Fun Things To Do With Kids At The Mall Of America

I received complimentary passes to some of the activities mentioned in this post of fun things to do with kids at the Mall of America.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Do you like to travel with your children?  My husband and I have yet to take what many would call a ‘real vacation’ sans kids.  We’ve talked about it.  But we always come to the conclusion that they will only be with us a short time.  Once they are grown and gone, we’ll have lots of time to jet off to wherever our hearts desire.  I know we’d have a fantastic time if we did go somewhere by ourselves for a week.  For now though, we’ve limited it to just weekend getaways to help build a strong marriage.  I think the fact that we are both homebodies just keeps us from taking that leap.  So every major trip we’ve taken has been a family vacation.

Our Recent Rendezvous To The Mall Of America

So, most often, we like to travel in our home state which is Minnesota. We can leave for just a couple days and easily get back home if any emergency arises on the farm.  And to celebrate Spring, or so we thought, we planned a fun trip to the Mall Of America.  Then, because of an unexpected March blizzard, we had to delay by a day.  Thankfully, the roads were quickly plowed and drivable so we headed out just 24 hours later than originally planned.  

The Mall Of America

This mega shopping mall is located in Bloomington, Minnesota.  And as we geared up for this little mini-vacay, I had all kinds of plans in mind.  Whether you’ve ever been to the MOA before or not, there is always plenty to do.  Seriously!  Truly something for everyone.  The Mall of America first opened back in 1992 and has revolutionized the shopping experience for tens of millions of visitors a year.  It’s a leader in retail, entertainment, and attractions.  Plus, Mall of America is one of the top tourist destinations in the country and is even known around the world. 

Fun Things To Do With Kids At The Mall Of America

So much to do.  Make a plan but go with the flow!    

Moose Mountain Adventure Golf

The fun adventure known as Moose Mountain Adventure Golf is an 18-hole miniature golf course, certain to provide a fun adventure for the entire family. This course features an original, whimsical design with an old-time north woods feel — complete with life size moose, horses and more!

We had so much fun working through this course.  Each hole featured new and exiting challenges.  It’s very user friendly, family friendly, and still challenging for adults.

Set back from the crowds, you feel like you’re in your own little universe as your group conquers the course.

You’ll find fun little touches around every corner.  The kids thought the campfire as well as the cave with bats were really neat.

Part of the course overlooks Nickelodeon Universe which is fun to look out on.  And all the whimsical decor along the way makes the entire experience even more fun.

Make sure to grab some photos throughout Moose Mountain Adventure Golf as there are ops around every corner.

We don’t always keep keep score when we do a round of family mini golf.  But we did this time and I actually won!

The Escape Game

As a premier provider of escape rooms, The Escape Game’s adventures play like Hollywood blockbusters.  They feature twists, turns, and jaw-dropping surprises around every corner. Each 60-minute adventures bring epic stories to life in a one-of-a-kind tactile experience.

You and your team will work together to find clues, overcome challenges, and ultimately complete a mission. By making the most accessible and immersive escape games in the world, The Escape Game’s adventures are epic for everyone. Are you ready to escape?

Choose from their 5 current incredible adventures:

• Mission: Mars
• Gold Rush
• The Heist 
• Prison Break
• Special Ops

We played Gold Rush with our family this time as it’s a difficulty level of 7 out of 10.  Some of the other rooms are harder if you want even more of a challenge.  For families with elementary aged children, I highly suggest starting out with Gold Rush as your first adventure.  It’s challenging but so much fun.  If you have teens and older, you may be able to accomplish one of the harder rooms.

We did escape!  But barely!  With just over 2 minutes left, our family was able to solve the Gold Rush Escape Room and get out!  Everyone had such a great time.  The kids really did wonderful looking for clues and working together.

You can also learn more by heading over to my previous coverage on The Escape Game Mall Of America and The Escape Game Minneapolis reviews.

Nickelodeon Universe

Probably one of the most well-known things to do at the MOA with kids.  Nickelodeon Experience is the nation’s largest indoor theme park and is home to seven acres of unique attractions, entertainment, and dining options.  You can meet the Nick characters, experience spine-tingling rides, visit unique retail shops, and so much more!

Our Favorite Parts Of Nickelodeon Universe

Depending on which family member you ask, you’ll get a different answer as to their favorite Nickelodeon Universe attraction.  While I can’t cover everything, I did want to name a few.  I personally prefer the tamer options such as the ghost mine.  A great option for those who like target practice as riders glide along the haunted house shooting at the lights.  And I’m also not ashamed to admit that I thoroughly enjoy Diego’s Bus Ride.  However, our teenager will be quick to tell you she likes the orange roller coaster and it’s her favorite ride, hands down.

The younger crew absolutely LOVED the brand new Paw Patrol Play Land.  This large area featured many of the great landmarks they recognized from the show.  You’ll find the tower, vehicles, characters, climbing structures, and more. 

We must have taken at least 6 turns in there.  They send in a large group at a time and the kids get to play for 25 minutes.  It was well organized, safe, and FUN!  

A ride on the Carousel is always a must.

And just in case you’re worried, there are TONS of things for older kids and adults to ride and do as well.  There are several more ‘wild’ roller coasters that none of us braved.  Then the ever-popular log chute, giant swings, bumper cars, and more.

Crayola Experience

We also spent some time visiting Crayola Experience at the Mall of America.  Guests can discover the magic of color at through this interactive, hands on experience.

Bursting with more than 20 hands-on activities, this one-of-a-kind family attraction is where color, chemistry, and technology are combined to create a colorful imaginative adventure.  Name and wrap your own crayon, star in a coloring page, bring your art to life in 4-D and so much more!  It’s the perfect thing to add to your family fun day at MOA.

We had a really fun time at Crayola Experience and definitely could have stayed longer as we didn’t even get to do everything they had to offer.

Character Meet & Greets

Throughout the week, you’ll find a variety of different characters throughout the park at different times.  Just watch their schedule or check with their information desk for specifics.

Events!

The Mall of America is home to many different events throughout the year.  And we happened to be there for an exciting one:  Double Dare!

Growing up, my sister and I were obsessed with Double Dare.  So when I saw that there was a Double Dare Event going on outside of Nickelodeon Universe, I had to be there.  And, I may or may not have bribed my kids with $10 to volunteer…….  {Enter: JACK!}

He had a blast though and was totally glad he was chosen.  The red team won the first 2 challenges and the 2 question rounds.  But when it came time to the last challenge, it was announced it was one-winner-take-all and the blue team lucked out.  Still an exciting event that everyone enjoyed watching though!

Additional Fun Things To Do With Kids At The Mall Of America

While we didn’t get a chance to experience the following activities, Mall of America has so much to offer for every person of every age.  That includes, but is not limited to:

• Sea Life Aquarium
• Flyover America
• The Lego Store
• Rock Of Ages Blacklight Mini Golf
• 5d Extreme Attraction
• Candytopia
• CMX Cinema
• Mirror Maze
• And So Much More!

So tell me, what would you want to do first on a visit to the Mall of America?

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