A-Kayaking We Will Go: Find a Water Adventure in Unexpected Territory

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IF ROAMING PACKS of teenagers aren't your kind of wildlife, and hunting down deals aren't your kind of expeditions, head straight over to Tysons Corner. Yep, you read that right. The mega-mall's L.L. Bean store (1916 Chain Bridge Road, McLean; 703-288-4466) is an unlikely gateway to a Walk-On Adventure (Llbean.com/ods), the outdoor outfitter's impromptu way of sending shoppers away from civilization.

Every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 11, there are several departures for kayaking and fly-casting excursions. Just pay $15, and the staff will handle all of the details — they'll shuttle you to and from experienced instructors, provide all necessary equipment and even make sure you're hydrated and slathered in sunscreen. Worried you're not dressed for the occasion? You can borrow a pair of water shoes or a hat.

Amazingly, these serene activities aren't that far from the mall. It's just a 15-minute bus ride to Lake Accotink, where kayakers can paddle around 55 acres of water, admiring beaver dams and gaggles of geese. (You can kill the time by joining the driver in a rousing chorus of, "Yo ho, yo ho, a-kayaking we will go. Hey!")

It's a bit of a bummer to eventually return to the bustle (kayaking trips are two and a half hours; fly casting takes one and a half hours). But by then, you'll really deserve that trip to the food court.

Photo courtesy L.L. Bean