Several stores are devoted solely to Mall of America souvenirs. Maybe it's not that strange to think of it as a destination rather than just a place to buy stuff, because tourists account for half the money spent at the mall. While resting on a bench for all of 10 minutes, I was asked directions by two different groups of shoppers with foreign accents. Canada, England, Japan, German, Denmark, Norway and Sweden are the leading countries for international tourists, according to the mall press kit.

The Lake Woebegone USA store, billed as "Gateway to Central Minnesota," offered books and videos by "A Prairie Home Companion" radio personality and author Garrison Keillor. Slogans on the mugs, T-shirts and hats give a humorous look into Minnesota culture and the Scandinavian heritage:

• "American Duct Tape Council: It's What Holds America Together"
• "What happens in the garage stays in the garage."
• "You can always tell a Swede, but you can't tell 'em much."
• "What part of Uff Da don't you understand?" (For those who really don't understand, the Norwegian exclamation means "Off it!" Perhaps it's Minnesota's equivalent of Utah's "Oh my heck!")

We stopped for a lunch/dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, which takes its theme from the "Forrest Gump" movie. It's full of shrimp shack ambience, with fishnets and a rack of hot sauce hanging on the walls.

The wait staff has an interesting way of communication; a blue license plate on each table says "Run Forrest Run!" and a red one says "Stop Forrest Stop!" You set out the red one when you want your server to stop at your table for something and the blue one when you don't.

The menu is boiled shrimp, barbecue shrimp, fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, Cajun shrimp, shrimp Po'Boys, and stuffed shrimp, and more shrimp, just the way Bubba would have done it.

Besides Bubba Gump, there's Famous Dave's, Kokomo's Island Cafe, Napa Valley Grille, Rainforest Cafe, Tucci Benucch (Italian), Twin City Grill (American), Tiger Sushi, and Wolfgang Puck Express.

For entertainment, we checked out The Park in the center of the mall. It's seven acres filled with 30 rides and attractions. It has an outdoor feel, thanks to skylights that let in about 70 percent natural light, and the 400-plus live trees. Most of the rides are tame in comparison to larger parks such as Lagoon. The ride prices were confusing, with "loon," "duck," and "hummingbird," packages of various "points." Perhaps a lot of people just give up and buy the all-day pass for $24.95. The roller coaster ride was $4.50 each, and it took us up and down the treetops and around the park, similar in wildness to Lagoon's Jet Star ride.