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Tysons Corner Center
This massive McLean indoor mall is the center of shopping in Northern Virginia. The list of 300-plus specialty stores and restaurants includes something for every member of the family. Teens can hit Hollister, Garage, Urban Outfitters, and Free People, and fashionistas will find affordable, of-the-moment options at Forever 21, Cusp, and H&M. Kids can play at the two-story American Girl shop and the downstairs Lego store, outdoorsy dads will love browsing fishing gear and camping goods at the gigantic L.L. Bean, and Mom can rely on J. Jill, Talbots, and a bevy of other retail favorites. Department stores include Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor, and Macy’s. If all that shopping wears you out, catch a movie at the 16-theater complex, or grab a bite—Tysons Corner Center is home to two food courts and more than a dozen sit-down restaurants. 1961 Chain Bridge Rd.; 703-847-7300.
Tysons Galleria
Label lovers should head straight to Tysons Corner’s more upscale sister mall—Chanel, Saint Laurent, Burberry, Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Anne Fontaine, Prada, and more all call the marble-floored, three-story shopping center home. Beyond luxury labels, Anthropologie and BCBG Max Azria offer a mix of creative, high-quality basics for women, and Vineyard Vines and Tommy Bahama provide for preppy-leaning men. Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy’s are the major department store options. 2001 International Dr.; 703-827-7730.
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
Ride Metro to the Pentagon City stop and you can walk right into the mall, just minutes from downtown DC. We head here for two can’t-find-’em-anywhere-else stores: Luxe accessories emporium Henri Bendel is a great resource for gifts, and Kenneth Cole has timeless workwear, shoes, and bags for men and women. There are also perennial favorites such as J.Crew for preppy basics and trendy weekend staples. The attached department stores are Nordstrom and Macy’s. 1100 s. Hayes St., Arlington; 703-415-2400.
Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets
Who doesn’t love a good day of discount shopping? Score your favorite brands for less on a day trip to Virginia’s historic Leesburg, about an hour outside of DC. This sprawling outdoor shopping complex comprises 110 outlet stores, including Ann Taylor Factory Store, Barneys New York Warehouse, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Elie Tahari, Theory, J.Crew, Joe’s Jeans, Michael Kors, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, and Vineyard Vines. Hoping to outfit your home instead of your closet? There’s also Le Creuset, Restoration Hardware, and Williams-Sonoma. 241 fort Evans Rd., NE, Leesburg; 703-737-3071.
This article appears in Washingtonian’s Welcome Guide.