Hi all,

What's the airport like? Is it large? Are there restaurants? A bookstore, perhaps?

My mom will arrive there 4 hours prior to my arrival. Wondering what she could do as she waits for me.

Small airport. I think about 8 gates. There are a few places to eat and newstands. Have her bring a good book.

Not much to do. And not much in local area except chain stores and restaurants. There is a nearby shopping mall but not worth the effort to get there for that length of time. Second idea of a book.

Hi CDG - one restaurant/bar where you can take a seat if you order a drink. Small book store/newstand but has quite a bit to choose from. Also a McDonalds, coffee shop, etc. with a large place to sit, without buying. The airport is under continual growth with more airlines added all the time. It's grown trememdously. Look at www.flymanchester.com.

clueless and gail - thanks for the book suggestion. i acutally bought mom a good book for her birthday earlier this month and if she hasn't already cracked it, sounds like the wait for my flight at MHT would present the perfect opportunity to do so.

cissy - people like you are why Fodors thrives. i fancy myself a pretty good Internet researher, but on these boards there are always suggested sites that open up a ton more information. thank you for the link!

I'll be arriving there myself on Saturday and there isn't really anything fun to do. I don't mind cause it is a welcome relief from the craziness of some other airports.

Sharon- that's exactly why we're heading to NH/Maine. mom lives in chicago and i'm in dallas. enough busyness in both places to warrant this mother-daughter getaway. especially in chicago! have a great trip this weekend!

Four hours is a long time!

Actually, there are 16 gates at MHT. There are several small newstands/bookstores (well stocked). There's a restaurant with good food and prices on the departure side of security.

If she picks up the rental car, there's a huge Barnes & Noble with cafe 4.3 miles away. (Closer if you don't get on the highway.)

The Mall of New Hampshire is almost across the street from Barnes & Noble. For a list of stores/restaurants see http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=337

Note that there is NO SALES TAX in New Hampshire.

djkbooks- thanks. i will share this info with mom. she arrives around 5 p.m. i'm thinking if she gets there, gets her luggage, sits down for a leisurely dinner, peruses magazines at the book store, and sits down for an hour or two of solid reading (to make good use of the $25 book i gave her she'll be just fine. plus she loves to web surf and will likely have her laptop so she should be ok until i get there at 9-ish. welcome prayers that my flight lands on time.

Prayers for save & on time coming from NH your way!

Thanks SAFE not save gt;