The Perfect Layover

I’m often asked, “What’s been your favorite layover?”

My answer to my question is honest, but likely disappointing to the asker, “Any layover that’s over 24 hours.”

Generally, that’s true. I usually have great fun on 24 hour layovers, and no single layover stands out above the rest. (I think Kona probably had the potential to stand out above the rest, but I was ill for most of that layover, so it didn’t really shine like it could have!) However, on those 24 hour layovers, it tends to be less about where I am, and more about finding a balance to how I spend my time that will turn a good layover into a great one.

I just had what I would consider the perfectly layover in Baltimore. Here were the factors:

1. 24 hours. Yes, the key to a perfect layover is having at least 24 hours to have fun.
2. In the city/near a point of interest. Most of the time my company puts us in the middle of the city so that we can explore when we have longer layovers. But sometimes they put us quite a bit outside the city, which means that I have to figure out a way into the city and waste a lot of time getting from the hotel to the city. This perfect layover had me in a great area in the city so I didn’t have to waste time riding in/out of the city.
3. Activities. For me the perfect layover will have a balance of solo activities and activities with others. I’ll tell you about the perfect balance of activities below.

Here are the activities that were important to me on my recent trip to Baltimore (And what generally matters on a layover):

1. Exercise. I ran 11 miles (5 miles one day, 6 the next). I would have liked to lift weights, but the hotel gym was locked and even the staff couldn’t get into the gym when I asked! (However, I would have missed out on activity #2 if I had been lifting weights, so I guess it worked out for me).
2. Community Activities. I loooooove finding free community activities to participate in while on layover. Most often, I go to free concerts (I assume those will be less frequent as we enter fall and winter), but there have also been parades, outdoor movies, etc. In Baltimore, I ran down to Fort McHenry, which commemorates the writing of the star spangled banner. I made it in time to participate in a flag raising ceremony in which we lowered the modern day flag and hoisted the 15 stars 15 stripes flag that would have been what Francis Scott Key saw when he wrote The Star Spangled Banner. It was super cool! The ranger did a great job teaching us about the history!
3. Time with an Old Friend. My FAVORITE thing about traveling around North America is getting to see old friends! A huge thank you to my friend, Matt, who came to see me!
4. Time with my Crew. I typically enjoy hanging out with my crew as long as I get some alone time as well, and as long as I don’t have to spend too much money. I had a great crew on this trip and enjoyed a chat and a beer with the three other flight attendants in our hotel bar.
5. Time to Explore on my Own. I’ve begun to realize that while I’m extremely extroverted and love being around people, I feel like I miss out on the experience of really getting to know a city when I don’t get to explore it at least a bit on my own. When I’m with others, I get distracted with conversation so I don’t truly still enough to soak in the city, or won’t want to make them stop to take pictures or see the things I’m interested in. I really like getting to wander and explore on my own!
6. Watching Naked and Afraid. This is my new TV obsession. I never get to watch it at home (we don’t have cable or streaming services), and most of our layover hotels don’t have the Discovery Channel, so I’m always pretty stoked when I get to watch an episode or two!

So there you have it, the perfectly balanced layover. Some old friends, some new friends, some exercise time, some exploration time, and of course, Naked and Afraid.