A golf range? Furniture shopping? Fun ways to pass the time at MSP Airport

July 25, 2017 at 6:53PM
Peter Sartorio of Menlo Park at the PGA Golf Experience at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - October 19, 2016, Bloomington, MN, Minneapolis St. Paul International has long carried its weight amongst national airports. Now, with a flurry of hot new restaurants, shops and tap rooms descending. MSP
PGA Golf Experience (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Time on your hands? Here are some great ways to pass the time.

Hit the links: Debuting in March 2015, the PGA's Total Golf Experience encompasses more than 12,000 square feet in a second-floor location that many travelers whiz right past. The facility offers six simulated golf ranges — programmed with some of the world's top courses — that use all the same technology as the Golf Channel, as well as a full teaching bay for instructions and breaking down the elements of a swing on film in real time.

Find it: Above Ike's in the Airport Mall; pgamsp.com.

Shop: There is a flurry of new options — an iStore, Flirt Boutique (lingerie), Adventure North (an outdoors store), Kiehl's (hair and skin care), Frivolous in the Airport Mall, Inspired Life + Art (jewelry and pottery), Words (a bookstore) in Concourse C, a reinvigorated Duty-Free haven in Concourse D, Lolli and Pops (candy) in Concourse F, and Altitude (casual wear) in Concourse G. The shopping scene has never been better.

Storytime: Sadly, the family-favorite Red Balloon Bookshop has closed, but Open Book has a dedicated children's area where an entrancing read just might keep the kids happy.

Find it: Airport Mall; openbookmn.org

Play the lottery: Feeling lucky? Stop by the Minnesota State Lottery stand for scratch-off tickets, pulltabs and other games.

Find it: Airport Mall; mnlottery.com

Take a walk: A few years ago, MSP started marketing a "walking path" as an idea for getting your blood pumping while you're stuck inside those walls. The 1.4-mile "loop" marks every tenth-mile on the overhead signs. Pro tip: Lock up your luggage while you stroll near C2 and the entrance to Concourse F.

Find it: "Start" is at the intersection of the C and D concourses. The path weaves around the G concourse and through the Airport Mall.

Burn calories while working: Have computer work to be done but your legs are itching to stretch? Climb atop one of the free Walkway Workstation treadmills for a slow jaunt while you power up.

Find it: Near gates F3 and C12.

Take in some culture: The Thomson Reuters Gallery typically rotates exhibits twice a year. The Employee Art Show — 200 works by MSP employees and their family members in amateur, intermediate and professional categories — is the current display. Next up: a Super Bowl LI exhibit.

Find it: Near the entrance to Concourse C. There are also hanging exhibits in Concourses E, F and C; Terminal 2; and Terminal 1's Airport Mall.

about the writer

about the writer

Amelia Rayno

Features reporter

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