Though I lived in Minnesota at the time the Mall of America (MOA) was built, it had been about 10 years since I last visit and wow… things have certainly changed!
What was once big, is simply now bigger and better with the renovated Nickelodeon Universe, an amusement park housed in the center of the mall sporting rides like the Avatar Airbender and Fairy Odd Coaster. Truly a cartoon-loving kid’s play house.
If you watch the calendar, Nickelodeon Universe has all sorts of cool special activities, too. We camped out for the New Years Eve festivities which included a “Rock the Universe” extravaganza complete offering kids a totally cool rock star experience. Complimentary rock hair and airbrush tattoos, live bands, pictures on the red carpet, air guitar competitions, character visits, and creating music video keepsakes were all part of the event concluding with a rousing countdown and ball drop.
Naturally, an amazing backdrop for our cartoon and comic-lov’n family fun. Though, out of all the activities, the biggest draw for my boys were the rides. Think I could convince them to stand in line to make a video? Nope! The lure of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock was way too strong…(for them, not for me, I was perfectly happy to enjoy a Caribou coffee while they whizzed around in this monstrosity…)
What I enjoyed most was the price. Unlimited ride wrist bands that also granted access to the activities were under $30 a piece (and – hint– if you purchase Nickelodeon Universe tickets online, it dropped the price even lower.) And if you didn’t want to go the ride-route, admission (as it is always) to the park area is free.
The MOA has plenty of shops and activities to explore all on its own, There’s a Lego store and play area right outside of the South Avenue entrance to Nickelodeon Universe, which simply adds to the awesomeness and a gazillion other shops. Something that will definitely appeal to everyone’s tastes.
Though the Mall of America is chock full of a crazy amount of adventures to be had, one store had my little guys super-charged with excitement. From the second we spotted the monstrous yellow chick Peep in the West Market corner of Nickelodeon Universe, it was a “mom, we must go there” situation.
Really, who can resist the lure of fluffy vanilla marshmallows with sparkly sugar?
The Peeps Store (2nd of its kind) is visual treat of adorable overload, housing large displays of plush Peep characters, clothing, and memorabilia. The perimeter showcases Peeps cohort’s Mike and Ike, Teenee Beanee jelly beans, and the fiery Hot Tamales.
Along the back wall is a rainbow lineup of more Mike and Ike flavors than I ever realized existed. And so, yeah, we naturally had to pick out a bucket full… (that may well last until our next visit to MOA because several weeks later, we have yet to put more than a small dent in the contents of the can.)
If you’re in the area and can handle tons of cuteness tossed in every corner, then a visit to the Peeps Store is a must. One word of caution, set a budget before you go in, lest temptation will cling to your pocketbook like fuzzy little chicks huddling in the coop.
If you are looking to chill with some Peeps of your own, more deets can be found at http://www.peepsandcompany.com/
