Most airports are now equipped with a computer which puts out the ATIS recordings based on the entries of a local controller. One thing I like about FLL's observation area near the west end of Runways 10/28 is the speaker that plays the ATC of Departures and Landings. I used to have a scanner that would allow me to listen to all frequencies in the airline band as well near an airport. Sometimes you would hear internal communications of an airline as well as the ATC feeds.
Since Radio Shack is gone, you cannot pick up a scanner easily anymore.