Airport Zen | MSP Observation Deck – Minneapolis St. Paul

During the modhop Travel Cave remodel we need about a month of Zen. We’re on week #3, this time from the MSP observation deck  (Minneapolis St. Paul International). Take a  peek out these control tower-like windows, stare at (mostly) Delta planes and zone-out.

This small observation deck at MSP got a mention when I presented K-TWIN Radio with the “Top 7 Secret Spots at MSP” awhile back. The airport had just been chosen by the readers of  Travel + Leisure Magazine as best in the United States, so I was quick to brag about all the things that make it great. The observation deck came in at #6 on our list but looking back I wonder why it didn’t do better.

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If you’re a frequent modhop visitor, you might have gathered that MSP is my hometown airport (My current home airport is EWR, which starts with “EW” for a reason). MSP is where I learned that there’s a fancy room where there are comfortable chairs and food for frequent travelers  (Northwest WorldClub, RIP) and it’s where my grandfather taught me about the differences between all the different types of aircraft, mostly with red tails (NWA, RIP). But what’s always been the best part of this airport was it’s pre-911 loiterability. Places to hide, relax, shop and great spots like this one for staring at the miracle of modern flight.

The MSP observation deck remains a great place to get away from noisy crowds too. If you’ve got a flight departing the D or nearby C  gates, it’s a no-brainer BYO-Snacks mini-lounge. With great views of planes pulling in and out of the nearby concourses plus a full runway (and distant city) view, this is a great spot to show teach your kid differences between Airbus and Boeing planes or just kill time pre-flight. It’s drawbacks are that there are only so many seats lining the windows and that there’s only a single staircase leading to it making it an inaccessible space for those that can’t do stairs. It’s also after security, so you’ll have to be flying that day to enjoy it.