At three million square feet, the mammoth “mega-mall” is the epitome of excessiveness…and was thus dubbed, “The American Dream.” While the massive space is not in NYC directly, it’s pretty darn close!
The American Dream in New Jersey’s Meadowlands boasts an indoor ski slope, Nickelodeon Theme Park, professional-sized ice skating rink, blacklight mini golf course, and perhaps its pièce de résistance: a humongous indoor water park! So big, in fact, that it’s actual the largest one in all of North America.
And it’s the perfect winter escape from the cold city weather.
American Dream was first planned to be an entertainment center like no other in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 16-acre space includes the DreamWorks Water Park (with 35 water slides and 13 attractions), a Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park (with over 20 rides), Big SNOW (North America’s first indoor snow park), an NHL-size ice rink and hockey facility, CMX luxury theater, plus a 300-foot observation wheel, an aquarium, Legoland Discover Center, Climbzone, mirror maze, and…somehow…more.
Of course, it is a mall, housing 450 retail shops plus “The Avenue” dedicated solely to the most high-end luxury brands.
Though you may not need to leave NYC for good shopping, during the blustery winter weather taking a trip to the tropics in local form might be right up your alley. Open year-round, the DreamWorks Water Park has tons of rides, luxury cabanas to lounge in, and is heated to a balmy 81°.
Here’s just a few of the water park highlights, which is open various hours ranging anywhere between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily:
- Get a private surf lesson in their indoor fresh water wave pool (plus it’s the world’s biggest!)
- Jump on Toothless’ Trickling Torpedo, the world’s longest hydromagnetic rocket coaster
- Drift down the Bubble Lazy River
- Zip down Dragon & Donkey’s Flight with a four-person tube inside a giant spiral bowl
And, of course, what is all of this without places to eat? American Dream offers an international selection of cuisines with over 20 full-service restaurants in their Dining Terrace, 18 local and regional “hot spots” in their food hall, and the first-ever strictly Kosher food market in North America.
As if all of this wasn’t already enough to make your head spin, the space is also used as an events venue hosting all sorts of pop-up experiences, installations, and even concerts.
Also published on Medium.