Located right next to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and crisscrossed by two major highways, Bloomington is fairly easy to get to. It’s a good thing, too, because the suburb’s main attraction, the Mall of America, draws 40 million visitors each year. When it first opened in 1992, the massive shopping center marked a new trend in retail, not just for its size—you can fit seven Yankee Stadiums inside it—but for the way it combined shopping and entertainment. In addition to more than 500 shops, the mall has half a dozen attractions including an aquarium and a comedy club. Kids will love Nickelodeon Universe, an enclosed theme park with roller coasters and friendly mascots such as SpongeBob SquarePants.

If you’re looking to learn a little something, visit Historic Fort Snelling—a restored military fort that looks just the way it did in the early 1800s, when it was the farthest outpost of the US government. Located inside a sprawling state park, the fort hosts craft demonstrations, military drills, and cooking exhibitions performed by costumed characters. The museums and galleries of Minneapolis, meanwhile, are less than 20 minutes away by car.

Hotel at a Glance: Ramada Minneapolis at Mall of America

Ramada Minneapolis at Mall of America is just a couple of blocks from the world-famous shopping-and-entertainment complex that shares its name. Guests can walk or take the hotel’s free shuttle to the mall, where they can easily explore its 500-plus shops, indoor aquarium, and 14-theater cinema, which has a special VIP theater reserved for moviegoers 21 or older. The hotel is also just a block from a light-rail station, where you can catch a train into downtown Minneapolis.

• Time to downtown: about 35 minutes on the train; about 15 minutes by car
• Onsite dining: Use your two free drinks and $10 dining credit toward classic American cuisine at Boulevard Cafe or Boulevard Pub.
• Stay connected with the free WiFi.
• Go swimming in the year-round indoor pool and hot tub.