Most vacationers see airports as the start and finish factors of their journey, normally solely passing via on their solution to their gate or to gather their luggage at their locations. However if you happen to’re dealing with a delay or caught on an extended layover, you may need extra time to spend within the terminal than you may like. Luckily, main revamps at many hubs have modified what downtime between flights can really feel like, because of the addition of top-tier eating, wellness facilities, and different good perks. Learn on for the most effective airports in America which might be price a layover, in keeping with journey specialists.
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As it is a Delta hub for the Midwest, you could have already spent a while connecting at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP). If that’s the case, you understand there’s a lot to do.
“I just lately had a layover at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP) whereas touring to South Dakota,” says Pamela Holt, journey knowledgeable and host of Me, Myself, and the World. “MSP is so pleasant, I might think about spending a weekend simply exploring all it has to supply!” She additionally factors out that it was just lately awarded the title of Finest Airport in North America.
Given the realm’s wealthy music historical past and thriving tradition, it is unsurprising that there are many performances for vacationers to take pleasure in. “What hooked me initially was the dwell music I encountered whereas strolling via the principle terminal,” Holt tells Finest Life. “I noticed a pianist and a harpist inside a couple of minutes of one another. There was additionally a retailer devoted totally to [Minneapolis native] Prince—which, as an enormous fan of his music, I beloved.”
Holt additionally appreciates the “wonderful and eclectic” food and drinks choices, which do a superb job of capturing the native vibe. “These in search of buying choices additionally possible will not be disillusioned, and so they have a spread of various artwork installations that replicate the Twin Cities’ popularity as a hub for the humanities,” she provides.
Nevertheless, she says the most effective a part of the airport is perhaps its animal ambassador program. “They’ve 96 canines, and one cat, whose identify I realized was Stitches! I met an cute canine there, which made my go to much more memorable,” the knowledgeable explains.
Whether or not you are passing via the Pacific Northwest in your manner someplace else or spending a while in Seattle, you may take pleasure in your keep on the Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA).
“It has a novel Pacific Northwest vibe with its spectacular artwork installations, native meals choices, and even a mini-museum showcasing the historical past of aviation within the area,” says Peter Hamdy, a journey knowledgeable and managing director of Auckland & Past Excursions. “The airport additionally has a rooftop deck the place you may take pleasure in beautiful views of Mount Rainier whereas ready on your subsequent flight.”
He additionally appreciates that the airport gives loads of facilities and actions to entertain vacationers throughout a layover. “It’s a mini getaway inside an airport,” he says. “Plus, the airport is conveniently positioned simply 20 minutes from downtown Seattle, making exploring town throughout an extended layover simple.”
Loads of vacationers make their manner into and out of San Francisco yearly. However whilst a busy transit hub, it would not lack facilities and small touches that assist enhance the general journey expertise.
“The brand new SFO Harvey Milk worldwide terminal is a serene house, formally dubbed a ‘quiet terminal’ with no jarring departure bulletins to interrupt your zen,” says journey author Kate Loweth. “Instantly after continuing via TSA, you may discover my favourite characteristic: The high-tech, touch-less water bottle filling station along with your selection of room temperature or chilled water. And better of all, the gates are unfold out with loads of diversified seating choices from bar-height workstations to spinning armchairs.”
It is also a really perfect layover vacation spot for any artsy or health-conscious vacationers. “The airport boasts a yoga room for some mid-trip zen, an Aviation Museum for a contact of historical past, and rotating artwork displays that deliver a little bit of tradition to your journey,” says luxurious journey advisor Elizabeth Kaczka. “If you happen to’re touring with children, the interactive shows and aquariums will hold them entertained for hours.”
She additionally appreciates the care put into meals choices, together with native favorites like Napa Farms Market. “And in case you are in search of a premium expertise whereas ready on your subsequent flight, the American Specific Centurion Lounge encompasses a wine-tasting space that features wine flights,” she suggests.
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Austin’s popularity for a vibrant native tradition has made it a must-visit vacation spot for vacationers from all around the world. Specialists say these flying in will start to expertise that as quickly as they stroll off their flight.
“I typically do not just like the busy airport vibe, which is why I recognize Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport,” says Sam Browne, frequent flyer and founding father of Findaband. “Embracing town’s moniker of the Reside Music Capital of the World, you may catch dwell music acts proper within the airport. It is incredible! There was a time—a number of instances, truly—when my band jammed with some individuals there, and it was actually only a good expertise.”
He additionally says the meals choices spotlight the most effective native eating places and supply an actual style of Austin’s buzzy culinary scene. “It is a enjoyable, energetic place to have a layover and actually captures town’s spirit,” he says.
Regardless that main metropolises have greater budgets and heavier traveler counts to warrant a lavishly constructed airport, they don’t seem to be the one locations you may take pleasure in your self between flights.
“Sadly, small, regional airports hardly get any recognition in any respect,” says Dan Bubb, PhD, aviation historical past knowledgeable and professor on the College of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). “Actually, I have to say that I have been to small airports that I’ve discovered to be higher and extra satisfying than just about any giant airport.”
Particularly, he says current journeys via Bozeman Yellowstone Worldwide Airport (BZN) in Montana have stood out. “The terminals had been very clear and uncluttered. The eating places served scrumptious meals reflecting native delicacies. And the home windows had been very giant, giving one the true sense of being in ‘massive sky nation.'”
It wasn’t way back that the second-busiest airport within the largest metropolis within the U.S. provided a less-than-glamorous introduction to arriving guests. Luckily, these flying via currently could also be shocked to see how a lot has modified.
“As soon as the punchline of many a journey joke, LaGuardia (LGA) has undergone a miraculous transformation, rising as a world-class airport worthy of New York Metropolis’s status,” says Kaczka. “The brand new terminals are a marvel of recent design, with glossy structure, ample pure mild, and cutting-edge expertise.”
She factors out the brand new Terminal B, which encompasses a beautiful water characteristic and a light-filled central corridor that feels extra like a luxurious mall than an airport. And a just lately revamped Terminal C has allowed much more vacationers to seize meals from beloved native eating places or chill out in ethereal, spacious gates earlier than their flights.
“With high-end retail retailers, top-notch eating choices like Shake Shack and native favorites, and loads of charging stations, LGA is now a spot the place you may truly need your flight to get delayed,” she says.
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Miami stands out as a cultural gem on the American panorama. However even if you happen to’re simply flying via, you may nonetheless be capable to get a really feel for a few of the greatest native delicacies has to supply.
“You needn’t go away the airport to discover a style of Cuban affect on Miami,” Katy Nastro, journey knowledgeable and spokesperson for Going, tells Finest Life. “Cafe Versaille, a Miami staple for Cuban delicacies, has outposts dotted throughout terminals so you will get a robust cafecito and pastelito wherever your connection departs from. La Carreta additionally serves up cubanos and croquetas all through the airport.”
She says these two choices alone make a layover all of the extra satisfying. “I all the time make it some extent to cease at both and indulge between flights,” she says.
There is no denying there is a bustling ambiance on the bigger of New York Metropolis’s airports, with tens of millions of vacationers passing via yearly. Nevertheless, there are additionally some respectable alternatives to take pleasure in your self on a layover if you understand the place to look—particularly on the TWA Lodge.
“This retro wonderland is a tribute to the golden age of air journey, full with mid-century fashionable design that is straight out of a Mad Males episode,” says Kaczka. “The resort is housed within the iconic TWA Flight Middle, designed by architect Eero Saarinen, and encompasses a rooftop infinity pool with runway views, a 1958 Lockheed Constellation turned cocktail bar, and a swanky Sunken Lounge.”
She says that the distinctive transit hotspot is an effective way to kill time between flights, whether or not you are seeking to chill out in fashion, sip a basic cocktail, or just take in the nostalgia. However in fact, there are different choices within the airport.
“If you do not have sufficient time to exit safety to succeed in the resort, try the 15,000-square-foot American Specific Centurion Lounge in Terminal 4,” She suggests. “It has The 1850 Speakeasy, which gives craft cocktails in a classy setting.”
Anybody who’s flown via Denver is aware of its airport is without doubt one of the extra distinctive within the U.S., from its tented exterior that mirrors the encompassing panorama to the cryptic paintings selections which have sparked conspiracy theories in regards to the hub. It is also a bustling place by the numbers, rating because the sixth busiest airport worldwide as of 2023, in keeping with Airports Council Worldwide. However regardless of the excessive passenger quantity, it will probably nonetheless be a memorable and stress-free place to spend time.
“Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) is an ideal match for somebody like me,” says Pierce Hogan, proprietor of journey information and useful resource Diversified Lands. “The beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains within the distance are really breathtaking and make layovers far more satisfying.”
Kaczka additionally factors out the “conversation-sparking” artwork installations, in addition to different distinctive choices.
“For the lively traveler, there’s an out of doors plaza with dwell leisure and even a winter ice skating rink,” she says. “The airport’s format is spacious and ethereal, with loads of spots to chill out and take within the mountain views, and relying on which terminal you end up in, you might be aware of aircraft recognizing from year-round skydecks, together with hearth pits and lounge seating.”
It is also particular when you have the appropriate bank card readily available. “Denver can be residence to one of many few Capital One Lounges, with 11,200 sq. ft, permitting a spot to bathe, work, and eat in fashion,” she factors out.
