Today, let’s give some to Long Beach Airport (LGB), which came in 2nd, behind PDX, on the list of the 50 Best Airports in America put together by The Washington Post.
The 2nd place award ranking notes LGB’s ease of navigation and its outdoor courtyard, which are just two of the many features the airport, which has trademarked itself as ‘america’s coolest airport’, is proud of.
LGB also boasts a newly renovated 1941 historic terminal, a $17.8 million project which was recently recognized at the 37th Annual Long Beach Heritage Preservation Awards.
The renovation included the restoration of Works Progress Administration (WPA)-era mosaics by Grace Clements that were (re)discovered when the maintenance team took up the carpet.
Made in 1941, the mosaics pay tribute to Long Beach’s origins in aviation, oil and communications with images of a large map, birds, a ship, an oil well and a hand dialing a telephone.
You can get pizza at plenty of airports. But it’s rare to find a robot making your pizza pie.
Donatos Pizza debuted a new ‘autonomous kitchen’ in Ohio’s John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) where a robot is on duty 24-hours a day preparing made-to-order pizzas.
Located pre-security, by Hangar 815 in front of Concourse B, the robotic pizza restaurant has a small footprint and a short menu that includes a 10″ cheese pizza or 10″ pepperoni pizza.
Price: $11.59. No tipping required.
There’s a new robot in town… and it makes pizza. 🍕🤖@Donatos just launched its first fully autonomous restaurant right here at CMH! You’ll find it pre-security by Hangar 815 — and yes, you can watch your pizza being made in real time.
— John Glenn Intl Airport (@columbusairport) June 9, 2025
The Donato’s Pizza robot at John Glenn International Airport is cool and new.
But it’s not the only pizza-making machine in an airport.
At Detroit-Metropolitan Airport (DTW) a ZaBot Pizza Robot machine staffed by robots Rosa and Enzo heats up personal pizzas around-the-clock.
Look for this machine in the Coca Cola room by Gate A36.
Elsewhere: cows at San Antonio Int’l Airport + cool art at Long Beach Airport
#CowParade2025 has MOOOved into SAT! 🐄🎨 We're excited to have 3 painted cows at our airport before they're auctioned off to benefit @CHRISTUSHealth in September.
MEET THE COWS! 🐮✨ -Stampede, Chris Celusniak -Good MOOd, Allison Gregory -Love Note to the Nations, Ashley Rogers pic.twitter.com/3XyKydjSqY
— San Antonio International Airport (@SATairport) June 10, 2025
Have you checked out our video wall? 🎨
Our wrap-around digital wall at baggage claim displays artistic videos including the latest installation: Impressions of Travel.
The petition calls Parton a “national treasure” and a Tennessee legend and points out that Dolly Parton is not only a celebrated artist “who encourages love, acceptance, and goodwill through her music,” but she is also a philanthropist “known for her countless contributions to society.”
Therefore, the petition reasons, “it is only fitting that an institution as significant as Nashville International Airport carries the name of such a remarkable woman.”
If the petition succeeds, the organizers point out, “We could all be Departin’ from Parton.”
More – much more – live music at Long Beach Airport
Long Beach Airport (LGB), which has proclaimed itself “America’s coolest airport,” is getting cooler.
The airport’s LGB Live! music series is expanding from 40 to more than 160 live performances a year.
The expanded LGB Live! program kicks off Thursday, March 27, with a performance by Acoustic Soul Express and will feature performances from professional artists and acclaimed youth performers.
LGB Live! performers are vetted and paid. Performances are typically held post-security for ticketed travelers from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays, with additional shows during busy travel seasons. Exact showtimes, along with information about bonus pre-security performances can be found on LGB Live!
Here are some travel tidbits to get the week started
(The night sky above Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Burrell Schmidt Telescope. Courtesy KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J.Dai)
Things are looking up in Tucson
You’ve likely heard of Donut Trails, Cocktail Trails, Pie Trails and Barbecue Trails.
They are all good ways to explore a city or a region.
Now there’s an Astro Trailin Tucson, Arizona that highlights night sky viewing options.
Available as a web app and printed guide, the Astro Trail is billed as your “personal guide to the galaxy,” exploring all the dark-sky-related stops in Tucson.
The trail includes world-class astronomy institutes such as Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Richard F Caris Mirror Lab where the largest telescope lenses in the world are made, to casual stargazing at national and state parks.
We’re planning our trip there now.
San Diego Int’l Airport Presents Dance Performances Inspired by Travelers’ Stories
As part of San Diego International Airport’s (SAN) Performing Arts Residency Program, San Diego-based dance company Malahock Dance will present newly choreographed works in Terminal 2 West on January 27, 29, and February 3 at 2 p.m.
The dances are inspired by the diverse stories of nearly three dozen passengers who have traveled through the airport and reflect the dance company’s three-month residency inside the airport.
During the residency, the dancers talked with nearly 300 travelers and ultimately collected 30 oral histories from passengers of all ages about their San Diego experience. The dancers interpreted these histories into dance, developing their choreography in the airport where travelers and visitors could witness the creative process unfold.
Airports helping to save the earth
Airports pretty much everywhere are doing what they can these days to be light on the earth.
Recycling bins at airports were once a rare sight, but now you’ll see them pretty much everywhere.
But figuring out which bin to put your discards in can be confusing.
We’ve stood in front of bins trying to figure out if our coffee cup is compostable or recyclable. And what about the lid?
The airport uses an AI-assisted tool called Oscar, from Intuitive AI, that helps passengers sort waste items into the proper compost, recycling, or trash bins.
When someone walks up to the machine, which is mounted over the bins, they place an item in front of a camera for the system to analyze. Oscar then tells the user which bin to use to dispose of the item. For those worried about privacy, the cameras only capture images of the waste items presented and not the person presenting the item.
Look for the Oscar at SEA Airport in the Central Terminal, the North Concourse, the South Concourse near gate S2, and in the C Concourse near gate C17.
This is Oscar, the new AI waste-sorting technology that will help you sort your waste. When users walk up to the machine, they place an item in front of a camera for the system to analyze. Oscar then tells the user which bin to use to dispose of the item. 🗑️♻️ pic.twitter.com/1eWojZTkB7
California’s Long Beach Airport (LGB), which officially identifies as “America’s coolest airport,” is also doing its part to save the earth and recently shared this video about all the food waste it has been keeping out of landfills.
🌱 We’ve diverted 35 tons (70,000 lbs) of food waste from landfills since 2021, thanks to our food scrap recycling program with @PLshopdinefly! ♻️ Together, we’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions and turning scraps into compost. ➡️ https://t.co/R3i5LnTzwppic.twitter.com/M3mTE7GOR5
The airport marked its centennial year with special events, a new mural, a historic video series, a collectible series of vintage-style posters and branded giveaways.
But they’re not done yet.
The airport recently debuted a new trademarked slogan – america’s coolest airport –, interred a centennial time capsule and introduced pop-up pickleball courts for the holiday season.
The pickleball courts are offered in partnership with the City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine and are located just north of the Historic Terminal.
According to LGB officials, the two temporary pickleball courts will be activated periodically throughout the holidays.
We’re putting the Long Beach Airport pickleball courts in the running for Airport Amenit of the Week.
