Waypoints | STOPS ALONG THE WAY
Fort Worth, TX: FTW
While most commercial air passengers flood the nearby metropolis of Dallas, a landing at nearby Ft. Worth will put you squarely in the city that Will Rogers proclaimed, is “where the west begins.”
Start by landing at Texas Jet, which is operated out of an old American Airways terminal, and you’ll be greeted by warm, spiced cider in front of a roaring fireplace. The staff will happily loan you a crew car, whether for a couple of hours to do laundry or a couple of days while stranded by weather.
On occasions when there is no crew car available, the line crew will drive you where you need to go, sometimes in their own cars.
One notable feature of Fort Worth is the Stockyards National Historic District, covering 15 city blocks near the downtown area. The area features authentic western saloons, restaurants and other family-friendly amusements, and there is even a daily cattle drive.
For a more modern stay, visit the downtown cultural area, which features several excellent hotels, a lively nightlife with clubs and bars, and several fine restaurants all within a few blocks of one another. The nicest downtown hotel is the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, which has a stately, wood and glass lobby and the most fantastic bed sheets of any hotel on the planet. Truly worth the experience.
Westhampton, NY: FOK
Most people heading to the “Hamptons” ignore this former Air Force base in favor of airports in East Hampton or Montauk. But locals know if you want to catch an ad-hoc
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air show or sample some of the best casual cajun cuisine in the northeast, Westhampton’s Gabreski Airport is the place to be.
The airport was built in 1943 as a base for the U.S. Air Force and it is now owned by the county. Three runways, including a 9,000-foot strip, sit adjacent to an aging terminal building that brings memories of a bygone era. The airport is currently home to the 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard, which is responsible for air/sea rescue operations.
But perhaps the best-known, unknown feature of Gabreski is Belle’s Café, a casual dining eatery attached to the side of the terminal building that is known throughout the area for its mis-matched chairs, live music and outstanding cajun cuisine.
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Mansfield, OH: MFD
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Mansfield is one of the odd locations that is great for certain things, lousy for others. In general, if you land during the day, it can be a great stop-over. If you touch down at night after the FBO has closed, it can be a living hell.
Mansfield’s main attraction is an on-field restaurant, the Flying Turtle, which is quite good and an excellent stop for lunch or a famed $100 Hamburger. If you’re staying overnight, you’ll want to stay at one of several decent chain hotels near the mall, because there are several decent chain restaurants within walking distance.
Mansfield’s main detraction is that the only FBO on the field does not have courtesy cars and it closes fairly early, 10 or 11 pm. The only taxi company in town runs a beat-up series of wrecks. Rates fluxuate depending on the dispatcher’s mood. Get a rental car and arrive when the FBO is open, and you should be fine.
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