Crew Cuts

CAROLINA COOL

From bike rides to fine wines, AirTran Airways Crew Member Suzie Zendegui enjoys the best of Raleigh.

BY MARGOT CARMICHAEL LESTER

When Suzie Zendegui isn’t jetting around the country, she’s biking around the Triangle, exploring the state.

“Most of the time, I ride around Apex and Cary… but I also do some trail riding,” she says. “Raleigh and the surrounding areas are bike-friendly cities, and they’re very scenic.

You can go from city to countryside instantly, and that makes it really nice.”

Zendegui suggests going on a group ride sponsored by a local shop. “Cycling Spoken Here (www.cyclingspokenhere.com) and Performance, Inc. (www.performancebike.com) are two that I like,” she says.

If you’d rather watch sports than participate in them, “there’s great minor league baseball, with the Carolina Mudcats or the famous Durham Bulls,” Zendegui says.

For cultural pursuits, Zendegui suggests the North Carolina Symphony (www.ncsymphony.org). “It’s very good, especially in the summer when they play outdoors at different venues,” she says. “And there are lots of other outdoor concerts at the North Carolina Museum of Art (www.ncartmuseum.org) or at our big concert venue, Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek (www.livenation.com).”

Fine art should be paired with fine wine, and Zendegui says North Carolina has a growing viticultural industry. “There are several wine festivals and wineries right around the Triangle and all the way up to Asheville at Biltmore (www.biltmore.com),” she says. Others around the Triangle include Chatham Hill Winery (www.chathamhillwine.com), right near the airport; SilkHope Winery (www.silkhopewinery.com); and The Winery at Iron Gate Farm (www.irongatevineyards.com). There’s even a local mead producer, Desi’s Dew Meadery (919-732-2808).

PERSONNEL PICKS

Name: Suzie Zendegui
Position with AirTran Airways: Flight attendant
Home base: Raleigh, NC
How long she’s lived here: 14 years

What she loves about the city:
“The four seasons. I also like that we’re in the middle—between the beach and the mountains—so you can get away either direction. We do both!”

Unusual hobbies:
“My husband and I do a lot of charity bike rides. They’re fun, and you have the best time meeting wonderful people and different age groups. You set your own pace—it’s not a race—so you can enjoy the ride and do something good.”

Favorite restaurants:
“I’ve got two: Maximillians Grill (www.maximilliansgrill.com; 919-465-2455) serves very upscale stuff you would not expect to find in Raleigh. It’s more like what you’d find in a bigger city. They change the menu frequently, which adds to its charm. Anytime people come to visit, we take them there.

We also love Peak City Grill & Bar (www.thepeakcitygrill.com; 919-303-8001). They have a great Sunday brunch, and special wine tastings and pairing nights.”

Favorite place to take the kids:
“The North Carolina Museum of Art is nice, and they have outdoor things for kids to do, as well as the indoor exhibits. Or we go to one of the parks and let them run around, have a picnic, maybe take a hike.”

Advice for visitors:
“Come in the fall. Raleigh is called the City of Oaks, and it’s just gorgeous in the fall.”