girl standing at windowIt’s summer, and that means family vacations and packed airports.

Before security lines, bag checks and long waits make you (and your tired kids) lose your cool, check your departure and arrival airports for kid-pleasing features that might keep ease some of the frustration of traveling with little ones.

In 2007, members of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) were asked which airports are the most “family friendly.”

It’s probably no surprise that Orlando International Airport won, and won big (it received 41.7 percent of the total vote).

Orlando is one of the most kid-friendly cities in the world, and Orlando International Airport is the main airport that leads to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World, not to mention the other major attractions in Central Florida.

The airport features an open, airy design, indoor trees, large aquariums and classical music. It also has video games, shops that represent most of the local theme parks and attractions, life-size sculptures of sleeping tourists and Disney characters, and seating areas that are perfect for families to sit and play games or eat together.

The second-place airport in the survey was Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, with 4.6 percent of the vote. This airport has kid play areas, televisions, a dinosaur exhibition and a children’s art gallery.

London’s Heathrow was at the top of ASTA’s international list because of its many baby feeding and changing rooms, play areas and arcades. Getting around this complicated airport can be difficult, though, and finding these child-friendly amenities can be impossible.

airport waitingAmsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was the second choice for international travel, with slides, cartoons, Legos and educational computer games available to child travelers.

Tampa International Airport was another notable choice on the list for its three kids’ play areas (and two more on the way). The different concourses have different attractions, such as a climbing wall in Concourse E and miniature WWII airplanes in Concourse C. The airport even offers birthday parties for local children, including scavenger hunts!

Chicago’s O’Hare Airport made the list, as well. The airport has an interactive kids’ play area designed by the Chicago Children’s Museum. It allows children to pretend to be airport employees and air traffic controllers. The area also includes a four-story-tall brachiosaur from the Field Museum.

Other airports on the list include Boston’s Logan Airport, Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, Mineta San José International Airport in California, Frankfurt International Airport in Germany, and even Kuala Lampur Airport in Malaysia.

For more information, check out The Complete Travel Detective Bible, available in bookstores near you.

Read even more tips from Peter’s latest book.

Learn more about air travel in our Airlines & Airports category.