Anything to do in JFK on long layover

[calenita]

Not familiar with JFK. We have a long layover of about 5 hours. Is there anything "fun" to do in the airport. Or a gym or anything? Will be travelling with children - 13, 12, 8. Thanks all. Debbi

[megr1125]

not much to do....jfk isn't that great of an a/p. there's a food court and a day spa, and maybe free wireless (i forget...and i'm probably wrong!)

 

keep in mind that due to traffic in the sky, there are LOTS of arrival and departure delays...even if the weather in the whole GALAXY is perfect!

 

check this for more info...

 

www.panynj.com and click on airports, and JFK!

[echobay]

As the previous member commented there is not much to do. Depending on the airline, you may want to consider purchasing a one day pass to the airlines club. At least you will have a nicer place to sit, watch tv and maybe get a drink or snack.

[GTJ]

There's not much at the airport itself besides things airplane-related. While I haven't visited JFK recently, I did read that Terminal 5 recently completed its renovation and may be worth a visit. This is the former TWA Flight Center designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962. It is a New York City landmark and has just been restored (albeit with some controversy) by jetBlue as part of their new passenger terminal. This is an easy visit, though the kids might not see much to it.

 

www.jetblue.com/about/jfk

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_Center

 

If you have a little bit more of a sense of adventure, going off-airport is fairly easy. One option is to head north to Jamaica and, perhaps, Forest Hills. The AirTrain stops at or near every terminal at JFK. It takes 10 minutes to circle all the terminals and then 10 minutes to get to Jamaica station ($5 fare to Jamaica). In Jamaica you can visit the King Manor Museum, www.kingmanor.org, just a short walk away. You can also stroll downtown Jamaica (be forewarned, though, that this is a non-affluent and distinctly urban neighborhood). At the Jamaica station you can also get a subway train (the "E" train) to the nearby neighborhood of Forest Hills. This is just a 10 minute ride from Jamaica ($2 fare). In Forest Hills you can shop at the boutiques on Austin Street (one block south of the subway station), eat at one of several fine restaurants, stroll the gorgeous private streets of Forest Hills Gardens, and perhaps walk by the West Side Tennis Club (former home of the U.S. Open).

 

Another option from JFK is to head south to the beach. This time get AirTrain to the Howard Beach station. This trip also takes 10 minutes ($5 fare). At Howard Beach get the "A" train towards Far Rockaway ($2 fare). Go one stop to Broad Channel and change there for a Rockaway Park shuttle train. Alight at the last stop (Rockaway Park) and walk one block south to the boardwalk. Walk as far you want on the boardwalk (in the direction of decreasing street numbers), then go a block back north and get the subway back to JFK.

 

For detailed maps and schedules see the following.

www.panynj.gov/airtrain

www.mta.info