<p>My 16-year-old son, seven other teenage boys, and a chaperone (someone the kids like) will have a layover that is more than seven hours long at Washington, Dulles, on their way to a spring break band tour.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that the chaperone won’t be able or allowed to take the boys out of the airport, although I will ask if they could possibly go to the branch of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum that is so close to Dulles.</p>
<p>They’re still in the U.S., so they can use their cell phones. They’ll have decks of cards, of course. (I see Air Boingo Internet for $6. My son was not planning to bring a laptop, but maybe he can figure out how to get this set up on his itouch.) I can see them eating Cinnabons on and off for hours…</p>
<p>Any Dulles-specific or stuck-in-an-airport in general ideas for what they can do to kill time? </p>
<p>I was going to suggest the Air and Space Annex, but how does the chaperone feel about herding the boys through security again?
Portable DVD player and some movies; remind them to bring chargers for electronics in carry on bags.</p>
<p>The problem with taking the kids out of the airport to the museum is that those with small or medium-sized instruments will probably be carrying them, rather than having checked them in their baggage, and would have to take them along to that museum. Even a clarinet can get rather heavy if you have to carry it around a museum.</p>
<p>I would have suggested riding in the mobile lounges that take people between terminals, but it appears that they have mostly been replaced with a train that would also be fun, but it is not as unique an experience. If possible, the museum would be a great place to visit. Otherwise, either bring a laptop or go to one of the bookstores in the airport and buy a book. The airport’s shopping and dining guide can be found at <a href=“http://www.mwaa.com/file/shopdulles.pdf[/url]”>http://www.mwaa.com/file/shopdulles.pdf</a> . I take it that this is an international band trip? If so, there’s always duty free shopping, but like with airline lounges, I doubt how exciting or useful that would be for teenagers.</p>
<p>At some of the clubs, like the Red Carpet Club, for example, you can get a day pass for maybe $50 per person. Maybe that cost is prohibitive, but it is a quiet, calm environment with comfortable seating, free (not really free since you are paying) snacks and drinks, really nice restrooms, reading material, etc. With that long a layover, it might make sense.</p>
<p>Also, it’s a really safe place to leave your <em>stuff</em> if you want to go out into the other parts of the airport to do something else.</p>
<p>Definitely check out the Smithsonian. There should be educational group rates for the IMAX films, and some kind of education program may be on offer for that date. The website is going to be down for maintenance this weekend, so you may need to wait until Monday. Here’s the link to the group visit info. [National</a> Air and Space Museum Tours](<a href=“http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/tours/]National”>Visit the National Air and Space Museum) </p>
<p>What I can’t remember, is if there is a coat/suitcase check there. I’m almost positive that there is, but I may be wrong. They do have one of the fanciest McDonald’s I’ve ever seen, so the kids will like the food.</p>
<p>Thanks for the thoughts. In and out through security and the possibility that some kids will have carry on band instruments - messing with the kids’ passports - I think they’ll stay in the airport. </p>
<p>We have all of the band members’ itineraries and my husband noticed that after 3 or 4 hours a large group of band members will join them and they’ll do the second leg of the trip together. Once a group of more of their friends arrive, this will become a more interesting layover. </p>
<p>(I think small instruments go inside suitcases and large instruments are checked as luggage but I am sure some instruments are carry ons, too.)</p>