Best "little" airports?

[aero99]

What are some of the better aiports around the country to fly to for fun?

Thinking about planning a cross country to hit about 10-15 different states for site seeing and vacationing.

Resorts, Fly-in communities, anything not "Big City".

I know some of you out there have been to some interesting spots on the map. Tried to find a good website with no real luck other than the burger stops.

 

[surfnole]

Cedar Key Florida, on the west coast west of Gainesville. No facilities on the field, but a lady will pick you up in an huge old 1940s/1950s car and drive you to town about 1 mile away.

Venice Beach Florida, a free cab ride (five dollar tip usually) to Sharkey's restaurant right on the Gulf of Mexico. Watch the sunset over the water.

Walker's Key Bahamas. Just 30-45 minutes off the coast of Ft. Pierce. Nothing there but a runway, a little marina and a hotel. Great fishing and diving (including the shark rodeo - go diving with sharks during a .

Bimini Bahamas, less than 30 minutes off the coast of Miami.

Lakeland Florida has a good..CHEAP restaurant right on the field. All the locals go there.

 

[jaybird]

West Coast FL

I second Cedar Key. Also Cross City not too far away. They have a pig there and you can buy it a beer and it opens it and drinks it too. Crystal River is close by also. They have springs that you can swim in and the river leads right to the Gulf of Mexico. They just re-did the runway, and they have a grass strip too. All of these airports are within 40 miles of each other. PM me for specifics.

 

[bigD]

In CA - Santa Paula and Oceano.

In TX - Llano for BBQ at Coopers.

In AZ - Sedona.

 

[TX_Pilot]

AMEN to BigD's post about the stop in Llano. Coopers is worth the trip. Going all the way down there from the panhandle tomorrow as a matter of fact.

McGehees Catfish also. Just across the Red River north of Gainesville, TX.

 

[c172]

Up here in the northeast

How far north are you planning to fly?Northeast P.A. is a real nice place to stop . A real nice airport to stop at is 9n3. Stop in and say hi to Billy NICE GUY !!!!

 

[chperplt]

If you head far north, BHB and RKD are very nice scenic trips in the spring and summer.

 

[Sinca3]

Well in the S.E.

I would have to say St. Simons Island about 1/2 between JAX and SAV is a great little airport. They have a courtesy car you can take into downtown about 5 min away.
Have to 2nd or 3rd the Cross City airport just to see the pig!
Also Catalina island off the CA coast is alot of fun to fly into.

 

[navigator72]

come to Maine

come to maine....Sanford (sfm) has a nice little restuarant. The head up the coastline to Rockland (RKD) then a little further downeast to Bar Harbor (BHB) Say Hi to the girls at Acadia Air, borrow the van and head into town for a lobsta-roll.
Goodluck, can I come with you?

 

[prodigal]

live to fly and fly to eat!

I strongly second St. Simon's Island (GA). It's worth the trip just to eat at Barbara Jean's . . . best seafood I've ever eaten, and I've eaten a lot.
Also second Sedona-breathtaking. In that same vein, try Grand Canyon West. Breathtaking approach from over the Canyon; stop and have an Indian taco.
In Albuquerque fly into Coronado and get a crew car and drive down to Sadies on 4th. St. NW for some killer carne adovado.
Also in the SE try FQD, Rutherford Co., NC. Great little cafe on the field, the 27A Cafe. Gotta have the banana pudding for desert.
True story: a while back someone broke into the 27A and the only thing they stole was the banana pudding!
Have fun.

 

[Av8trxx]

While the pig sounds really cool, an awesome lil spot to stop into is the "Flying W Ranch"- N14 in Lumberton, NJ. I used to do ferry flights there from San Diego from time to time and it has everything: a remodeled motel, a bar & restaurant, tennis courts, golf course and even an aircraft shaped pool with a refreshment deck!

Check it out http://www.flyingwairport.com/

 

[TurboS7]

My favorite is SAN, you can sit on that little cafe on top of the FBO and watch all the jets and little guys land. It is not a little airport but since it only has one runway maybe it will qualify

 

[MetroSheriff]

Catalina Island - try the buffalo burgers

Santa Barbara - burgers at the Elephant Bar (not small)

Harris Ranch (CA) - great steak dinners (real short strip)

Llano (TX) - bbq

Just for starters...


Just

 

[bigD]

Added bonus of the Elephant Bar at Santa Barbara:

Hot UCSB Sorority girls as waitresses.

 

[ShawnC]

If you are looking for a good aviation airport, I would also visit Spruce Creek(7FL6), its just south of DAB. You will see so many cool aircraft, and there are many formation flights that they fly during the weekend. Call ahead and you can probally arange a tour.

Oh yeah St. Augstine is a good place to stop too. You can see some nice looking Extras there. If you stop by Aerosport, look for Matt Edson (airplane nut, and excellent aerobatics pilot), and say hi to Angie if they are there.

Sorry for the edit, wanted to add a little more and didn't feel like adding another post to the list.

 

[TurboS7]

Big Bear-SoCal-another great place for a burger run. My wife flew me in there right after she got her private in Illinois, she was impressed.

 

[TurboS7]

McAllen, TX another great one, you can walk to the mall from the airport. Less than 1/4 mile.

 

[rudderdog]

I-39 ........... there's no place like home.

 

[SeaBass]

If you make it to the great lakes area....

KMCD - Mackinaw Island...good clean family fun, known for the abundance of fudge shops, forts and horsedrawn carriages.

3W2 - Put-In-Bay, Ohio...take all of the fudgeshops on Mackinaw Island and replace them with bars and that is 3W2. (Still a lot of fun even if you are not drinking.) Lots of history for this area, we kicked the British's arse during the war of 1812 in Lake Erie at this spot.

Enjoy!

SeaBass

 

[Ravengirl]

I second these

Definitely try Catalina and Santa Barbara, they're both amazing, especially in the summer. Catalina is a beautiful flight in late afternoon. See if you can spot buffalo when you take off out of there. The backside of the island is a great photo op if that's your thing.

Santa Barbara is nice in the morning after the haze burns off. Go to Mercury Aviation there, they have some WONDERFUL cookies inside =). If you go in over the water, be prepared for some breathtaking views, especially if there's a red tide, the ocean will be every color of the rainbow, and you'll only be 1000' above it!

I love Big Bear too, but you might not want to go there in the summer. The density altitude will try to keep you there once you fly in. I went with my instructor in a 152 in July once, and our climb rate heading out was a pathetic 50' per minute. There's a meadow at the east end of the airport, and once you clear the trees, you'll circle, and circle...and circle...and circle...but I will admit, the approach in over Big Bear Lake is something you must see!

Can you tell I like the airports around here?

Stephanie

 

[Av8trxx]

SBA

People always mention the Elephant Bar, but the Beachside Cafe offers great food and a much better location! Just exit Mercury Air Center, go right and walk up the road, then down the bike path and over to the beach. The Cafe is at the base of the pier and is a 10 minute walk from the FBO. They have indoor & outdoor seating (with a fire pit).

The Beachside Bar-Café
5905 Sandspit Road
Goleta, CA 93117
Phone: 805-964-7881
Hours: M-Thurs 11:30am-10:00pm, F 11:30am-10:30pm, Sat 11:00am-10:30pm, Sun 11:00am-10:00pm

 

[hobbsmeter]

Cedar Key

I have to agree with Surfnole about Cedar Key, it's a wonderful little place to visit. There's a few seafood restaurants and shops on the waterfront to go to, and the biggest thrill for me when I went was looking down and seeing dolphins playing in the water, what a sight.
Keep us posted on your journey, have fun!

 

[snoopy_1]

KBLM on any weekend in the summer.

 

[aero99]

WOW!, I have a lot of homework to do on airnav.com it looks like. Thanks for all the responses!

Just curious if anyone has flown into Grassvally (O17). It is just west of TVL.

Also, I have heard that TVL can be very tricky for first timers. Is this true and if so, what are the issues?

Thanks again guys!

 

[clearprop]

Grass Valley

Sure, I've been into O17 many times. Not much at the field but there is a bus/trolley into town for $1. I fly out of AUN just to the south and there is a decent restaurant there. It's always busy on nice weekends. And remember that the CTAF at O17 is now 122.725. Don't know if it will show up on the new chart due out later this month.

 

[aero99]

Have some family just about 10 min drive from there....

Would you recommend O17 vs. TVL since O17 is a 10 minute drive vs. an hour?

 

[stingray]

TEX Telluride, CO the approach into there is an awesome site, at 9,000+MSL strait into the Rockies. better then Eagle or Aspen
Anyways i was also thinking APF Naples, FL how many of you have gone in there for the Ribs (Michelbob's)

 

[MetroSheriff]

I forgot to mention Half Moon Bay (HMB) on the other side of the hill from SFO. Beautiful scenery, and a two minute walk to the Shorebird Inn Restaurant. Not cheap but DYNOMITE seafood. Park the a/c in the transient parking and stroll down the dirt path thru the trees in corner, you will be right on the wharf. Also try Marys crabshack sitting on the pier. Great food, real cheap.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

South Lake Tahoe (TVL) - Don't hit the mountains and you'll be OK! Straight-in approach to rwy36 from Echo Summit is a chop-and-drop type operation. When departing towards Echo Summit, make climbing 360's over the golf course before tackling the pass.

Carmel Valley and Monterey. Chicks really dig both these areas. Great scenery. Carmel Valley can be a little tricky. Short runway and possible moving obstacles on the runway (5 points for the joggers!).

Santa Barbara - Can't say enough good things about this place. If you stay overnight anywhere near the wharf, be prepared to shell out some bucks. E-bar, beach and UCSB are great attractions.

Columbia - In California just east of Stockton in the Sierra Nevada gold country. Restored gold mining town a 10 minute nature walk from the airport. Camping facilities and showers on the field. Only about 2,300'MSL. Firefighting ops (S-2's and others during summer takeoff on rwy17 and land on rwy34). Great place to visit.

Chino- in S. California. Lots of restored warbirds. Go on a weekend and see the dozens of airplanes being restored. Planes of fame Air Museum on field.

Friday Harbor

 

[MetroSheriff]

Columbia - In California just east of Stockton in the Sierra Nevada gold country. Restored gold mining town a 10 minute nature walk from the airport. Camping facilities and showers on the field. Only about 2,300'MSL. Firefighting ops (S-2's and others during summer takeoff on rwy17 and land on rwy34). Great place to visit.

Agreed, great spot, while you are there, hop over the hill to Pine Mountain Lake.

Chino- in S. California. Lots of restored warbirds. Go on a weekend and see the dozens of airplanes being restored. Planes of fame Air Museum on field.

Friday Harbor

Neat sights at Chino, but the smell...sheesh, bring your own O2. LOL