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Stuck in the airport with the kids? No need to worry; here's some good news about traveler-friendly facilities and activities while you wait in the world's major airports.

It doesn't take a seer to predict there will be increasing air travel in the future. But it took a visionary to realize that turning airports into entertainment venues could diffuse many of the negative experiences -- from jet lag to air rage to security waits -- of plane travel. Despite the annoyances of increased airport and airline security since the Christmas Underwear Bomber, a pleasant terminal experience can make all the difference in your impression of flying.

America's Oases of Childhood

An A for effort goes to the following oases in an otherwise barren landscape of crowds, flight delays and aggravation. The Children's Museum of Chicago-designed playground in O'Hare International's Terminal 2 is the place restless youth can fuel a cargo plane, play pilot in their own cockpit, or just chill with LEGOs until departure time. The 2009 addition of technology lounges in Terminal 2 and 50 touch-screen computers throughout the airport means that kids can learn more about the city's attractions (courtesy of the tourist office) via interactive displays.

There's a PlayPort in Denver, and Boston's Logan and Pittsburgh International have equally impressive facilities for the public. Denver does a nice outlet of Wolfgang Puck for when the teens need more than McDonald's and Boston boasts about its new healthy fastfood outlet called UFood Grill. At Kahului on Maui, Hawai'i, the Maui Ocean Center operates an $80,000 aquarium whose colorful inhabitants help travelers pass the waiting time.

Recently, Cheapflights.com chose its top 10 most kid-friendly airports in America based on the numer of play areas, the number and quality of educational facilities (e.g. museums and local exhibits) and the number of entertainment-related venues.  Here are their picks:

1)     Chicago O’Hare
2)     Portland Oregon International
3)     San Francisco International
4)     Dallas-Ft. Worth International
5)     Orlando International
6)     Boston Logan International
7)     Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
8)     Las Vegas McCarran International
9)     Salt Lake City International
10)   Nashville International