If you’ve ever been stuck at an airport, then this site about airports and airport amenities is for you.

Here’s why it exists:

I once spent eight hours at a small east coast airport waiting for a flight home to Seattle. I read the newspaper, finished a book, ate old vending machine food, and inspected the three model airplanes displayed in the lobby – twice.

Eventually I noticed a tiny green sign with a faded arrow and the even fainter words, “Obs. Deck” on it. I followed the arrow, pushed opened a heavy door, and entered a large room with leather chairs and a great view onto the airfield and the surrounding countryside.

Right there I decided there needed to be a guide to airports and airport amenities. So I began visiting airports in search of observation decks, art and cultural exhibits, restaurants with creative menus, shops with gift-worthy inventory, and places where travelers could take naps, take care of business, or just get some fresh air.

A lot of what I found ended up in a book titled Stuck at the Airport that was published in 2001, just eight weeks before the events of 9/11. After that, airports and air travel changed so much and so fast that it just made sense to use the Internet to share this information.

For seven years I profiled airports for Expedia.com. Now I write the weekly Well-Mannered Traveler column on MSNBC.com. I write a monthly column about airports for USATODAY.com. And I write about air travel for MSN.com and other outlets.

Now there’s Stuck at the Airport for a growing list of airport profiles and news and notes about airports and airport amenities you’ll be glad to know about the next time you’re stuck at the airport.

Harriet Baskas