Airports Aren't Just for Flying
Seated in a beer garden sipping a brew that was made onsite, Sam and Nancy Goodman tap their feet to the beat of music emanating from a band on the stage. Art is the focus of attention for Paul and Elizabeth Cantor, as they stroll past a collection that could be on display at a major museum – but isn’t.
Roger Hockman is equally focused as he fine tunes his putting golf stroke on a compact practice green. There’s nothing unusual about these activities except where they're taking place. They are helping passengers to pass time at airports in Munich, Denver and Palm Beach, Florida. Some airports around the world have evolved into more than just places where people gather to board a plane, or exit after a flight. In an effort to make the flying experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, airports are offering a varied and growing array of entertainment, dining and other facilities and services.
Take that beer garden in Germany. The aptly named Airbrau produces three kinds of beer, plus seasonal types, and diners in the restaurant have a good view of the process. The art scene at Denver International Airport includes works displayed outdoors, inside the terminal, and even in tunnels through which trains pass carrying passengers to departure gates.
Roger Hockman was pleased to find a putting green at the Palm Beach International Airport when he had time to kill between flights. These welcome surprises are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. From animals to art, books to baking and much more, airports are offering things to do, see, eat and otherwise fill what could be dreary down time with an imaginative array of choices.
Airports as museums is one growing trend. Not surprisingly, some collections focus on aircraft and flying. For example, historic planes and a rescue helicopter are parked outside the Munich Airport.
A 1914 Curtiss Pusher Biplane is located in the Albuquerque International airport. Its name comes from the fact that a propeller mounted in back of the aircraft pushes the two-winged plane through the air. The space that houses a library and aviation museum at the San Francisco airport resembles a 1930s passenger lobby. Books and exhibits focus on the history of aviation.
Antique Indianapolis 500 race cars are parked in that city's airport. No surprise there! Displays at the Hong Kong airport appeal to a variety of interests. Recent exhibits highlighted popular architecture in Hong Kong and included a large paper-mache dragon that was created for the 2016 Chinese New Year celebration.
If you’ve ever seen a fluffy white dog carrying a toy duck in its mouth, a Scottish Terrier munching on a carrot or a pig playing a toy piano, you've probably been in the San Francisco International Airport. They're members of the Wag Brigade, a group of trained dogs that roam the terminals pausing to do what they can to make passengers' travel more enjoyable.
The animals and their handlers are certified therapy teams. Wearing vests that say "Pet Me," the canines -- and a pig named LiLou -- usually don't have to walk far before someone pauses to make friends and watch the animals perform tricks. One goal of the Wag Brigade is to keep children entertained. Other facilities and services also are aimed at young flyers.
Even though Koi are nowhere near as huggable as dogs, kids at the Changi Airport in Singapore enjoy feeding those that live in a pond there. Youngsters learn a bit about those colorful and graceful fish which are particularly popular in Asia.
Facts also are interspersed with fun for children elsewhere around the world. Young people have a learning experience while playing at the miniature air field located in the Zurich airport, and during tours which provide close-up views of flight operations. Those who prefer more activity while waiting to take off may rent bicycles and inline skates sized for both youngsters and adults.
The aptly named Kids' Spots at San Francisco airport are designed to allow children to pick up new knowledge while they use up excess energy prior to their flight. One area features interactive displays about weather while another is filled with art that also provides interactive learning experiences. The trend for airports to double as art galleries is being adopted around the world. Launched in 1977, the collection at San Francisco Airport contains more than 80 works that were chosen to reflect the area's diverse culture.
Art at other airports also depicts local cultures and other factors. In Vancouver that means highlighting the landscapes and people of British Columbia. Passengers at the Portland, Maine airport enjoy references to moose, deer and fish. Among displays at the Albuquerque International Sunport which pay homage to the area's setting and its Native American population are wood carvings, pottery and works with names like Hopi Woman and Buffalo Dancer.
Art is interactive at Singapore's Changi Airport. People there may use provided paper and crayons to make rubbings of icons which were installed for that purpose.
Mother Nature's art also is on view at airports. At Changi, themed gardens provide respite from the hustle and bustle of travel. A Sunflower Garden occupies a flat rooftop, an Orchid Garden displays more than 700 plants and a Cactus Garden includes more than 100 species from around the world.
As people stroll through the Enchanted Garden, motion sensors trigger sounds of nature. Some 1,000 residents of the Butterfly Garden share their space with flowering plants, lush greenery and a 20-foot waterfall.
Attractions at some airports appeal to the taste buds. Ethnic and local specialties are among dining choices available at O'Hare in Chicago, which has some 150 food establishments. During the annual Ticket to Taste event, chefs prepare meals, present cooking demonstrations and offer free samples.
Passengers passing through Copenhagen Airport have a choice of "Nordic food." The Beer Garden menu at Munich Airport includes Bavarian favorites like pork sausage, roast pork in beer sauce and, for those with a sweet tooth, apple strudel.
Eateries at Baltimore-Washington International Airport include an offshoot of the local favorite O'Brycki's, which touts "Crab cakes and more since 1944." The restaurant lives up to that claim offering crab soup, crab salad, crab cakes, crab melt -- well you get the picture.
BWI also is the site of the first ROAM Fitness facility, which is stocked with a full range of workout equipment including treadmills, rowing and elliptical machines, stationary bicycles and dumbbells, as well as loaner clothes, shower rooms and other amenities. The airport also offers a bike path and rentals and a cardio trail.
Nor does this inventory of amenities and activities at airports cover the gamut. Others include a barber shop and dry cleaner (Munich), yoga rooms (San Francisco), Medal of Honor display (El Paso), aquariums (Vancouver), ice skating (Denver) and handicraft and baking activities (Zurich).
Even passengers who forgot to bring a book for their flight are in luck. They may borrow one at facilities in Seattle-Tacoma and Walla-Walla, Washington and Amsterdam’s Schipol, which initiated that service in 2010.
