Growing up, my mom loved mall walking as a workout and time to connect with friends.

Here’s what happened when I tried it for myself.

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Its where we would go for lunch after Sunday mass.

woman sweating in the gym

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Its where I picked out my first real bra with my mom (much to my embarrassment).

In middle school, it became my favorite after-school hangout spot.

Today, its pretty obvious that this old mall has seen better days.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Some stores sit completely empty, while other once-popular chains have been replaced by cell phone repair shops.

Eager to get some walking in (and potentially buy something for myself), I happily obliged.

Some spaces seemed familiar, and others were completely alien to me.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

For one thing, it was practically empty.

The old Auntie Annes was still there, but not open, so no pretzels for us.

Because distancenot speedwas our priority, we took things slowly.

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Walking the mall myself, I came to realize just how underrated mall walking really is.

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There are plenty of places to get food and water

Workouts require fuel.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

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We could have easily packed our own mid-walk snacks and drinks, but really, why would we?

Theres easy bathroom access

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Extreme heat and cold can make neighborhood strolls miserable.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Thankfully, indoor malls have running A/C and heat year-round, and cover from the rain.

When the weather gets in the way of your daily steps, the mall is there for you.

Malls are open to the public and are completely free to enter.

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The nostalgia alone was worth the visit.

After working up a sweatand buying our fill of resort attirewe stepped into an ancient photo booth for laughs.

In 2023 alone,there have been more mass shootings than days.

American malls are few and far between todayblink, and youll miss your own becoming a distribution center.

Maybe thats for the best; I dont know.

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