Fair Oaks Mall is a nice family friendly mall in Fairfax, VA. It has a clean, modern feel to it. There's lots of room so you're not bumping into people all the time as you wheel your stroller along It's got lots of natural light and has a sunny feel to it. There's plenty of restrooms (unlike some of the area malls) and changing stations for changing diapers.

Anchor stores include Macy's, JC Penney, Lord and Taylor and Sears. Sears has a big auto service department, so you can get new tires put on and get your car's oil changed while you shop.

Throughout the year, Fair Oaks Mall has good events for families with young children. The Easter Bunny and Santa can be counted on to take take pictures with the young ones.

There's plenty of parking. There's some covered parking but some lots fill up when the weather's really hot and people want to park in the shade.

Some highlights include:

Verizon has a store that will let you try out their new FIOS fiber optic internet service. It's remarkable fast. You can also see the quality on the video; they compete with the cable company in some areas.

Teavana has some of the most exotic teas from all over the world. They also have cast iron tea pots from Japan and ceramic ones from China.

The cook in your family will love Williams Sonoma for kitchen gadgets.

This mall is pretty close to Dulles airport. There's a hotel in the mall parking lot and plenty of places to eat. So it's worth considering staying there for the traveler visiting the DC area. The mall is situated at the intersection of Interstate 66 and Route 50, so you've got good access to a lot of areas.