Sometimes trips don’t follow the plan. When you’re on vacation it’s frustrating. When you’re traveling for business it’s downright disruptive. About two months ago, I found myself marooned in Minneapolis due to a snowstorm in Chicago.

My original plan was to be in the Twin Cities for a few meetings – in, out, and back home within 24 hours. I packed extremely light, so when I found out that my flight would not be leaving MN as planned, I had a panic attack. What would I do for clothes?!

Those that know me know I have a cleanliness issue. It could be called a compulsion. I’m a clean freak. To the outsider, my house is immaculate. To me? Filthy. So the idea of not having a clean change of clothes was ultra-distressing.

Luckily for me, I was staying at a hotel just 10 minutes away from the famed Mall of America. The concierge informed me that there was a bus coming to shuttle guests over within the hour. I had time to kill – and a desperate need to pick up some clothes – so I thought, why not?

The Mall of America, also called the Megamall, is located in a suburb of the Twin Cities. It’s one the largest malls in the United States. The sheer size surprised me – and admit that I got lost a few times while trying to navigate its layout. There were a lot of stores I recognized and even more that I didn’t.  The mall has an aquarium, Metropolitan Stadium artifacts, and a somewhat newly remodeled LEGO store.

A snapshot of all four flours

There were a TON of kids running around in the mall where I entered – probably because the Girl Scout and American Girl stores were both in that “wing”. Or maybe it was because there was an entrance to Nickelodeon Universe – an indoor amusement park – nearby:

My final verdict? I wouldn’t visit MN just to see the mall, but if you’re in the area, have to kill some time, or need to pick up something, it’s well worth the visit.