For many American travelers, traveling to the larger shopping malls in the country are a dream come true, as evidenced by growing numbers of mall-visiting shoppers hailing from areas outside of the local vicinity of each of these malls. While these numbers may astound a lot of tourists who still plan the standard vacation trips that are based more on geographical locations, it might just be time to rethink the mall experience, altogether. Malls have changed, grown and expanded with the times.

The Mall Visit, Revisited
We continue to refer to them as “shopping malls,” although the somewhat limited venues that originally comprised the full extent of options available to mall visitors mostly were variations of retail “therapy.” In recent decades, excursions to the larger malls have continued to expand to include a burgeoning variety of alternate venues, such as entertainment, exercise and classes for different educational opportunities. If you have some vacation time coming up and you have yet to finalize your choice of destinations, you might want to throw in one or more of the following malls to the hat.

The Mall of America
You’ll find the largest mall in the United States, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Visitors to this mecca come for a myriad of entertaining and memorable attractions. This mall opened in 1992, and currently offers over 500 high-end retail establishments and dining options that range from fast food to five-star, full-service restaurants. Many come for the mall’s seven-acre Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and sponsors in excess of 400 events each year.

The King of Prussia Mall
Located in Pennsylvania, The King of Prussia Mall offers the largest volume of retail space in the U.S., and is the East Coast’s largest mall destination. Visitors can enjoy three sections of mall exploration: the Plaza, the Court and the Pavilion. Around 20% of Philly tourists come just for the King of Prussia Mall.

Millcreek Mall
Millcreek Mall in Erie, PA may only be fourth in line for the title of largest, however PA’s absence of sales tax on clothing provides a fierce incentive that lures tourists from all over, even as far away as Canada.

South Coast Plaza
Orange County, California is where people go for the South Coast Plaza luxury experience that is focused on offering a supreme level of extravagance and comfort for visitors. The largest shopping destination in the whole of California, this mall features many of the world’s premiere brand names. Personal shoppers and award-winning dining are just a portion of the compelling attraction that continues to draw record numbers. Four performing arts venues and a lovely sculpture garden make this mall a perfect destination.