Nothing Terminal About It

Spending time in connecting airport hubs doesn’t have to be boring.

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First, a qualification: My dad is an airline pilot. He has been since I was 2 years old. I still remember riding moving walkways through the neon-lit underground at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as a child. Since then, I’ve spent hour upon hour waiting on standby for flights out of everywhere from LAX to Orlando. Over the years, I’ve become somewhat of an expert at passing time in airport terminals. From Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport, there are 12 cities where you can travel via a direct flight. Next time you have a long layover or get stuck in a connecting terminal, don’t fret. Explore.

Chicago O’Hare International
Arguably the busiest airport in the world, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (flychicago.com), boasts more than 70 million travelers per year. As such, you could easily get lost—or lose yourself in the shops, sights and tastes of this ever-bustling hub. A dinosaur skeleton mold towers next to a gift shop in Concourse A. Here you can buy polished stones, books and toys. In Terminal 1, you can eat at Billy Goat Tavern and Grill, a copy of the famous Chicago tavern that inspired the classic Saturday Night Live skit. There’s also a Hilton hotel connected to the airport via an underground walkway. Traveling from one terminal to another takes time, but a ride on the 24-hour airport transit railway system can speed up your trip across O’Hare.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International
You might visit the Mall of America while in Minneapolis, but the city’s airport is a shopping destination itself. Northstar Crossing, the shops of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (mspairport.com), includes 106 stores and restaurants. There are too many stores to mention, but travelers can get a haircut, buy a new wardrobe and grab a delicious meal without ever leaving the airport. Minnesota doesn’t charge tax on apparel, so the airport is a prime place to buy shoes and clothing at shops like EnRoute and Roots. The stores can ship purchases, too, so you don’t have to worry about exceeding carry-on restrictions.

Dallas International
Wichita offers seven flights per day to Dallas International Airport
(dfwairport.com), the world’s third busiest airport. Terminal D is the starting and ending point for international flights and is home to artwork by renowned artists from around the world. A sculpture garden is nearby. There’s also plenty of places to eat, with Dickey’s and Cousin’s offering great barbecue and Tigin Irish Pub & Restaurant serving up Guinness BBQ wings, shepherd’s pie and Irish whiskey. There are also plenty of shops, including Brighton, Brooks Brothers and Fossil. For last-minute souvenirs, scope out Yellow Rose, a Texas gift store in terminals A and E.

George Bush Intercontinental
Another Texas destination is Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (fly2houston.com). For weak and weary travelers, there’s an interfaith chapel in Terminal C that has existed since the terminal opened in 1980. And for something sweet, stop by Coco Moka or Little Creamery. You might find some comfort in learning the Houston Airport System has added security along the airport’s wooded perimeter. Volunteer rangers roam the 11,000-acre facility on horseback, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious on the premises.

Denver International
Denver International Airport (flydenver.com) offers plenty of ways to pass the time—even musical performances around the holidays. You can enjoy artwork on the mezzanine level of Concourse A, which overlooks an artful tribute to Denver’s mining history. Take the train to the next concourse, and you can see metal propellers on the tunnel walls that spin as the train speeds past. Concourse B’s mezzanine level is the most relaxed place to go if you have a little time. There are about a dozen restaurants and shops, including an art gallery, a massage parlor and a Qwest workstation that offers free Internet access. There are sports bars and a Mexican cantina, plus Crocs and Harley Davidson shops. Wichita offers more than half a dozen flights to Denver per day.

McCarran International
You might long for The Strip. But if you have a layover at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (mccarran.com), you can still have fun while waiting. For last-minute souvenirs, there are gift shops by casinos like Bellagio, Treasure Island, Circus Circus and more. There are also dozens of slot machines. You can buy jewelry at Sparkle Plenty in Terminal 2 or imported stogies at Havana Honey’s Cigar Shop—but remember the airport is smoke-free. And if you need to forget your losses after a long week in Sin City, Budweiser Racing Track Bar & Grill in Concourse E and Budweiser Brewhouse in Concourse A serve cold drinks.

Los Angeles International
If you feel like getting some exercise while waiting at Los Angeles International Airport (lawa.org), power walk the long hallways that connect the terminals. Of course, there are plenty of temptations along the way. El Cholo Cantina in Terminal 5 serves delicious quiche, pizza and baked goods. A hearty walk will take you to Encounter Restaurant outside the central terminal, where you can have a fine dining experience in a control tower. Other great eateries include Sushi Boy in Terminal 3, Redondo Beach Brewing Company in Terminal 6 and Karl Strauss Microbrewery in Terminal 7. Just be sure to allot extra time to pass through security checkpoints while moving from terminal to terminal.

Memphis International
Fly to Memphis International Airport (memphisairport.org) on Northwest Airlines to taste local favorites like Interstate BBQ or Grisanti’s Bol a Pasta. There are also shops for the Memphis Zoo, Memphis Rock & Soul Museum and Elvis Presley Enterprises. Artwork by local artist Ephraim Urevbu decorates the airport’s hallways, and murals depicting Memphis scenes grace the terminals. For business travelers, there are conference rooms with Internet access.

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport
Grab a drink at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (atlanta-airport.com). Budweiser Brewhouse is on the upper level of Concourse A, and Gate 12 houses Sam Adams Brewhouse. Paschal’s Southern Delights offers a quick stop for down-home Southern cooking from biscuits to barbecue. For affordable gifts at $10, visit Bijoux Terner. Life is Good offers pampering products for head to toe. Or to get some work done, head to Laptop Lane for Internet access.

Orlando Sanford
Chill out in Orlando Sanford International Airport (orlandosanfordairport.com) after a long week of standing in crowded lines at Disney World. Inside Terminal A, you can find Royal Palm Lounge, where travelers can watch movies in two theaters, play Sony PlayStations and drink free glasses of wine or beer with admission. For a quick bite, Terminal B offers Blue Sky Spirits, American Grill and Café Ritazza.

Phoenix Sky Harbor
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s (phoenix.gov) Terminal 2 has more than 500 works of art celebrating Arizona’s culture. The airport also has free WiFi and dozens of restaurants and shops, including stores with American Indian-related merchandise. Delicious sit-down eateries include Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill, Jackalope Flats Bar and Desert Springs Brewing Company.

Lambert-St. Louis International
For service to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (lambert-stlouis.com), American Airlines is the ticket. The airport offers daily religious services inside the main terminal’s lower level. Notable eateries include Jody Maroni’s Sausage Kingdom in Concourse A, Schlafly’s Taproom in Concourse B and Budweiser Stadium Club Bar & Grill in Concourse C. For sports souvenirs, stop by the Anheuser-Busch Gift Shop or a PGA Tour Shop.