Grandparents Itinerary

Take a multi-generational vacation to Bloomington and Mall of America with the help of this itinerary designed for grandparents.

Day One
Morning: Arrive at your Bloomington hotel just minutes away from Mall of America. Bloomington offers more than 45 hotels with exceptional accommodations to suit every visitor’s needs. With a complimentary shuttle offered to the Mall, grandparents arrive at the world’s premier retail and entertainment complex with their grandchildren for a memory-filled day of entertainment, adventure, pampering, dining, constructing, and shopping.

Afternoon: Begin your MOA® adventure in Nickelodeon Universe. Spread across seven acres in the center of the Mall, Nickelodeon Universe is a child’s paradise … indoors. Grab an unlimited wristband and hop on nearly 30 rides and attractions for all ages and courage levels. Spiral and turn on SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge, reach new heights on the Ghostly Gangplank, swing skyward into mutant mayhem on Shredder’s Mutant Masher, or take flight on the Barnacle Blast zip line, the longest indoor zip line in North America. Little ones can swing with the Backyardigans, take a trip on Diego’s Rescue Rider, or fly high above the park in the Bubble Guppies Guppy Bubbler.

An older woman holding up her grandson, dressed in a turtle costume, to see turtles at SEA LIFE

SEA LIFE at Mall of America

To keep the excitement going inside the Mall, stop into the other must-see attractions. The LEGO Store lets kids play with the latest and greatest in Lego products, SEA LIFE at Mall of America gets the grandkids face-to-face with sharks and other sea creatures, Moose Mountain Adventure Golf entices kids to challenge their grandparents on the mini golf course, and colors come alive at Crayola Experience, where the young ones can name and wrap their own crayon or star in a coloring book page.

Evening: After all of the excitement around the Mall, enjoy a bite to eat at one of the 50-plus restaurants located on the third and fourth floors. Kid-friendly favorites include Twin City Grill, Sugar Factory, and Rainforest Cafe.

Day Two
Morning: Start your day by biking around the metro area. Tour routes include downtown Minneapolis, the Chain of Lakes, and the Mississippi River. Take in the Twin Cities’ history and famous spots, including Longfellow’s legendary Minnehaha Falls, the University of Minnesota campus, and Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.

Afternoon: Once you’re back in Bloomington, head to The Fair on 4 on the Mall’s fourth floor. The one-of-a-kind attraction features an arcade, go-kart track, and axe throwing. For even more fun, head back down to Nickelodeon Universe and take a ride on FlyOver America, a flight simulator that soars over some of the USA’s most breathtaking landscapes.

Evening: For a Southern-inspired dinner, hunker down in a cozy booth in the ever-popular Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and enjoy what Bubba himself prided himself on, SHRIMP! But, don’t forget about the dixie-style baby back rib and scrumptious desserts. You better watch the movie before arriving for dinner, though, as the wait staff will try to stump you with Forrest Gump movie trivia.

Day Three
Morning: Start your last day in the Twin Cities by visiting the Minnesota Zoo to view more than 4,700 animals in their natural habitats, including a lush tropical area, marine center, farm, boreal forest, and tundra.

A group of kids looking at a bear swimming at the Zoo

Minnesota Zoo

The zoo is one of the nation’s largest and is home to over 445 different species of animals. Russia’s Grizzly Coast is a spectacular exhibit that represents one of the world’s last great wild places, the Russian Far East. Check out the grizzly bears, sea otters, and Amur leopards and don’t miss the award-winning exhibit African penguins exhibit. Grab a bite to eat in the Call of the Wild Food Court before you depart—and don’t forget that souvenir from the gift shop.

Afternoon: Head back to Bloomington to take a relaxing walk through the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Try walking with a tour guide to find the more than 260 bird species in the 2,200-acre refuge. Some 121 birds are known to nest at the refuge, including eagles. This is a great place to see and learn about the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, plus the area wildlife and migrating water fowl. There is no better place to connect with your grandkids and reflect on how exciting your trip to Bloomington has been and the lifelong memories you have created together.