Most vacationers see airports as the start and finish factors of their journey, normally solely passing by means of on their strategy to their gate or to gather their baggage at their locations. However for those who’re dealing with a delay or caught on an extended layover, you may need extra time to spend within the terminal than you would possibly like. Thankfully, 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 very best airports in America which are price a layover, in keeping with journey consultants.
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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). In that case, you already know there’s lots to do.
“I lately had a layover at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP) whereas touring to South Dakota,” says Pamela Holt, journey skilled and host of Me, Myself, and the World. “MSP is so pleasant, I might take into account spending a weekend simply exploring all it has to supply!” She additionally factors out that it was 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 get pleasure from. “What hooked me initially was the stay music I encountered whereas strolling by means of 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 solely to [Minneapolis native] Prince—which, as an enormous fan of his music, I liked.”
Holt additionally appreciates the “superb 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 variety of various artwork installations that mirror the Twin Cities’ fame as a hub for the humanities,” she provides.
Nonetheless, she says the very best a part of the airport may be its animal ambassador program. “They’ve 96 canines, and one cat, whose identify I discovered was Stitches! I met an lovable canine there, which made my go to much more memorable,” the skilled explains.
Whether or not you are passing by means of the Pacific Northwest in your means someplace else or spending a while in Seattle, you may get pleasure from 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 skilled and managing director of Auckland & Past Excursions. “The airport additionally has a rooftop deck the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from beautiful views of Mount Rainier whereas ready to 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 straightforward.”
Loads of vacationers make their means 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 area, formally dubbed a ‘quiet terminal’ with no jarring departure bulletins to interrupt your zen,” says journey author Kate Loweth. “Instantly after continuing by means of TSA, you may discover my favourite function: 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 an excellent 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 convey a little bit of tradition to your journey,” says luxurious journey advisor Elizabeth Kaczka. “In the event you’re touring with children, the interactive shows and aquariums will preserve them entertained for hours.”
She additionally appreciates the care put into meals choices, together with native favorites like Napa Farms Market. “And if you’re in search of a premium expertise whereas ready to your subsequent flight, the American Specific Centurion Lounge includes a wine-tasting space that features wine flights,” she suggests.
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Austin’s fame for a vibrant native tradition has made it a must-visit vacation spot for vacationers from all around the world. Consultants say these flying in will start to expertise that as quickly as they stroll off their flight.
“I usually do not just like the busy airport vibe, which is why I respect 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’ll be able to catch stay music acts proper within the airport. It is incredible! There was a time—a number of occasions, truly—when my band jammed with some folks there, and it was actually only a good expertise.”
He additionally says the meals choices spotlight the very best native eating places and supply an actual style of Austin’s buzzy culinary scene. “It is a enjoyable, full of life place to have a layover and actually captures town’s spirit,” he says.
Though main metropolises have larger budgets and heavier traveler counts to warrant a lavishly constructed airport, they don’t seem to be the one locations you’ll be able to get pleasure from your self between flights.
“Sadly, small, regional airports hardly get any recognition in any respect,” says Dan Bubb, PhD, aviation historical past skilled 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 gratifying than nearly any massive airport.”
Particularly, he says current journeys by means of 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 massive, 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. supplied a less-than-glamorous introduction to arriving guests. Thankfully, these flying by means of these days 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 contemporary design, with modern structure, ample pure gentle, and cutting-edge expertise.”
She factors out the brand new Terminal B, which includes a beautiful water function and a light-filled central corridor that feels extra like a luxurious mall than an airport. And a 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 outlets, top-notch eating choices like Shake Shack and native favorites, and loads of charging stations, LGA is now a spot the place you would possibly 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 for those who’re simply flying by means of, you may nonetheless have the ability to get a really feel for among the finest native delicacies has to supply.
“You need not depart the airport to discover a style of Cuban affect on Miami,” Katy Nastro, journey skilled 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 powerful 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 gratifying. “I at all times make it some extent to cease at both and indulge between flights,” she says.
There isn’t any denying there is a bustling ambiance on the bigger of New York Metropolis’s airports, with tens of millions of vacationers passing by means of yearly. Nonetheless, there are additionally some respectable alternatives to get pleasure from your self on a layover if you already know the place to look—particularly on the TWA Resort.
“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 lodge is housed within the iconic TWA Flight Middle, designed by architect Eero Saarinen, and includes 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 trying to chill out in model, 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 achieve the lodge, 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 by means of Denver is aware of its airport is likely one of the extra distinctive within the U.S., from its tented exterior that mirrors the encompassing panorama to the cryptic paintings choices 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 could nonetheless be a memorable and enjoyable 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 Different Lands. “The beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains within the distance are really breathtaking and make layovers way more gratifying.”
Kaczka additionally factors out the “conversation-sparking” artwork installations, in addition to different distinctive choices.
“For the energetic traveler, there’s an outside plaza with stay 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 fireplace pits and lounge seating.”
It is also particular when you’ve got the suitable bank card readily available. “Denver can also be dwelling to one of many few Capital One Lounges, with 11,200 sq. toes, permitting a spot to bathe, work, and eat in model,” she factors out.
