Tales of a Transplanted Fashionista Spring Break Adventures
Leigh Keller is a high school guidance counselor at Batesville High School and the director of the BHS Glass Slipper Project. She lives in Batesville with her son, Cole, and a pack of dogs.
Something about the first hint of spring makes me want to jump into my car and go on a road trip, really any road trip. In my Pinterest-ing (not a word), I had discovered an elephant sanctuary in Texas, and booked both of us a ticket. We began counting down the days until spring break, planning our snacks, and the other things we wanted to do on our getaway. I had planned this short trip literally around our trip to the elephant sanctuary, and it’s difficult to compare anything to that experience after you get to hug an elephant. I had decided that we would go a little south to San Antonio, since I hadn’t been there myself since I was a little kid. We did the typical trip to the Alamo. Cole was not impressed, but we were able to rent scooters and explore the city a little bit, hitting some touristy spots, like the River Walk, and making a special trip to the wonderful San Antonio zoo. Food is always one of my favorite parts of vacation, but never Cole’s. Let’s not forget our beach vacay of 2020 when he discovered that cheeseburgers were his new favorite thing, and ate one at every seafood restaurant. He kind of did the same thing on this trip, eating chicken tenders at one place, a plain chicken taco at another (much to the horror of our waiter) a cheeseburger at the Zoo, and then a Whataburger on the way home (old habits die hard). Many of the local places I couldn’t wait to try were closed for different reasons (mostly Covid related closures), or were crazy booked. Two of my favorites were @mitierracafesa , mainly for the ambience!! I had my street corn in a cup while we waited to be seated, and the market atmosphere outside on a Sunday felt so much like Mexico. They had food stands and vendors, and I tried to talk Cole into buying
a luchador mask. He sadly declined. I had the Enchiladas Verdes, and their salsa was divine. By the time we left we were too stuffed to have a look at their bakery items. But those are a must see if you love sweets. Our last evening we rode our scooters to eat by the water at @casariosa , the first restaurant to build on the river walk. It does so much for my soul to eat next to the water, even though the water was green, and the ducks were waiting patiently for our chips. I had the shrimp tacos, and we had the most amazing sopapillas for dessert! There is a roaming mariachi band who will serenade you (for a small fee). We got there really early, around 5:30, and only waited ten minutes for a water side table. I’m making my list for a trip back, so you all tell me your favorites! We ran out of time to try everything, but it was just so much fun, from start to finish. Hear me out, single mamas of littles. You may think you can’t navigate traveling on your own with your babies, but Cole has been my #1 travel buddy since I prayed him into existence. My own parents loved to load up and take a road trip, and so I think they programmed me to feel the same way. There’s such freedom that comes from driving with the windows down, singing at the top of your lungs, stopping for fun snacks, and exploring a new spot together. Eat the food, rent the scooters, hug the elephants, because your child gets one sweet childhood with you, don’t waste it N
10 Bald Knob . Batesville . Bradford . Cave City . Melbourne . Mnt. View . Newport . Newark . Southside . Sulphur Rock . Swifton . Tuckerman
