Bloomington is a southern suburb of Minneapolis best known as the home of Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the United States. If mega-malls are your thing, this one delivers — it has an indoor amusement park, an aquarium, and over 500 stores spread across four floors.
Beyond the mall, Bloomington sits at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge runs along the river bluffs and offers surprisingly good hiking and birdwatching just minutes from the airport. The city is also conveniently close to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, making it a common base for travelers visiting the Twin Cities.