The Birthday "Yes"

A Whirlwind Weekend at Miku Expo and American Dream

Birthday experience? It’s a question I ask Grace every year, and almost every year, she turns it down for a quiet local shopping trip. But this year? This year was different. Grace had her heart set on the Miku Expo in New Jersey with her friends, and I was going to make sure it happened.

Now, her birthday isn't actually until June, but apparently, I’m not cool enough to have the tour rescheduled to fit her actual birth date. Haha! So, we celebrated a little early, and I was more than happy to make it happen.

My friend—who happens to be Grace’s best friend’s mom—and I teamed up to build the ultimate birthday itinerary: drive up, explore, hit the concert, stay over, and squeeze in a little more fun before heading home. It sounded like a solid plan on paper, but the reality was even better than we expected.

Finding a Home Away from Home

We stayed at a Marriott Bonvoy that was practically a stone's throw from the American Dream Mall. I cannot recommend this spot enough. For a very reasonable price, we scored a suite with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and even a living area with a fireplace. It felt less like a hotel and more like a cozy home base for our adventure.

Pit Stops and Pop Marts

We hit the road Thursday morning with our first pit stop at a Super Target in Columbia. There is just something about a Target that isn't your "usual" one—we spent way too much time browsing things our local store doesn't carry while sipping on Ollipops.

Once we crossed into Jersey, we headed straight for the mall. We scoured the shops and finally found a killer outfit for Grace to wear to the show. And, alright, I finally caved. I’ve been saying no to Labubu since they launched, but when I saw the Hello Kitty collaboration, I was a goner. Illa got her Labubu.

After we finished our first round of shopping, we grabbed dinner right there in the mall at Yard House. We had the nicest waiter who really made the meal special, and the highlight was definitely the free cookie cake they brought out for the celebration! Even though we weren't seated right next to the window, it was still so cool to peer across the restaurant and watch the skiers and snowboarders coming down the indoor slopes of Big SNOW while we ate. It is such a unique vibe to see a winter wonderland from your dinner table.

Concert Chaos and "Right Place" Luck

After a quick refresh at the hotel, we headed to the venue. We were running a bit behind, and of course, that’s when the parking snafu happened. We had a prepaid spot, but the code was nowhere to be found. Just as the stress was peaking, a very kind security guard saved the day. He waved us through to a VIP spot that led directly to our section.

The concert itself was a blast. Seeing Grace beaming with joy made every mile of the drive worth it. After the show, we braved the mile-long merch line, which turned out to be a highlight of its own. We traded bracelets, collected stickers, and even scored free pretzels because the stand was closing up. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Faux Gardens and Serendipitous Finds

The next morning, we fueled up on a great hot breakfast at the hotel and headed back to the mall for round two. Grace wasn't on any specific mission; we were just strolling along, completely open to whatever we might discover.

We started by wandering through the Garden—a beautiful faux garden area surrounding a massive fountain. From there, we just let the day take us where it wanted. We happened upon a regular Build-a-Bear store first and had a look around before heading over to Tilt, which is a super fun 3D selfie experience.

The real surprise came when we stumbled into the Sanrio New York store. It featured the most stunning pink Build-a-Bear setup—so coquettish and perfectly curated. As it turned out, they had the exact bear Grace had been wanting for a long time. With the gift cards already in my pocket, it felt like it was meant to be. Seeing her blow up with excitement was everything.

Coasters, City Views, and So Much More

We finished the trip strong by sampling the heavy hitters. If you go, be prepared—this place is more than just a mall; it's a massive entertainment hub with some pretty wild stats:

• Nickelodeon Universe: This is the largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere. We actually rode a rollercoaster inside the mall! It’s home to world-record-breaking rides like the Shellraiser, which has the world's steepest drop on a roller coaster.
• The Dream Wheel: After grabbing some grub at Five Guys, we headed to the Ferris wheel. It stands nearly 300 feet tall and the views of the Manhattan skyline are absolutely breathtaking. It features 27 climate-controlled gondolas, so you’re comfortable even if it’s chilly outside.
• Bubble Planet: We ended our trip at the Bubble Planet experience, and the girls had an absolute blast in the immersive rooms.
• Big SNOW: Even though we just watched from the restaurant, this is North America’s first and only indoor, real-snow, year-round ski resort. It stays a consistent 28 degrees inside regardless of the weather outside.
• DreamWorks Water Park: We didn't have time to dive in, but it’s the largest indoor water park in North America. It features a massive wave pool and slides themed after Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.
• SEA LIFE & LEGOLAND: They even have an aquarium with an underwater tunnel and a LEGO Discovery Center that includes a "MINILAND" made of over 1.5 million bricks.

There was still so much we didn't have time for. If you haven't been to this mall yet, you have to go. There is truly something for everyone. It was a birthday experience for the books!