Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Nashville, TN

How To Watch Planes Without Going Through Security

by Meredith Pelham

We just returned from a 2-week trip, and I'm not sure I'll ever do it again--no matter how exciting the airport action was to my preschoolers!

My smart friend Tracy's kids love airplanes, too.  But they've figured out a way to have all of the fun without any of the hassle.  Here's how:

"We make up a picnic lunch or dinner and head to a parking lot that borders the airport. We fold down the seats in the van and we all romp around the van while watching airplanes take off and land. We race to see who can be the first to spot the next plane arriving and talk about where they might be headed. This often gives Mamma some time to catch up on magazine reading."

(You can read more of Tracy's frugal family ideas here.)

So how do you find a parking lot with the best view?  Gone are the days when you could lie on a blanket just outside the runway!

In the evening,  there are several empty lots near the intersection of Murfreesboro Rd. and Harding (though obviously you'll want to avoid the National Guard and airport lots.)

Drive a little farther south and you'll find a Sonic, if you'd like to add a frosty treat to your family's flying adventure.

Suggested Read-Aloud:  Richard Scarry's A Day At The Airport.