If your baseball travel adventures have progressed to the point that you’re occasionally flying instead of just driving, congratulations — you’ve opened the door to seeing more ballparks throughout the season.
Flying can be lots of fun, but you’ll likely encounter some challenges along the way. Outside of unpredictable issues such as flight delays and lost luggage, flight layovers are a minor hurdle to deal with. For the unacquainted, a layover is the time that you spend at an airport between two flights.
Layovers can vary in length. I’ve had them as short as 40 minutes to as long as 7.5 hours. (Yikes.) Generally, I find that they’re between 1 and 3 hours, which gives you a bit of time to kill at the airport. Some people bemoan layovers, but they don’t have to be a bad thing. There’s no need to find your next gate and sit there patiently for a few hours, just as there’s no need to take your seat and wait for first pitch immediately upon entering a ballpark.
Here are some fun ways to spend time during your airport layover.
Get Moving
I love tracking my steps throughout the day, but when you’re spending a good percentage of your day on at least two flights, hitting your daily step goals can be a bit of a challenge. Walking can be a good way to spend some of your layover time. Not only does it allow you to see the sights around the airport, but it also gets your muscles moving — which is ideal if you’ve just had a lengthy flight or have a long one coming up. I often make a point of walking from one end of the terminal to the other. It eats up some time, and you might be surprised at how many steps it can get you.
Grab Some Grub
Of course, a layover can also be a good chance to grab something to eat. This can particularly be true if you have an early departure — 6 a.m., for example — and miss breakfast as a result. I tend to structure how I’ll eat based on the length of the layover. If the layover is on the longer side, it can be nice to find a restaurant and have a proper sit-down meal. (Tip: I’ll always browse the airport’s website before my trip to get a sense of what restaurants I may want to visit. This simplifies the decision-making process after landing.) If I have a short layover and I’m hungry, some type of fast food usually cuts it. Especially if there’s a Shake Shack or Chick-fil-A in the airport.
Check Out the Sights
Most airports have some interesting sights to see if you know where to look. Not only will sightseeing help to pass the time, but you’ll often get to learn a little, too. Spend some time reading about the airport in advance of your visit. You’ll almost always find a few things that are worth checking out during your layover. Some of my favorites are the the Light Tunnel at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Brachiosaurus skeleton at O’Hare International Airport, the Mitchell Gallery of Flight Museum at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and the Second World War Dauntless dive bomber airplane at Chicago Midway International Airport. Sightseeing goes beyond the attractions that are inside of the airport. Lots of airports offer cool views of notable landmarks. You can see the New York City skyline from Newark Liberty International Airport, the CN Tower and Rogers Centre from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and many other sights from various airports on your travels.
Hit the Shops
A lot of travelers use their layovers to shop, and while I’m not a big proponent of airport shopping because of the elevated prices, this can be a good time to pick up any souvenirs you want. I’ve often bought magnets, postcards and other small items during my layovers, and even occasionally picked up a T-shirt or two if something has caught my eye. Lots of airports have numerous high-end shops, which might be fun if that’s your thing.
Break a Sweat
For me, briskly walking through the terminals can be enough exercise for a layover, but some people want a little more. If you’re really committed to fitness, lots of airports have athletic centers that you can visit. These facilities can be impressive, boasting an assortment of equipment that you can find in most gyms, as well as showers for after you work up a sweat. Some airports even have yoga rooms, which can be nice for someone who wants to get moving without the full commitment of a gym workout. If you’re planning to work out, it’s ideal if your layover is on the longer side.
Try Some Plane Spotting
I’m not a plane spotter hobbyist by any stretch, but I always get a kick out of watching planes during my airport layovers. I enjoy walking around the terminal and checking out the sights through the windows. One challenge that I’m constantly working on is seeing how many different airlines I can spot. At big airports, you might be surprised to see how many unique airlines you can see. (An interesting one I’ve seen lately? Royal Jordanian Airlines at Toronto Pearson Airport in April of 2023.)
Put Your Feet Up
Don’t be afraid to use your layover to relax. Doing so can be more appealing than you might initially realize when you’re on a long baseball trip. Airports have a variety of seating options, including rocking chairs, couches and more, and grabbing a spot in a semi-quiet area, putting your feet up and finding something to watch on Netflix, MLB.tv or YouTube can be a nice way to spend your time. Airports always have free Wifi, and some connections are very fast to give you a good streaming experience. If you’re the type of person who is capable of napping in any environment, a short sleep can recharge you.
Get Some Work Done
You might be on a baseball trip, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a little work done. Whether you’re self-employed or you’re just the type of person who enjoys tackling work projects on your own time, a layover can be a good opportunity to have some uninterrupted work time. Try to find a quiet area to limit distractions. One option is to look for a gate that won’t be used for several hours, and sit there. If you don’t mind spending a little money, you’ll get a quieter experience by buying a pass to one of the airport’s lounges. You might be surprised at how much you can get done in an hour or two without interruptions.