blisspassport.com

Head outside if you've got a long layover in San Diego. The airport's in a great part of town.

USA Today has a story this week on airports giving travelers more fitness options.

I was pleasantly surprised when I flew over the holidays and found a smoothie stand in my terminal at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. I even noticed a few other healthier options countering the BBQ joint that seemed the only option on other trips through Dallas.

Hopefully it’s a trend that continues to grow. The health concerns of long flights have already been well documented and it’s not secrete that Americans aren’t high on the fitness scale. And with this economy there are multiple open storefronts at some of the airports I’ve been in. Yes, I’d like my yoga for free. But if nothing else is taking up the space, it would be nice. I know they have prayer rooms, but I wouldn’t want to disturb someone.

The article riffs off the January opening of San Francisco International Airport’s yoga room and highlights a few more. I’ve added a couple from my own experience as well. Unfortunately, I’ve found most airports don’t at all have what I’m wanting them to. But a few, well, they stand out. So they’ve made the list. What ones haven’t I included that you think need to be here?

• Los Angeles International Airport claims travelers can play 18-holes at a golf course (well, if you have a lengthy layover because all I’ve found is the Westchester Golf Course and you’ll need a cab to get there, but it is close.) The article also recommends tai chi or yoga in the LAX Flag Courtyard. I’ve been trying to figure out where that is and I’m still not sure. I’ve spent a lot of time at LAX and wish I would have known it was there.
• Major airport hotels have opened fitness centers to travelers in Chicago, Dallas and Vancouver ranging from $10 to $30. Sometimes that grants access to the small health club while other hotels include a pool pass or other amenities, the article states.
• AirportGyms.com, I mentioned this a couple years agoas a self-reported list of gyms within airport terminals or a short walk or taxi ride. One I noticed is the Sheraton across from the San Diego airport. What’s great about that airport is you don’t even need to go to the Sheraton to workout but it might be a good place to regroup. The path along the water there would be a great getaway on a long layover to allow for time to get across the parking lot and back through security.
  

  Singapore at dusk By Sonja Bjelland

• Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport sports a designated walkway, according to the article.
• Singapore Changi International Airport takes the cake on all of this. Yes, on a long layover in Singapore you have no need to stay in the airport. In 20 minutes you can be seeing sights. It’s so easy the airport even has a free 2-hour tour. But if timing leaves you in the airport, well then you only have a variety of gardens to choose from on their nature trail. I got a chance to enjoy the butterfly garden even though most were sleeping when I visited. Keep walking and you’ll get to the fern, orchid or cactus gardens. Yep, they also have gyms in different terminals.
• The Abu Dhabi International Airport is one of my favorite places on earth. Really? Yes, it doesn’t matter that I sat on my pack because there weren’t enough seats. It’s an amazing crossroads of cultures. Men and women walk through in traditional dress from various countries in Asia and Africa. If you actually want to disappear from this movie for awhile they also have a spa specializing in 15-minute treatments from facials to massages. And if you’ve really got time to kill, there’s a sand golf course nearby.