Barnes Municipal (BAF)

Westfield, MA (3 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 271

Barnes is a large field full of weekend warriors. There is a small cafe on the field that specializes in healthy, good food. Try Popeye’s omelette. The folks in the tower appreciated our visit and were more than willing to explain their radar screen and other gadgets. (10/89)

Tanner-Hiller (8B5)

Barre/Barre Plains, MA (4 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 584

Tanner-Hiller has a restaurant with very good food on the field, as well as a swimming pool, although we never saw anyone swimming in it. Glider operations abound, so watch carefully. Fuel is self-serve, be ready to pump your own. (gv/ked 9/94)

Southbridge Municipal (3B0)

Southbridge, MA (2 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 697

A real old-fashioned shiny aluminum diner is on the field; the food is great, the pie fantastic. You can get a taxi into Old SturbridgeVillage, a New England Colonial village. (gv/ked 95)

Provincetown Municipal (PVC)

Provincetown, MA (2 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 8

Here’s one for you! Take your kites, walk over the dunes (on the walkways, please) and enjoy a day at the beach. There are bath houses and showers on the state beach. Walk into town (or pay the taxi fee) and have lunch at the Red Inn all the way through town to the end. If you don’t want to walk that far, there are many restaurants with outdoor seating. The whale watch rides take ~4 hours and we even saw a whale! There’s plenty to see just walking around town. The Blessing of the Fleet in May brings out parades and plenty of folks, all guarded by policemen on bicycles. (gv/ked/dd/md 95)

New Bedford Regional (EWB)

New Bedford, MA (2 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 80

There is a very helpful FBO (Nor East) on the field who will loan you a car to get into town for only the cost of keeping it fueled. Although the city is close by, you really need a taxi to get through the industrial section of town. A number of great seafood restaurants are on the point...Davy’s Locker is one of them. The whaling museum is highly recommended. Another nice restaurant, in town and close to the Whaling Museum, is Freestone’s.
(gv/ked 3/96)

Nantucket Memorial (ACK)

Nantucket, MA (3 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 48

Nantucket is yet another summer resort island off the coast of Massachusetts. There are taxis and rental cars available at the airport. Once you get to town, you can rent bicycles to tour the island. There is a restaurant at the airport, but there are better ones in town. Shops abound, and you can pick up a famous ACK hat! The beaches are beautiful at any time of the year. In April, they hold a Daffodil Festival which turns the town yellow and green. (gv/ked 4/96)

Plum Island (2B2)

Newburyport, MA (1 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 11

Walk into Newburyport (but the taxi ride is cheaper and quicker and leaves you enough energy) to look around carefully at the old architecture. Some houses date to the 1700s. Several restaurants have good seafood, including the Grog House and Michael’s (which looks out on the mouth of the Merrimac River—very nice in the summer with all the boats!). The town is a restored seaport and has a museum, several shops, and plenty of interesting walking. Try a whale watch ride if you have the time. Be careful of the bird sanctuary to the southeast of the field and the ultra-lights in right patterns. (gv/ked/ds 7/96)

Martha’s Vineyard (MVY)

Vineyard Haven, MA (3 mi)
NY Sectional
Elevation: 68

Martha’s Vineyard is a summer resort island. Taxis are available for the drive to Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven (about 3 miles). Gay Head is on the western tip and the cost of the taxi ride is prohibitive ($35 one way) with very little in the way of good food to justify the cost of the ride. The area is pretty however, and there’s even a nude beach for the daring. The best buy is a car rental. In Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown, you can rent bicycles to tour the island. There are several good places to eat as well as beautiful beaches. You might also try Katama Airport, a grass strip close to Edgartown and just off the beach. (gv/ked/ds 7/96)

Hyannis, MA (1 mi)
New York Sectional
Elevation: 55

This may not seem like much in the way of big airports, but Hyannis has the best Clam Chowder east of the Mississippi. Mitchell’s Restaurant is just across from the front gate of the airport. If you walk, crossing the rotary can be exciting. Mildred’s is closer to Hyannis Air and also has good chowder and stews. What more could you ask for on a cold winter day? If you go during the summer, the field (we hear) gets very crowded, and you have to fight your way across the streets through the summer traffic jams. The Cape Cod Potato Chip factory is at the end of the east -west runway. You can’t walk as easily but it is a neat place to tour, and they give samples away! You can also walk into the town of Hyannis, down to the harbor, or visit the JFK Memorial (lots of memorabilia). Good restaurants here, too. (gv/ked 11/96)

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