It’s time for Mother’s Day again! Time to show mom just how much you love her. This list is also full of great ideas for mom’s birthday or any other reason to just have a good day with her.
Every year my husband and I try to do something super special for his mom. I am so lucky to have been blessed with a mother-in-law that is so wonderful and she is always there for us so we try to make her feel as special as she makes us feel all year long.
Some of these ideas might seem extravagant but I see holidays, gatherings, birthdays, and trips as an excuse to just do something fun! I’d like to point out that most of these ideas are outdoor activities because Mother’s Day falls in May, a beautiful time to get some fresh air! So let’s get into it..
One more, and VERY IMPORTANT thing before we start…TAKE PHOTOS! The older I get the more I forget about photos and get comfortable just being in the moment. As family members start getting older it’s so important to have these photos for memories.
1. Breakfast
I know..this is a cheap shot. But we all know going out for a nice breakfast is a lovely way to start the day. Plan lunch if that’s more time appropriate. If I plan an activity mid morning we will usually go out for lunch afterwards. A meal out with loved ones is always a great time, it’s just memories to add to the bank. My favorite thing to do is look outside my normal scope of restaurants and look for something unique. For example we have a restaurant that’s ON a boat on the Sacramento River and we have a bar/restaurant that’s totally open air and over looks the mountains in Nevada City.
2. Horseback riding
This is one of my mother in laws favorite adventure activities. We’ve done this for birthdays and Mother’s Day. It’s always a hit! If you look up places on Google look for places that walk thru trees or along a body of water cause being up there can get warm if you’re stuck in the sun the whole time. This is an activity most age groups and most fitness levels can really enjoy. Prices can vary depending where you live from about $40 to $120 per hour.
3. Take a trip to a Nursery
This one can be so fun! Nearby where we live we have this amazing nursery that also has a cafe in it. This most amazing little place called High Hand Nursery in Loomis, CA. It makes for the most AMAZING morning. If you don’t have a local nursery cafe nearby go out for breakfast near a local nursery then take a walk thru the plants and maybe buy mom a plant to remember the wonderful day by. Knock out a great day and a gift all at once!
4. Flower farm
This one kind of piggybacks off of number 2 but I really believe it needs a spot of its own. There are tulip farms in cities all across the world! The one near us is wheelchair accessible and winds thru gorgeous gardens. There is a viewing area to just sit, relax and look over the beautiful mountains. Anyone of either sex or any age will absolutely love this, it was seriously a treat for everybody. This happens in our area from April into May so check dates!
5. Head towards a body of water!
This sounds funny but it’s true. Head for a local lake or beach. Pick up lunch, pack a picnic, or find a restaurant overlooking the water. There was a study done that said 20 minutes spent by a body of water is scientifically proven to boost mood. If not eating near the water bring a fun game such as this portable cornhole game or this fun frisbee game to play for a couple hours before heading out for a meal or drinks.
Don’t forget about water activities too! Depending on your weather a boat ride, catamaran ride, whale watching, tubing, or something else are all real fun ideas too!
6. Hot Air Balloon
Alright alright, this might sound a little wild. I recently thought about doing this activity and was SO SURPRISED how many places offer this! Just punch in “Hot Air Balloon rides” on Google maps and I can almost bet u’ll be surprised! Wanna give mom an experience not to forget?? This is for sure one of those experiences.
7. Wine tasting
If mom enjoys some nice glass of wine this is a lovely option. If you have siblings you all can take mom to wine tasting. Having the time to bound and spending time as adults is such a special thing.
8. Go for a hike
And this one’s free! AllTrails is my favorite website to use to find hiking trails all over the country. I love to filter my results by length, I like a good loop trail and they even have preferences like elevation gain or wheelchair accessible. Also looking at the photos to see trails with good tree cover or highlights like waterfalls. Fresh air is good for everyone and every occasion.
9. Go downtown
Most cities have a cute quaint downtown area with little shops to explore. I would just love a day of walking thru downtown. Stop into the old ice cream shop for a treat and buy a couple small things from another shop. When I travel to other places I’m so likely to stop in to the local shops and spend some money but my little towns have shops just as cute! Be a tourist in your own town to make the most of where you live.
10. Spend time with mom. Or not.
Mom just wants to feel loved. If mom still has young kids, offer to babysit! Offer mom to get to have some time on her own. Let her take a bath kid free. Send her to Target or Hobby Lobby all by herself so she can enjoy a little retail therapy in peace.
Maybe mom is older and doesn’t have her kids around much anymore so just spending time with mom can be so special. I always feel the need to plan a bunch of things to do but in all honesty she just wants to spend time with her family. Bring family to mom and let her bask in the wonderful people she spent so many years of her life raising and caring about.
Welp…that’s my list! I really hope you got some great inspiration of how to make mom feel special on Mother’s Day. The day dedicated celebrating all her hard work raising the next generation.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you momma’s out there!
