Activities for the mall

1. People watch. Find an area where you can comfortably watch people. Exercise your imagination. Why is the woman in a yellow sundress searching the crowd? Where would the excited group of teenagers be headed?
2. Window shop. As you visit different stores, ask what one of your characters would look for if they were there. Is the main character a sports fan, who shows team spirit by collecting anything that supports their team?
3. Lowest price. In a store, look for the least expensive item and write down the price. Repeat this at the other stores you go to. Once you are finished shopping, look at your notes and see what had the lowest price. Is it something strange? Was it on clearance or on sell? Would your main character be able to use it to further the plot?
4. Zombie invasion. What store in the mall would work best as a base if there was a zombie outbreak? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of each store?
5. Clothing choice. With a group of friends or with a few characters in mind, find the strangest clothes in the store and ask a friend or character if they would wear it. If they say yes, ask them where.
6. What if... Ask a friend, character, or even a stranger a what if question. What if a dragon suddenly broke through the skylight and crashed into the fountain? Just be certain to explain that these are hypothetical questions if you don't know the person well.
7. Silly dares. With a group of friends, make a list of dares to be done while at the mall. For example, ask if a piece of clothing comes in a extra medium. Just don't make the dares anything that could end with you or someone else hurt, kicked out, arrested, or cause extreme annoyance to others.
8. Mixed plate. At the food court, instead of ordering your entire meal from one place, get a small thing from each place. Try and get things you have never tried before. If you feel really adventurous, eat two or more different tasting foods in the same bite.
9. Write a scene. Take something to write with and find somewhere in the mall where you can write. Take notes on crowds, write a scene, or create some new characters. Interesting things are happening all around you, so be prepared.
10. Take the stairs. If possible, instead of using the elevator or escalator, try to only use the stairs. It may be more of a workout, but sometimes taking the stairs can be more fun. What would your main character use?