Come visit Minneapolis. The Mall of America, the largest single building mall in the US, is still alive, strong, and busy.
Look at pictures online, then come... come to our mall. It'll take you two full days to see it all, anyway.
Then, take a 4 hour drive up to Duluth and see Lake Superior. If you have the time and money, another couple hours north along the coast gets you to Tofte, where there are a bunch of rental condos right on the lake. Magnificent in November, but gorgeous all year round.