Kids love airplanes, and the Northshore has two airports where they can see them up-close

Visiting two North Shore airports to watch planes take off and land is a fun way to spend a few hours doing something different with children. While most kids love pointing to airplanes when they are far overhead, imagine the fun taking them where they can see them up-close? You’ll all have fun pointing out aircraft and the differences between them, and by the activities on and off the runways.

Visiting two North Shore airports: taking wing in Beverly

Beverly Regional Airport’s main administration building is located on the east side of the airport, accessible off of Route 97, just north of Route 128’s Exit 45 in Beverly, MA. You’ll find a picnic table located at the north end of the administration building, providing a good vantage point for take-offs and landings, in addition to the to-and-fro of owners and mechanics towing planes. To add to the fun, pick a nice day and, before heading to the Airport, stop at Nick’s Famous Roast Beef in North Beverly for a sandwiches and make it a runway-side picnic. Weekend mornings tend to be the busiest times for take offs and landings, but business jets use the airport regularly throughout the week as well.

FUN FACT: SCCA auto races were held at Beverly Airport in 1955 and 1956. The inaugural races were held on July 4, 1955, and Phil Hill was the overall champion.

Beverly Regional Airport
50 L P Henderson Road
Beverly, MA
beverlyairport.com

The airport in North Andover features a restaurant

A bit further north you’ll find Lawrence Municipal Airport on a flat bluff in North Andover. It is the second busiest general aviation airport in Massachusetts. With a flight school there for both airplanes and helicopters, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see take offs and landings.

As you enter the main building, you’ll walk right into Dominic’s Diner. It’s a popular spot for breakfast or lunch, and provides a nice place to enjoy a meal with kids while observing the runway traffic. There is outside seating in the summer, getting everyone closer to the action. On our last visit, a Burlington, MA, girl’s basketball team was there celebrating a win.

Here, too, weekend mornings tend to be the busiest times for take offs and landings, but business jets use the airport regularly throughout the week as well.

FUN FACT: In 2016 the Terrafugia Transition, a flying car developed by MIT students, was demonstrated at Lawrence Municipal Airport.

Lawrence Municipal Airport
492 Sutton Street
North Andover, MA
lawrencemunicipalairport.com