It's no wonder that Newport Beach dresses in the height of fashion. The fashionable shopping mall, Fashion Island in Newport Beach California shown in the video above is a kids vacation unto itself. Moms & dads can shop, and kids can play in one single place!

The overlooked kids vacation spot with carousels to ride is the mall. And in Southern California's The OC, outdoor malls are anything but boring for children.  Fashion Island is an outdoor mall with upscale stores such as Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus that could bore the tears out of children. But with some imagination, it is a fun place for families with kids on vacation.

Fashion Island has always been an outdoor mall. At transitional points where other malls went different directions such as the smaller Huntington Beach Mall that became Bella Terra with mostly food courts, discount stores and services, Fashion Island reflected the needs of an upscale mid-to-upper income audience that likes designer stores, boutiques and interactive outdoor areas for families with kids. It doesn't hurt to have the ocean as your backdrop, either.  And while a food court was added to Fashion Island, the offerings in that Atrium court now target workers in the surrounding office parks who come to lunch, seeking affordable and fast foods.  The mall also includes a California Pizza Kitchen, Mexican restaurants and outdoor food courts for children.

Boutiques with kids clothes, colorful walkways with kid-themed tiles, several unique splash fountains, including one that kids love to stand in, and the carousel above in the video, are the extra touches that bring the community out to enjoy.  What's amazing about this mall is the look of the people. There are some fashionably dressed adults and children and a larger than average number of Mercedes, Lexus and Ferrari automobiles sharing the shiny parking lots.

What's so enjoyable about this mall is that it is so kid-friendly. From the changing stations in restrooms, to the hundreds of baby strollers seen during daylight hours, it's not just a mall--it's a gathering place for friends and families to enjoy. One of the most popular places to stay is right at Fashion Island, The Island Hotel (formerly Four Seasons), a four diamond hotel shown in the map of Fashion Island below. Another hotel at Fashion Island that has been renovated and is lovely, is the Marriott Newport Beach.

Huntington Beach < Newport Beach > Laguna Beach