Nicollet Mall, a pedestrian avenue in downtown Minneapolis, has Dayton's, Marshall Fields, and two malls, upscale Gaviidae Common and City Center. Hip galleries and antiques stores abound in the restored Warehouse District, north of Hennepin between North 1st and 7th streets. Uptown, near Hennepin and Lake streets, is the place to find trendy shops and boutiques. In St. Paul, good shopping can be found all along Grand Avenue, just west of the downtown.
The Mother of All Malls--The Mall of America, 60 E. Broadway, Bloomington (tel. 800/879-3555; www.mallofamerica.com), the nation's largest shrine to consumerism, has everything -- restaurants, major department stores such as Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom, over 520 specialty stores and boutiques, movie theaters, nightclubs, bowling, even a NASCAR racing experience. The big draw for kids is Camp Snoopy, America's largest enclosed theme park.
The mall is in Bloomington, about a 20-minute drive from the city center. Follow I-35W south to Minn. 62 East, go about 1 mile, and exit onto Minn. 77 South (Cedar Ave.). Follow the signs to the mall. To get here by public transportation, take bus no. 180, which stops at Nicollet Mall near South 7th Street at the rounded glass booth. The trip takes about 30 minutes. Light rail service from the airport and the Nicollet Mall is scheduled to begin in December 2004. The mall is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 9:30pm, Saturday 9:30am to 9:30pm, and Sunday 11am to 7pm. Hours for the restaurants, nightclubs, and theaters may vary.
For more on what to see and do in Minneapolis, visit our complete guide online at www.frommers.com/destinations/minneapolisandstpaul.
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