Shopping addicts make the pilgrimage to the Mall of America from all over the Midwest - and far beyond, including parties from Japan and the regular Shop 'Til You Drop packages run by British operator Major Travel (£300; tel 020/7485-7017). Opened in 1992, this mind-boggling 4.2-million-square-foot, four-story monument to squeaky-clean consumerism has fast become the country's most-visited destination, tallying 42 million visits in a recent year. The futuristic superstructure contains twice as much steel as the Eiffel Tower, and there's enough room to play a week's NFL games side by side. It incorporates more than five hundred stores, with a seven-acre theme park (the pay-per-ride Camp Snoopy). Featured rides include UnderWater World ($13.95), with 1.2 million gallons of water and amazing Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean tanks; and NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway ($9.50), which offers simulated stock-car racing. There's also a comedy club, several dance and music bars, a multiscreen cinema, a bowling alley and a vast array of eateries. Hotel Discovery , the latest in 'diner-tainment,' serves international foods in simulated global and mythological settings. The science and educational store Brainstorms , the custom-made Basic Brown Bear Factory (where you can custom-design a cuddly ursine companion), Lake Wobegon USA (an eclectic giftstore inspired by folksy Minnesota humorist Garrison Keillor's fictional community) and the hands-on demonstrations at Oshman's Super Sports USA are the highlights of a tour. Evidence of the Mall's all-under-one-roof convenience is provided by the Chapel of Love retail store, where more than 1500 couples have legitimately tied the knot. The mall is open Mon-Sat 10am-9:30pm, Sun 11am-7pm.

The Mall is twenty minutes south of the cities on I-494 at 24th Avenue, Bloomington. Take bus #54M from St Paul's West Sixth Street (between Jackson and Kellogg) or #80AB, #5E, #7DEF or #19EFG from various locations in downtown Minneapolis. For the #80 bus, head to Nicollet Mall between Third and Twelfth streets; it runs every twenty minutes. All buses and taxis drop off at the Transit station on the lower level of the East parking ramp. Buses also run between the mall and the airport every 30 minutes. Taxis between the mall and the cities range from $20-25. Some high-end hotels run shuttles to and from the mall. Check with them directly; their service changes often

Mall of America

• Mall of America

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