Many people visit the Mall of America when they are on vacation in the Twin Cities area, but how many have heard about Albertville, Minnesota?

The Mall of America is a great place for the whole family to spend the day, with attractions such as Legoland, Nickelodeon Universe, A.C.E.S. Flight Simulator, and so on.  There are hundreds of stores that cater to any taste and budget, and there are good deals to be found in many stores.

The true bargain hunter, though, should venture off to Albertville.  Located about a 45 minute drive northwest from the Mall of America, Albertville is a small town with a huge premium outlet mall.

Albertville is not for the faint of heart and expect to do a lot of walking.  This outlet mall is huge, and is spread out over several acres.  Discount shoppers beware!  These are designer outlets and in many shops you will still pay hundreds of dollars for the merchandise.  There are no Walmarts or Targets here.

If you are shopping on a limited budget, there are very good prices at stores like Old Navy and The Gap.  There are many shoe stores and most of them have pretty deep discounts as well.  If you are looking to acquire a prestigious designer label or more exclusive item, try stores like Burberry, Coach or Calvin Klein.  For the casual dresser or sports fan, there are stores such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok.  There really is something for every shopper there.

Next time you are in the Twin Cities area, head out to Albertville and shop away!