Airport Meals Flying In at $5 and Terminals Getting Wiser

With the summer travel season fast approaching and airfares seesawing between the ridiculous and the sublime, I can report that in some expected and unexpected ways, the U.S. airport experience is actually getting better. Here are a few of the services offered by airport businesses that really get today's family traveler.

Incredibly Edible Airport Food

With the disappearance of inflight meal options comes the renaissance of airport food, and few vendors are more welcome than Cibo Express. This new gourmet take-out market stunned us with its selection of fine salmons and prepared salads, smoked meats and cheeses, and vegan items like grilled tofu, soba noodles with beans, and seiten. The staff we encountered at LaGuardia was cordial, and the crew at Charlotte was positively knowledgeable. If you have to spend money for on-the-fly meals, there isn't a better choice. Unless you're at Reagan National or in Jet Blue's new JFK Terminal, of course.

And in tune with this economy, both the LaGuardia and Philadelphia Airport concessionsaires are producing a bargain priced meal for those on the fly. These two airports' "WOW! $5 CHOW!" program launches in May and offers a variety of menu choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Families with big and tiny travelers can choose from almost 50 restaurants offering specially priced meals. Look for Jet Rock Bar & Grill's "Eggs Your Way" breakfast with coffee; Chicken Sandwich and large drink at Chick-Fil-A; Tomato, Basil & Mozzarella Sandwich at Cosi; or gourmet dessert with coffee from Todd English's Figs Restaurant-- all priced at $5 each. If you're already hungry, surf over to www.shoplaguardia.com or www.philamarketplace.com and see what's being served.

Eco-Friendly and Worth a Stretch

The airlines aren't the only ones trying to improve waiting conditions. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is making it easier for travelers with a long layover to make a quick trip to one of the country's 545 National Wildlife Refuges between airline flights. We love the idea that children and parents can stretch their legs and breathe deeply for awhile. If you're stuck at Philadelphia International Airport, the 1,000-acre John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, located at Tinicum on the south side of Philadelphia, is only one mile and one train stop away; blackbirds, hawks and bald eagles hover above this freshwater tidal marsh. (No, this doesn't necessarily mean that planes here are more likely to have avian-related engine accidents!)

The Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Maryland is 30 minutes from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and boasts exhibits that highlight environmental problems, how scientists are trying to solve them, and how the Refuge System is involved, at its Visitors Center. Half-hour tram tours of its nearly 13,000 acres are held on weekends from mid-March through early November.

Two miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in Bloomington is the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, where trails ranging in length from a half-mile to 12 miles reveal the wildlife of floodplain forests, native prairies and large lake marshes. One of the nation's largest urban wildlife refuges is located just eight miles outside of Denver and adjacent to Denver International Airport: the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge open weekends or for special events. From the San Diego airport, families can catch a cab to the nearest trolley station and continue on to Bayfront for a visit to Sweetwater Marsh, part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Power Begets Power

No more looking for quarters for the vintage massage chairs and tiny TV monitors in departure lounges; CNN is live everywhere free of charge. Gone is the hunt for US dollar bills so you can grab a luggage cart from an unforgiving dispenser, as credit cards have made bills obsolete. No more sitting on the floor near the janitor's outlet so teens can recharge their iPods, cells and laptops.  Samsung Mobile Charging Stations, pole-like stations with power outlets, now offer travelers a free 110-volt recharge and a small work shelf or bar counter with stools. Lucky travelers may encounter the wonderfully comfortable and free Samsung Mobile Charging Lounges, where poofy leather armchairs, TVs, quiet work spaces and the airport's WiFi or LAN signal (for a fee) make waiting time fly by for families, teens, and restless kids. Look in LaGuardia, Orlando International Airport, Los Angeles International, New York's JFK and Texas' Dallas / Ft. Worth among others around the country.

Stress-Free Zones

And did we mention spas? The New York-based XPresSpa company has grown to nearly 30 full-service spas at airports across the US, Mexico's Cancun International Airport, and Amsterdam's Schipol. Day spas are open daily from 7am to 11pm at each terminal. The small marble and chrome oases are tucked into the departure areas near the Arrival/Departure signboards -- relax -- Spa staff check the signboards for clients on a regular basis. This reporter opted for the guaranteed 30-minute Xpress Pedicure ($35 at DFW) and spent another hour (no charge) in their super plush massage chairs, with my feet up and rollers pummeling the upper back. Excellent service, friendly staff, hygienically-cleaned tools and a plethora of nail polish colors (after all, they have to satisfy clients from all over the world) made this pedicure something special. During our visit, about 20% of the clients were men, mostly enjoying the 20- to 30-minute back massages being given on slant boards within the spa's quiet zone. For more information, or to check out the location at your next airport destination, visit the XPressSpa.com website.