Reagan Washington National Airport

(More) Holiday Decor at an Airport Near You

A lot of people are going to be spending a lot of time in airports in the coming weeks. And while there may be long lines and lots of delays, at least there will be some lovely holiday decorations to look at.

We’re making a list (and checking it twice) of great holiday decor at airports. And we’re very curious about what’s on tap at Denver International Airport.

Airport news from here and there

MKE’s Coat Check service, holiday decor, & Santa sightings

Check your winter coat at MKE

One of the smartest, best, and most reasonably-priced seasonal airport amenities has returned for a third winter to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE): coat check service.

Offered in partnership with Paradies LagardĆØre inside the pre-security Summerfest
Marketplace, the service allows travelers heading to warm clime the option of checking their winter coats for just $2/day or $10 a trip. The service is available 7 days a week and will be offering through at least the beginning of winter.

Santa, elves, and more holiday fun at airports

Like many other travelers, we had to cancel our holiday flights due to COVID-19 concerns. But we’re still keeping an eye on all the fun things airports are rolling out to celebrate the season.

Here are few things we spotted on Wednesday.

And look at these snaps shared by Washington’s IAD & DCA Airports

Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) have done a great job of lighting and decorating the terminals. Thanks so much for sharing the slide show.

Old & new at TPA and DCA Airports + Places We’ll Go

Welcome to Stuck at The Airport.

Today we take a look back at some sweet photos from 50 years at Tampa International Airport (TPA). We get a look at some snaps from the new 14-gate concourse at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). And we put some new items on our “Places To Go” list – as soon as we’re allowed.

TPA celebrates 50 years

Tampa International Airport’s Main Terminal complex turned 50 years old on April 15. As part of the celebration, the airport put together this sweet video with great vintage images.  

Reagan National Airport debuts new concourse

There’s a new 14 gate, 225,000-square-foot concourse at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

Gates 46-59 will serve flights for American Airlines’ regional operations at DCA and give travelers amenity-filled waiting areas and direct, enclosed access to aircraft via jetbridges. This is a major upgrade from the previous set-up which involved shuttle buses out to the dreaded Gate 35X.

The new concourse has a panaramic views of the Washington, D.C. skyline, a variety of seating options with power plugs nearby, 14,000 square feet of concession space, four public restrooms, four moving walkways, two motherā€™s care rooms, an indoor pet relief area, and a new baggage handling system.

Here are some more photos shared by Reagan National Airport.

Places We’ll Go

Once we get the all-clear, we’re going to go. Everywhere.

Here are some places we’re putting on the list.

Celebrating James Brown in Augusta, GA

If soul legend James Brown was still with us, he’d turn 88 on May 3. His hometown of Augusta, GA will be the place to celebrate, with a citywide walking tour and an outdoor birthday block party.

Dollywood Flower & Food Festival

The Dollywood theme park in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee looks like fun. Especially if we could get there between April 23 and June 7 when more than half a million flowers will be blooming for the ā€œFlower & Food Festival.ā€

Poetry in Miami

The O, Miami Poetry Festival is underway through the month of April, with the goal of having people encounter, enjoy, and engage with poems in unlikely places. One of the projects, Poetry About Town, consists of “call-up” poems about two streets in Miami Dade County.

DCA: 5 Things We Love About Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Our ā€œ5 Things We Love Aboutā€¦ā€ series continues today with some of the features and amenities at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Address-wise, DCA Airport is in Virginia. But it is just a 20-minute Metro ride from the airport to the National Mall and all the free Smithsonian Institution museums.

Keep in mind that some of the amenities we love at DCA may be temporarily unavailable due to health concerns. We are confident they will be back.

And donā€™t forget to take a look at some of the other airports profiled in the ā€œ5 Things We Love Aboutā€¦ā€ series.                           

5 Things We Love About Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

1. The views of Washington, D.C.ā€™s monuments

Nice, right?

Aviation geeks who would rather look at airplanes than landscape and monuments know what Gravelly Point Park sits at the end of DCAā€™s longest runway and offers great plane spotting opportunities.

2. The Historic DCA Lobby

DCA Opening Day – June 16, 1941

Washington National Airport opened for business on June 16, 1941 with service from two airlines: American and Eastern.

Back then the facility was ā€œultramodernā€ in terms of building design, air traffic control, and convenience.

Today, the historic Terminal A lobby still feels swanky, in that 1940s way.

You’ll also find photos from the earlier era along the wall in the hallway to the west of the lobby and, nearby, an exhibit area with artifacts and information from Abingdon, a colonial plantation that once stood on the airportā€™s grounds.

3.  Benā€™s Chili Bowl restaurant

DCA has a branch of Ben’s Chili Bowl, a landmark restaurant in Washington, D.C. known for chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes.

4. The Art at DCA

Floor medallion DCA by Frank Stella
Floor medallion – Sol Lewitt
Floor medallion by Michele Oka Doner

Art is an integral part of Terminal B/C, which was designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli.

The permanent artwork includes ten floor medallions on the concourse; 11 balustrades that overlook the concourse; 5 murals; 2 stained glass friezes and more.

5. The Rocking Chair Lobby in Terminal A

We love any airport that has rocking chairs. Don’t you?

Did we miss some of your favorite features or amenities at DCA ā€“ Ronald Regan Washington National Airport?

Let us know in the comments section below.

Airport police host National Night Out events

Police departments – including airport police departments – join with their neighborhoods each August 7Ā  to hold National Night Out events to encourage neighbors to get to know each other and to create safer places to live.

The street I used to live on held a picnic each year during Natoinal Night Out and one neighbor rented a bouncy house for the kids. Each year we shared phone numbers and emails. We introduced ourselves around and chose a street captain.

And when there was a serious issue on our block – or if someone just noticed that someone else had left their car lights on – we knew how to get in touch with our neighbors.

So if your street is hosting an event, I strongly encourage you to out there and say hi.

If you’re flying somewhere,Ā stop and chat with airport police and others looking out for your safety.Ā  National Night Out events planned forĀ Washington Dulles International Airport,Ā Washington’s Reagan National Airport Ā andĀ Los Angeles International Airport.

And don’t be shy about approaching those airport officers. As we’re learning from their entertaining entries in the viral police lip sync challenge, many airport police teams have a great sense of humor.

Know of another airport hosting a National Night Out event? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list.