A long layover or even just a long wait for a flight can be painful. Whereas adults can go to the airport bar and waste some time away, kids aren’t so lucky. Thankfully, there are a few select airports out there that cater to traveling kids with a little fun. If you have a choice of airports and you’re traveling with kids, consider one of these airports for your next trip.
Nashville International Airport
As Nashville is America’s Music City, it only makes sense the airport would embrace this reputation by offering travelers a plethora of live music acts. The airport boasts six different stages and an impressive lineup. If your children are too young to enjoy one of the more than 80 performers that appear at the airport each year, take them to one of three play areas, all set apart from the busier areas of the terminals to make your life a little bit easier.
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport has its own kids’ play area, but there are also fun art installations to catch your eye, as well as three aquariums. You’ll need to travel to Terminal 1 to see the marine life, but the aquariums are well worth the effort.
SFO. Photo: Victoria Ditkovsky | Dreamstime.com
Portland International Airport
There are kids’ play areas both before and after security at Portland International Airport, a much-appreciated and thoughtful perk. Play areas give kids all kinds of stuff to climb on and over, great viewing spots for planes on the tarmac and Legos. The airport’s theater shows family-friendly short films in Concourse C for even more entertainment.
Miami’s airport offers kids a high-tech play area with remote-controlled airplanes and virtual screens on the floors to simulate a hot air balloon ride. Even adults will find this space fun. If you’re lucky enough to have access to Centurion lounges, you can take advantage of the Centurion Lounge family room as well. Each concourse offers nursing stations.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has your traditional kids’ play areas, but it’s also thought about the teens in your traveling crew, too. They’ll like the multiple video arcades just as much as your toddlers and elementary-age children will love the play areas in Terminals 1 and 2.
When traveling from, to or through Chicago, kids will enjoy the many play areas available, but they’ll also like the artwork installed around the airport, from the giant dinosaur in Terminal 1 to the underground passageway’s neon lights. The first airport aeroponic garden can be found between Terminals 2 and 3 if you need a little green before or after your flight.
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