The wine list was to my liking and I enjoyed a few glasses. A rosé from France, a California merlot, Oregon Pinot noir, and a sweet Sauternes from France. The zero-proof cocktail was charming as well “Aunt Rosemary” with cranberry juice, grapes, pineapple, and rosemary syrup. I had dinner in my luxury suite, salmon with a kale salad. Cedar+Stone allows guests to customize entrees, and I fully appreciated this gesture. Experiencing the Mall of America and its vast shopping options was fun. JW Marriott offered me total relaxation and a bit of glamour.
