When my brother and I were small, the parents would take us to the airport to watch the planes.

When Dad would travel, we'd hang out at the gate and watch the luggage load and unload, see other planes taxiing about, a few takeoffs and landings.

Now we're lucky to find an area of the airport for watching anything takeoff and land.
It's a really good day when I can see what will be my next ride coming in to a gate. Even at some of the lounges, there's only one or two craft visible.

I still like to watch the ground crew work.