Crew Cuts

AirTran Airways Crew Member Cliffye Brown gives us a tour of her new hometown of San Antonio.

SUNNY SAN ANTONIO

AirTran Airways Crew Member Cliffye Brown loves the spicy culture and friendly people of her new hometown.

She's only been in San Antonio a few months, but station manager Cliffye Brown has already fallen in love.

"I think it's a beautiful city," she says. "The scenery here is very pretty." Brown has already hit the highlights, including the legendary Alamo-and then, of course, there's the food. "I like to eat... my friends say: 'If it's good, it's to be found by me,'" she says.

She spent her first weekend out at the River Walk (www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com), which stunned her with its spectacular gardens and elaborate stonework. "I couldn't believe how neat it was that this river was there in the middle of the city, and all the shops and restaurants around it," she says. The setting is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal and bask in the breeze.

Schlitterbahn Water ParkBrown also loves Market Square (www.marketsquaresa.com), home to the landmark Mi Tierra Café y Panadería (www.mitierracafe.com; 210-225-1262), an authentic restaurant with roving mariachis and colorful Mexican decorations hanging from the ceiling. The surrounding market is a great place to spend an afternoon. Brown was delighted to find a man selling elotes-Mexican-style, roasted corn on the cob-like the ones she'd enjoyed in her hometown of Chicago. "Trust me, they're good," she says.

Brown has also been planning trips beyond the city: Schlitterbahn Waterpark (www.schlitterbahn.com) for her kids and a tour of the Hill Country Wine Trail (www.texaswinetrail.com) for herself. Most of all, though, she is happy to feel at home in her new city, getting to know her neighbors: "The people have been very welcoming," she says.

PERSONNEL PICKS

Name: Cliffye Brown
Home base: San Antonio
Position with AirTran Airways: Station Manager

What she loves about the city:
"The people are friendly, the town is pretty, it's nice and peaceful, and there is a lot of good food."

Favorite restaurants:
In addition to Mi Tierra Café y Panadería, Brown loves seafood from Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen (www.pappadeaux.com; 210-340-7143) and Chicago-style pizza from Paul Revere's Pizza (210-647-1776).

Hobbies:
"I like to just drive and see what's around. I've done that a lot here, and the scenery is very pretty. In some areas, they're still building up, and it's just highways and houses. But if you get further out you can look toward the city and see the skyline. It's just so peaceful."

Where she likes to take the kids:
The San Antonio Zoo (www.sazoo-aq.org), which features a host of activities for children. There's Kronkosky's Tiny Tot Nature Spot, a mini-zoo designed for children younger than 5; Butterflies! Caterpillar Flight School, a tropical indoor garden fluttering with hundreds of butterflies;and Lory Landing, where you can feed thecolorful birds andtempt them to land on your arm.

Advice for visitors:
History-lovers should visit The Alamo (www.thealamo.org) and the Institute of Texan Cultures (www.texancultures.com). For a relaxing time, stroll along the River Walk or take a drive up to the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg (www.fredericksburg-texas.com).