Families are traveling with children by land and sea

But Disney found another more civilized way for families to travel together with the delightful cruise ships the Magic and Wonder that sail the Caribbean for four or seven nights with great programs for children of all ages. Particularly since the tragedy of 9/11, I've received reports that there has been a great surge in whole families traveling together. Even domestic and foreign airports are offering families special kid-friendly programs featuring appropriate entertainment, services and activities. Chicago's O'Hare (purported to be the world's busiest airport), recognized the need to keep the children occupied while waiting for take-offs. They had the city's children's museum create a unique hands-on exhibit featuring an air-traffic control tower, a helicopter, a cargo plane and luggage carousal. It is now the popular "Kids on the Fly" attraction. Not to be outdone, San Francisco International has a children's section with an aquarium, weather displays from the city's interactive science museum called the Exploratorium and 40 rotating presentations on a gamut of world-wide costumes and puppets. The Canadian city of Calgary has more than the famous Stampede or Rodeo. It has the Calgary International Airport with the spectacular KidsPort that features a SpacePort with displays of NASA shuttles, moon rocks, and jet plane and spacecraft simulators. As long as the children have their special play areas and new things to see and do, airport planners are trying to make layovers somewhat more family friendly. Video games are the mantra of the other popular Canadian city's airport of Vancouver. This airport is the gateway to Alaska and has these games scattered throughout the airport. Fisher Price, the prevalent children's toy manufacturer, together with Step 2 and Keebee, are the sponsors of play sites, changing stations and a nursery with cribs for napping infants.Additionally, I found that the European airports of Amsterdam Schiphol, London Gatwick, Athens International and Munich International to be concerned with the well being of family travelers as well as good shopping for shopaholics like me. And I enjoyed wandering through an airport branch of the famous Rijksmuseum, viewing the fabulous Dutch masterpieces while the youngsters preferred the free video games. Free short-term childcare was a plus at Athens International, provided by a local nonprofit organization named appropriately, "The Smile of a Child" in the Children's Creative Entertainment area. London Gatwick offers a tour of one of their historic airliners and the nose cone of a Comet jet and a multimedia show about the goings on at the airport. Lastly, Munich International is a favorite with the children for its MovieRide that simulates a space roller coaster and a treat for parents with an offer of free supervised child care for the kiddies three through ten years of age.The Asia Pacific airports have some extraordinary features. Auckland in New Zealand boasts of mini golf fairways just beyond the terminal in addition to the usual baby facilities, dayrooms, recreation areas and the ubiquitous video games. Imagine a garden and a Sky Deck where kids can stretch their legs and run around at Japan's Nagoya Centrair. There are also relaxation facilities at this airport, including a napping room and a bath with a view. On the way to Beijing, my stopover in Tokyo's Narita airport provided me with many costly shopping opportunities that I avoided. But I did note the children's playrooms with ample games, toys, colorful blocks, and safety features like padded benches. For those long layovers, Singapore Changi Airport has a rooftop pool and movie theater to provide many hours of entertainment, as well as opportunities to rent by the hour in-transit hotels for the weary parents and children to catch some shut-eye.I have just singled out some airport family friendly programs, but there are many others hard at work planning to provide families with some of the onsite amenities highlighted in this column. My next column will deal with destinations that have the welcome mat out for the younger set traveling with their parents and grandparents. © Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@verizon.net