Radisson Blu Mall of America

Mall of America is less a traditional shopping mall than an indoor entertainment district. Its centerpiece, Nickelodeon Universe, occupies seven acres beneath the glass roof, while SEA LIFE has a 300-foot underwater tunnel, Crayola Experience offers more than 20 hands-on activities and FlyOver America simulates an aerial journey using motion, wind and mist.

The Radisson Blu’s direct connection means the mall can function almost like an extension of your hotel. That is convenient, but we would not spend the entire four-night trip indoors.

Nearby, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge provides an almost opposite experience: quiet wetlands, wildlife and more than 45 miles of trails, with no entrance fee. Its Bloomington visitor center is only a short drive from the hotel.

For a broader Twin Cities experience, head north toward Minnehaha Falls and Minneapolis, or spend part of a day in St. Paul, where the Science Museum of Minnesota and Minnesota Children’s Museum are strong family choices. Mall of America is also served by the METRO Blue Line, making some exploring possible without a rental car.

The sweet spot for four nights is therefore about two days centered on MOA and one full or two partial days beyond it.

Nickelodeon Universe: Indoor rides and coasters across seven acres. Best: roughly ages 4 through teens; allow 4–7 hours. Ride restrictions vary.

SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium: Sharks, rays, turtles and a 300-foot ocean tunnel. Excellent for ages 2–12; allow 1½–2 hours.

Crayola Experience: 20+ hands-on art, color and technology activities. Strongest for ages 3–10; allow 2–3 hours.

FlyOver America: Immersive simulated flight with wind, mist and scents. Great for school-age children and teens; riders must be at least 40 inches tall.

Museum of Illusions: More than 60 interactive optical-illusion exhibits; good rainy-day choice for older children and teens. Allow 60–90 minutes.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Free trails, exhibits and wildlife watching minutes from MOA. Allow 1–3 hours.

Minnesota Children’s Museum: Three floors of hands-on play in St. Paul, especially good for toddlers through elementary ages. Allow 2–4 hours.

Science Museum of Minnesota: Dinosaurs, science exhibits and an Omnitheater; especially good for school-age children and teens. Allow 3–5 hours. 

Day 1: Arrive + Explore
Morning: Travel to MSP.
Afternoon: Check in and get oriented at Mall of America. Browse LEGO, shops and snacks rather than buying attraction tickets immediately.
Evening: Dinner at FireLake or inside MOA.
Family note: Keep arrival day deliberately light.

Day 2: Big Mall Day
Morning: Nickelodeon Universe.
Afternoon: Lunch and hotel break, then SEA LIFE.
Evening: Casual dinner and optional shopping.
Family note: A midday reset helps younger children.

Day 3: Twin Cities Day
Morning: Minnesota Children’s Museum or Science Museum in St. Paul.
Afternoon: Continue exploring, or return early for pool/rest time.
Evening: Relaxed dinner.
Family note: This keeps the trip from feeling like four straight mall days.

Day 4: Slow + Flexible
Morning: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge if weather is pleasant.
Afternoon: Crayola Experience for younger kids or Museum of Illusions/FlyOver for older ones.
Evening: Favorite MOA restaurant and final shopping.

Day 5: Departure

Morning: Breakfast and one last mall stroll if flight time allows.
Afternoon: Airport transfer.

For this specific trip, there really is no bad weather season because most headline attractions are indoors. The tradeoff is primarily between outside conditions, crowds and hotel pricing.

September is appealing for families with flexible school calendars: Bloomington typically sees highs around the low 70s°F and lows in the 50s. October averages closer to the upper 50s by day, while November averages around the low 40s and can bring freezing nights or early snow.

Summer offers warm weather for combining MOA with parks and outdoor Twin Cities attractions, but school vacation brings more family travel. Holiday season adds festive atmosphere and shopping but can also create some of the mall’s heaviest crowds.

Best overall: September–early October
Best value: Non-holiday weekdays in fall or late winter
Best weather: June–September
Best for fewer crowds: Midweek when schools are in session
Period to approach carefully: Thanksgiving through late December if you dislike crowds

For fall travel, pack layers; a mild afternoon can become a genuinely cold evening surprisingly quickly.

Skip the rental car if the mall is your priority. The hotel advertises complimentary MSP airport transportation, and Mall of America has public transit connections. Confirm the shuttle schedule directly before flying.

Price attraction bundles before buying individually. MOA currently sells multi-attraction packages combining Nickelodeon Universe with attractions such as SEA LIFE, Crayola Experience and FlyOver America. Whether they save your family money depends on what you actually plan to use.

Plan around age and height, not just attraction names. FlyOver America has a 40-inch minimum, and individual theme-park rides have their own requirements.

Bring genuinely comfortable shoes. Mall of America is enormous, and a “mall day” can involve several miles of walking.

Give yourself an escape day. Even children who love rides and shops can hit sensory overload. The nearby wildlife refuge is free, quiet and an excellent reset.

Pool: The hotel currently advertises an indoor pool, but a recent booking listing marked it temporarily closed. Verify its status directly before booking if swimming is important.

Parking: Current booking information lists both self-parking and valet parking as surcharge services. Check your specific room rate because parking may not be included.

Attractions cost extra: Staying at Radisson Blu does not automatically include Nickelodeon Universe, SEA LIFE, Crayola Experience or other MOA admissions.

Mall youth policy: Mall of America currently enforces its Parental Escort Policy daily from 3 p.m. to closing, so families traveling with teenagers should review the current rules before allowing them to explore independently.

Room occupancy: Confirm the exact occupancy of the room category you book, especially if traveling with more than two children or requesting a suite.

A Mall of America trip is not the classic Minnesota lakes-and-cabins vacation — and that is exactly why it can work so well for the right family.

The biggest advantage of staying at Radisson Blu Mall of America is how easy everything becomes. You can ride a roller coaster in the morning, walk through a shark tunnel after lunch, let tired children recharge in the room and head back out for dinner without ever getting into the car.

Four nights also gives you enough time not to rush. Spend a couple of days enjoying the mall, but leave room for Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge or a trip into Minneapolis or St. Paul. That contrast makes the getaway much more interesting.

We especially like this trip for families who value convenience, lots of activity choices and a destination that does not depend on perfect weather. If your idea of a vacation is mostly nature and quiet, it probably is not the right fit. But for an easy, high-energy family getaway, the combination is unusually hard to beat.