I'm from the South, and we have a lot of fun activities there, especially if you love the outdoors. One thing that's not quite so common in my region, though, is snow. I've seen it a few times in person in my part of Georgia, but it's typically an almost-miraculous occurrence, an "everybody get outside right now, come check out these flurries!" type of event and not an everyday facet of winter like those who live above the Mason-Dixon Line are accustomed to. Thanks to the lack of traditional winter weather in my neck of the woods, I grew up without a lot of experiences that many in the northern climes take for granted. I've never been ice skating or in a snowball fight, and up until recently, I had never been skiing. A friend in New Jersey loves an indoor ski facility that opened up fairly recently at a mall not far from her home. I am extremely clumsy, and it took quite a bit of convincing for her to believe that I was not going to break any limbs if she took me out for an afternoon of skiing, but I finally won her over, and we visited Big SNOW at American Dream, a one-of-a-kind experience in East Rutherford, NJ.

First off, this mall is amazing! Anyone who thinks shopping malls are dead has clearly not visited this spot. American Dream is a sprawling complex that's the second-largest mall in the country, after Mall of America in Minnesota. The mall opened in stages from 2019 to 2020 after numerous financing issues and construction delays postponed its grand opening. The COVID-19 pandemic then caused even further delays, but the mall is now a thriving destination for both shopping and entertainment. More than 400 retailers are here, as well as restaurants, a Nickelodeon Universe theme park, DreamWorks Water Park, and, of course, Big SNOW American Dream.

It felt a bit alien going from a mall filled with roller coasters, fountains, and statues into a snow-filled wonderland, but after a little while, I forgot I was even indoors.

I've never been to a traditional ski area, so I can't really compare the experience to outdoor skiing, but I had such a blast. This is the country's first indoor ski slope, and it contains three trails on four acres of skiable land. The building contains more than 5,500 tons of snow, and the interior is kept at a crisp 28° F. at all times.

The snow here is real, made with a snow-making machine that works the same way precipitation is made in nature. Purchasing a time slot allows you access to the slopes for two hours, which I found was the perfect amount of time to not leave me utterly exhausted while still feeling like I got my money's worth. Your reservation comes with skis or a snowboard, a helmet, jacket, and pants to use during your visit.

I was impressed at the number of different lessons that were offered here, including courses for young children. I was fortunate enough to be visiting with a friend who is quite experienced on the slopes and she was an excellent teacher.

The easier slope has a people mover that will take you up to the top, and a cable ski lift for the more difficult terrain.

I'm typically pretty clumsy, and I expected to fall a ton during my time here. I did take a few tumbles on one particular curve that kept messing me up, but the nice thing about indoor skiing is there aren't any unexpected branches or debris to worry about. I hopped right back up and hit the slopes again. I couldn't believe how much fun this was, and I highly recommend it - even if you've never been skiing before!

If you're not quite up for the challenge of skiing or snowboarding, Big SNOW also offers snow tubing, which requires quite a bit less skill but are just as fun!

For more information about Big SNOW American Dream or to book a ticket, check out the Big SNOW American Dream website. Looking for more fun things to do on your trip to American Dream? Check out the Nickelodeon Universe Indoor Theme Park - it's located right inside this sprawling mall, too!

Want to find your own skiing gear before hitting the slopes? Check out the best ski and snowboard gear from REI.