The following is a guest Valentine’s Day post from Sara Rogers. Sara and her husband Donnie have been married for 20 years and reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a Mall of America® Trend Specialist, Sara spends a lot of time scouting the Mall and keeping up with the latest retail and beauty trends while running her own personal styling business. When she isn’t working on a fashion segment or with a client, Sara can be found enjoying time with Donnie, spending time with their five granddaughters, listening to live jazz and R&B, and traveling.
On a recent drive to Mall of America with my two youngest granddaughters, one commented about how nice Radisson Blu looks and said she’d like to stay there one day. As we talked, I started thinking about Valentine’s Day and how fun it would be to celebrate this holiday as a family with a fun-packed weekend at MOA® and a stay at Radisson Blu.
For me, Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love with the entire family. I’m blessed to have been married to the love of my life for 20 years. My husband is a family-oriented guy, so celebrating the holiday with loved ones truly excites both of us. This year for Valentine’s Day, we’ll book an overnight stay at Radisson Blu to surprise all five of our granddaughters!
The Big Reveal
We’ll tell the kids we’re all going to hang out at Nickelodeon Universe®, which will have them jumping up and down with joy already. Then, instead of pulling into the parking ramp, we’ll valet at Radisson Blu instead. (I can just imagine the expressions on their tiny faces and their cries of glee!)
Riding High on Valentine’s Day
After checking into the hotel, we’ll kick off our Valentine’s adventure with the whole crew at FlyOver America in Nickelodeon Universe. This virtual flying ride will take us over some of the most amazing sights in the United States. Plus, we can take a few selfies and create some sweet memories in line – the whole ride is an immersive experience.
Time to Ourselves
The grandchildren will want to venture off and do their own thing at some point. While they explore their favorite haunts—Starbucks, Victoria’s Secret PINK, and Hot Topic—my husband and I will indulge in a little pampering at Progressions Salon and Spa. Some pampering could be the perfect Valentine’s Day treat for my husband, plus he can make a stop at HUGO BOSS to see what’s new for the upcoming season.
Fun that Spans Generations
My two younger granddaughters and I will make a few stops together, including grabbing a refillable bucket of popcorn from a concession stand inside Nickelodeon Universe, getting our thrill on at SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge, and stopping by Nestlé Toll House Café (right outside Nickelodeon Universe) for chocolate chip cookies. Yum!
The Perfect End to a Perfect Day
Once we all meet back at the hotel we’ll have a delicious dinner at FireLake Grill House + Cocktail Bar, starting with walleye cakes with extra remoulade sauce (because I’m a saucy girl). Then we can wind down our evening at the indoor pool, and finally a movie in our cozy room. As I nod off to sleep, I’ll remind myself that time flies and it’s so important to treasure moments just like these.
Looking for more Valentine’s Day inspiration? Check out ideas from fashion designer Christopher Straub and one of our favorite Minneapolis couples, Josh Carter + Sarah Hennen!
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