While our dining reality inside the airplane has deteriorated, the new airport experience has greatly improved with delicious food, shopping and amenities.<\/p>\n
At the Chicago O\u2019hare airport<\/a>, we ate at a small Italian restaurant where I had the best chicken Caesar Salad that I had ever eaten. The airport boasts over 60 eating and drinking establishments throughout the terminals. They offer almost every type of cuisine you can imagine with some of them with multiple locations<\/a> in the airport terminals. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or craving something fancier like Wolfgang Puck, they have it all.<\/p>\n At the Phoenix airport<\/a>, there is a very artistic mall area where there are shops and great dining options. There, I have a favorite store, Mosaic<\/a>, with museum quality gifts. It\u2019s like an art gallery! Every time I pass through the airport, I allow extra time to browse the store, picking up future Christmas and birthday gifts for my family members, and for myself!<\/p>\n At John Wayne airport<\/a> in Santa Ana, California I arrive early to look at the various art exhibits as you stroll to your gate for departure. The whole terminal area is very beautiful. The Airports Arts Program<\/a> is overseen by a five-member Airport Arts Commission. The intention is to show museum quality art in the Riley Terminal. The commission has various periodic special programs along with the regular exhibitions. They also sponsor a county-wide Annual Student Art Contest\/Exhibition where some amazing student artists are show off their talents.<\/p>\n Even Baggage areas have improved. At John Wayne, they have planters and skylights, and at the Las Vegas, Nevada airport<\/a> you will be amazed at the flash and color screens in their baggage area. They also have slot machines throughout the airport to fulfill your pre-departure gambling desires.<\/p>\n So with the new airport experience we get to luxuriate before we squeeze ourselves onto our flights.<\/p>\n