5 Airports Where Being Stuck With Your Kids Might Not Be An Absolute Nightmare

O'Hare's airplane-themed play area.

O’Hare’s airplane-themed play area.

While none of us at Consumerist have kids — that we’ll legally admit to — we’ve traveled with other people’s youngsters, and we’ve watched in jaw-dropped horror at the antics of some bored, confined children at airports. Thankfully, there are some airports that provide a place for traveling terrors to blow off steam without irritating grumpy grown-ups like me.

The folks at the FlipKey blog recently provided a roundup of kid-friendly airports where being stuck for a few hours would not necessarily result in thoughts of child abandonment.

Here are some highlights:
CHICAGO O’HARE
It’s busy, huge and prone to delays, but it also has numerous play areas for kids to do their thing. For instance, there’s the Chicago Children’s Museum’s Kids on the Fly playground in Terminal 2, with airport-themed climbing structures. The terminals also feature family-friendly eateries like Garrett’s Popcorn and Macaroni Grill.

BOSTON LOGAN
Another airport with places for youngsters to romp on something other than other travelers’ feet, Logan features a pair of Kid Port play areas (Terminals A and C) created by the Boston Children’s Museum. The airport also features rocking chairs, family restrooms, and rooms for nursing mothers who want some space and privacy.

SAN FRANCISCO
A bonanza for the traveling family, there are nurseries in Terminals 1, 2, and 3; three Kids’ Spot play areas, and three different aquariums in Terminal 1.
SFO security also features dedicated family lanes, which is a bonus to both the families and to those of us traveling without offspring.

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD-JACKSON
In addition to two play areas, the nation’s busiest airport also features one of the coolest things for kids to check out — a fully assembled skeleton of a Yangchuanosaurus. You don’t need to know how to pronounce it; just look for the huge dinosaur skeleton hanging out in the airport atrium. Additionally, there’s the Airport Art program that includes Youth Art Galleries on concourses D, E, and T.

SEA-TAC
For nursing moms, this Washington state hub has private rooms with adjustable lighting and rocking chairs. It’s also right off the kids’ play area, which is across from the Seattle Tap Room. Fun for the whole family!

Check out the FlipKey blog for its full list of family friendly airports.

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