Crew Cuts
ST. LOUIS
AirTran Airways’ new destination has a special meaning for Crew Member Toni Joel.
Although Toni Joel, executive assistant to Susan Manfredi, vice president of inflight service, lives and works in Atlanta, she considers St. Louis home. The winner of an “Excellence Award” in February, Joel visits family in St. Louis every few months. “Now that we actually fly there, it is much easier for me,” she says.
Family Friendly
Ask Joel what she likes best about St. Louis, and she is quick to answer, “My very favorite thing is that it’s a very family-affordable place. There are so many things families can do that don’t cost a fortune.” She quickly lists some of St. Louis’ free attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo (www.stlzoo.org), the Science Center (www.slsc.org) and Grant’s Farm (www.grantsfarm.com), where visitors can see President Grant’s cabin and the world-famous Clydesdale stables. A visit to the downtown Riverfront always tops her list. She’s been known to dip her toe in the Mighty Mississippi, which separates Missouri from Illinois.
Way Up High
The Gateway Arch (www.. gatewayarch.com), at a soaring 630 feet, is the nation’s tallest monument.
A unique internal tram carries visitors to the top for breathtaking views. Joel is always surprised that many people don’t know the stainless steel arch commemorates Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark’s exploration. The Museum of Westward Expansion under the Arch documents the growth of the American West.
Joel loves the nighttime excitement of Laclede’s Landing (www.lacledeslanding.org). “There’s a lot to see at the Landing with its restaurants and night spots,” she says. Her favorite is The Big Bang (www.thebigbangbar. com), where dueling pianists lead a wild sing-along. Joel also loves carriage rides through the area’s cobblestone streets.
A Taste of St. Louis
When it comes to gastronomical experiences, Joel favors The Hill (www.shopthehill.com), an Italian neighborhood. She starts with a St. Louis original—toasted ravioli. “As an ultimate dining experience, I like the Top of the Riverfront,” she says. The revolving restaurant atop the Millennium Hotel (www.. millenniumhotels.com) offers stunning views of the city. Every visit home also demands a stop at Ted Drewes (www.teddrewes.com) for its world-famous frozen custard, which is so thick you can turn it upside down and it doesn’t fall out of the cup. —Kathie Immormino Sutin