For some of the best shopping on the East Coast visit Tysons Corner Center also known as Tysons I to locals. The mall contains over 290 stores and is located just eight miles from the heart of Washington, DC. In addition, Tysons I opened a new extension in fall 2005, which included the addition of 30 name brand stores and a 16 screen movie theatre.
Shopping: The mall offers four mainstream department stores: Nordstroms, Bloomingdale's, Hecht's and Lord & Taylor. Some of the more unique stores include: L.L. Bean, Restoration Hardware, Kenneth Cole, Lego, Ruehl and The North Face. The L.L. Bean store is particularly fun to visit, since most customers only know their products from shopping the catalog or online website.
I enjoy the mall for its comprehensive selection of female fashion outlets such as Banana Republic, Banana Republic Petites, Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft, Ann Taylor Petites, The Limited, and Victoria's Secret. As a fairly short person, I appreciate the malls separate petite selections.
To see a complete list of stores visit
Tysons Corner Center Online.
Dining: The mall offers two food courts, one in the older section, and another in the newly expanded area. The older food court is generally less crowded due to the popularity of the new expansion. It offers the ever popular McDonald's and California Pizza Kitchen, as well as a selection of local Chinese and Deli chains. The new food court is located on the upper level of the mall at the entrance to the movie theatre. Its selection includes the immensely popular Five Guys and Cold Stone Creamery. Other smaller chains offer Mexican, Italian, and Western fast food options.
In addition to the food courts, Tysons I offers a number of sit down restaurants: TGI Friday, Coastal Flats, Brio Tuscan Grille, Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro, and Gordon Biersch Brewery. My favorite place to dine is Gordon Biersch, which brews its own beers. When you visit, be sure to tell your server it's your first time and enjoy a complimentary sampler of all their beers. My favorite selections include their Märzen Beer, Asian Wings Appetizer, BBQ Sandwich, and Garlic Fries (beware on work days!).
Logistics: The mall is generally crowded on the weekends, particularly holiday weekends that draw sale crowds. If you have the luxury, try visiting during a weekday or evening, otherwise select a weekend that does not coincide with a holiday to avoid large crowds.
Parking will take some time, so simply stay calm and be patient. Try heading straight to the top of parking garages to complete the process more quickly.
Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10am to 9:30pm, and Sundays from 11am to 7pm. Generally Tysons I will offer extended hours during the Christmas shopping season.
The easiest way to drive to the mall is to take Interstate 495 to exit 46A or 47A (both exits will take you to the mall).