About 4.2 million square feet. Over 520 stores (and almost 400 more on the way).  Multiple food courts. Amusement park rides. An aquarium. Twenty thousand parking spaces. Despite its mega size, the Mall of America is not the largest retail shopping center in the world. But it is the most visited, drawing over 40 million visitors a year—eight times the population of the state. If you're visiting the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, you've gotta see it. But first, let us steer you to some essential reading:

These top 10 strategies for visiting the Mall of Americas with kids includes where to park, where to eat, and where to find a bathroom in a hurry. It comes from Minnemom, who chronicles her adventures traveling with her four kids in her Travels with Children blog. 

Feel like a bonus? Here's No. 11: Before you go, check out this online coupon book with money-saving deals at the mall's shops, eateries, and attractions.