Portland International Airport (PDX)

We’re back again with another great airport find! Portland International Airport (PDX) has a large play area in Terminal C, right past a food court with plenty of food options. You’ll see a fairly large play structure, plus activity panels for younger kids and lots of seating for grown-ups.

pdx-play-area

Theres another in the main terminal, but there’s a catch: Reviewer Julie Hagstrom writes, “It is just BEFORE you go through the big line for security and where passengers come out to meet people so if you are going to meet anyone at the airport and their plane is delayed the kids can play while you wait! If you are the traveler, you would play here only if you had plenty of time to go through security and get to your gate.”

It has a large climbing/sliding structure and other smaller toys to explore (great for toddler eye-level). Just be sure you have plenty of time to get through security before you get too comfortable here.

Date last visited: April 2016

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open whenever the terminal is open.

Bathrooms: Nearby.

Food Services: Just on the other side of security, you can find Panda Express, several pizza places, and a Jamba Juice. (Wendy’s and Starbucks aren’t far away, too!)

Website: http://www.portofportland.com/PDX_home.aspx

Terminal Map: http://www.portofportland.com/PDX_Terminal_Map.aspx

 

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

Photo courtesy of MSP International

Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport

Travelers through Minneapolis-St Paul are lucky enough to have not one, but two airport play spaces available to them (although we all know the truly lucky depart on their planes without any airport waiting with small kids at all!). Both play spaces feature a great play area with a huge plane, slide, and climbing area in addition to an air traffic control tower and beautiful murals of the Minneapolis skyline. The first is located by gate C12 (right by the tram stop to the other concourses). There is an A&W, Godfather’s Pizza and bookstore right next to it. If you have over an hour to kill in this airport it is definitely worth seeking it out.

The second play space is located on Level 2, inside security, at the Humphrey Terminal and includes a giant suitcase designed to educate young and (parental) travelers alike.

Date last visited: February 2010

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open during concourse hours.

Bathrooms: Nearby. Also: a Nursing Mothers Room is located at the Lindbergh Terminal on Concourse C near the play space. To obtain access, nursing moms should go to the Travelers Assistance desk across from Gate C12. The assistant will provide you access to the room, located at the north end of the Concourse Connector above the C rotunda food court and near the elevators.

Food Services: Several choices (see description above).

Website: http://www.mspairport.com/