When most people think of places to live or vacation, they usually think of: Florida, Texas, California, or another area on the coast. To try something different, over fall break, I took a trip to Minnesota, and in my opinion, this state is something everyone has to see at least once because of the many attractions. For example, Minnesota is the home of: The Mall of America, The Walker Art Center, 10,000 lakes, and the residents of the state are known for their character which is referred to as “Minnesota Nice.”

A Place Completely Out of the Ordinary

The number one activity on my list for this trip was to visit the the Mall of America. The Mall of America is not an ordinary mall, it is the home of 520 stores, 50 restaurants, and an amusement park. Shopping may not seem very interesting to some people, but the stores in this mall were not the size of the stores in the Fayette mall. For example, one of the stores I went to was Forever 21, and this store is 80,000 square feet with two stories. After I did some shopping, it was time to head to the amusement park. Originally, I was not planning on going on any of the rides, but as soon as I walked in, I saw someone zip lining across the park. So I thought I would give it a shot. Zip lining is something I will definitely partake in again, in the near future. This amusement park is no joke, it has zip lining, roller coasters, bouncy houses, concession stands, and even water rides. The Mall of America has an area for people who want to just sit in a normal food court, but if you’re not local to the area, why settle for normal? The mall has a Hard Rock Cafe, Dick’s Last Resort, Rainforest Cafe, and so many more options. My family decided to go to one of their restaurants called Margaritaville. Though the name seems like it’s a restaurant for adults 21 and over, it is a kid friendly place. The theme of the restaurant is pirates and they serve normal food but with larger portions. For example, instead of regular nachos, they serve Volcano nachos.

The Wonderful Outdoors

Minnesota is not only known for the Mall of America, they are also known for the activities available outside. This city offers many different opportunities to get fresh air. For example, one of Minnesota’s popular lakes is Lake Calhoun, because it is a large lake, and right across from downtown Minneapolis. In the winter the lakes in Minnesota are even better for family fun. It is very common for people to go ice-skating on the lakes to make the best out of Minnesota’s most brutal season. If lakes and ice-skating aren’t your ideal ways to spend time with friends or family, try going downtown to the famous U.S Bank Stadium and home of the Vikings to watch a football game, or to the Target Center to watch a basketball game, or even to watch baseball at at the Target Stadium. And let’s not forget Nicolette Avenue, where one can find an outlet mall full of eatery’s and shops.

Why See the Big Apple, When You Can See the Big Cherry?

Right next to the park is the Walker Art Center and the Sculpture Garden. These are two great activities because the Walker Art Center is free everyday to students, and every Saturday it is free to the entire public. The Sculpture Garden is free everyday to the public.

Though I did not cover even close to everything there is to experience in Minnesota, I hope that the things you have seen make you rethink that trip to the beach. And a word to the wise, if you go to Minnesota any time in the future, bring a decent amount of money for food, not clothes. Minnesota does not put tax on clothes, but they do tax for food and other non-clothing products, and from personal experience, eating can get pricey.

Happy traveling!