Season of trips and mellow flyfulness, Autumn is here and we’re flying high to Minneairpolis with Delta.
The Autumn, or the Fall as the Americans so lyrically refer to the third season of the year, is ripe for new flight routes.
And Ireland, or Airland as it could easily be called, is among one of the most connected countries per size in the world.
Only this week we see routes open up from May 24 with Delta Airlines from Dublin to Minnesota.
Minneapolis, where the doves (and Delta and Aer Lingus) fly, has seeped into our consciousness because of one Prince Rogers.
And all purple roads (and yes they have coloured their signs in Prince plum) lead to Paisley Park.
Take me to the Mall game
So let’s go, let’s go crazy.
And we all know when two Irish women get together then they’ll persuade each other to hit the shops.
And when that mall is the biggest shopping centre in the States, the biggest in the Western Hemisphere, the Mall of America.
Then you’ll not see them all day.
We’re thinking then that the only way to keep an eye on them is to go along on a couples trip.
And if you’re the sporty type then you’ll want to explore the Twin Cities’ teams.
Home run
Happens that the Mall of America is an appropriate place to start.
Because there’s a plaque in the mall’s amusement park commemorating the former location of home plate.
And one seat from Met Stadium was placed in Mall of America at the exact location it occupied in the stadium.
It commemorates a 520ft home run hit by hall of famer Harmon Killebrew in 1967.
All of which you’ll be dreaming of seeing at the new ball park, the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome, also home to the Vikings American Football team.
Of course The National Sprawl of America (3 million sqft of retail space/520 stores) boasts entertainment galore within its walls.
Life is a roller coaster
With the largest indoor theme park in the States, the Nickelodeon Universe, formerly Camp Snoopy at its centre.
The rides include the roller coasters SpongeBob SquarePants, Rock Bottom Plunge, Fairly Odd Coaster.
It also boasts an 18-hole astroturf miniature golfing section Moose Mountain.
While at the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, guests travel through a 300ft curved tunnel through 14ft of water.
To view over 4,500 sea creatures including sharks, turtles, stingrays and many more.
And what gets even better is that Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium offers sleepovers, scuba diving, snorkeling and birthday parties.
Delta’s seasonal service will operate five-times weekly.
The Minneapolis route will complement the airline’s existing seasonal flights to Atlanta and Boston.
And the year-round service to New York JFK.
Delta will also return service to Shannon adding a seasonal service to New York effective May 25.
