Trip to Mall of America and Eden Prairie questions (Minneapolis: rent, hotels)

[simpleinthecity]

We are planning a trip at the end of this month to visit Mall of America and Ikea. We found a hotel in Eden Prairie (Residence Inn). It says that the hotel is 7 miles away from Mall America. Does it take very long to get to the mall from Eden Prairie? Also, is Eden Prairie a nice town? And does it have somewhere (a grocery store) where I can shop for all natural organic groceries? Thanks!

[uptown_urbanist]

Eden Prairie is pretty boring -- it's a modern suburb. It's "nice" in the sense that it's safe, though, if that's what you mean, and there are some parks and things. I don't know about shopping out there, but most, and probably all, of the grocery stores there should have a decent selection of natural organic food available.

Bloomington (home to MOA and the IKEA) has a Residence Inn; unless you have another reason for staying in EP you might want to see if you can get the same rate at the Bloomington one and minimize driving time. (not that it will be that long of a trip, but might as well make things easy on yourself)

[Kebinminn]

I second staying in Bloomington, a lot of the hotels there have MOA shuttles. It could take a while during rush hour.

Cub Foods is a large grocery chain with a decently sized organic section.

[ColdRedRain]

Another chain with an even wider selection of organic foods is Rainbow foods. There are plenty of Rainbow foods around the TC area. But if I were you, I wouldn't stay in a hotel in EP if you want to go to the Mall of America. Try to find something in either Bloomington, Eagan or South Minneapolis that's not named the Aqua City Motel or the Snelling Inn. It's because there's really nothing to do in EP and the public transit from EP is subpar.

[golfgal]

If your trip is specifically for the MOA, I would stay at the Country Inn and suites behind the MOA. You can walk across the street to the mall and it is on the lightrail if you want that. There is a huge Natural Foods store about 10 miles south of the mall on County Road 11 and 35E in Burnsville.

Eden Prairie is a nice town, very safe and fine but there is a lot of traffic between there and the MOA. You are better off at the Country Inn I suggested or any of the hotels in Eagan or Mendota Heights. They all have free shuttles to the mall as well.

[chilaili]

There are half a dozen hotels around the MOA that would be just as good as the Residence and you could walk to the mall.

[simpleinthecity]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I should have specified this in my original post. The reason we chose Eden Prairie is because we need to stay in a Marriott to get our friends and family discount. The two hotels by Marriott (Residence Inn and Courtyard) that we found close to MOA didn't have any more rooms left that qualified for a friends and family discount. I'm really bummed. Maybe we can find a Marriott closer to MOA other than in Eden Prairie.

[simpleinthecity]

YAY!!! We just found a room at Residence Inn in Bloomington that will shuttle us right over to the mall. I'm so happy. Thanks for all of the advice!

[Radical_Car]

Enjoy the mall

[Kid Cann]

I say don't even waste your time going to MOA (Mall of America). Ever been to a mall? Now multiply that by 4 and there ya go.

Go take that money and rent a cabin on Lake Vermilion or somewhere that will paint a true Minnesotan experience for you