Despite how little we’d like to admit it, let’s face it: Mothers do know best. They teach us how to succeed and how to get past our mistakes (hello, college years!), and always see us in the best light. Instead of the standard Mother’s Day brunch and potted plant, go above and beyond for your mom this year by embarking on a weekend adventure in your local area. Scroll on for a few of our favorite ways to cater to your mom’s interests and explore your region this Mother’s Day.
1. Macaron Parlour (New York City, NY): With two locations in the NYC area, Macaron Parlour diverges from standard macarons and offers flavors like s’mores, candied bacon and cheetos (we’re not even kidding). Sign up for one of their three-hour classes to learn the tricks of the trade and take your handmade goodies home.
2. Maison Robert Chocolates (Atlanta, GA): Owned by a father-daughter team, Maison Robert Chocolates is a French bakery with quaint Southern charm in downtown Atlanta. They offer beginner truffle classes and pastry lessons in the delicate art of croissant making. Homemade buttery carbs are always a good idea.
3. Dandelion Chocolate (San Francisco, CA.): Housed in the popular Mission District in San Francisco, Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar artisan chocolate factory that offers 30-minute tours, in addition to several chocolate-making classes. Come for the class, stay for the frozen hot chocolate. (Photo via Heart 2 Heart Online)
4. Give Me Some Sugar (Chicago, IL): Dedicated to cake artistry, Give Me Some Sugar hosts a number of classes for cake decorating, including the basics, fondant mastery, cake pops and even DIY candy bars (swoon!). You can take one of their weekly classes or reserve the entire bakery for a private baking lesson.
For the Yogi
5. 8 Limbs Yoga Retreat (Seattle, WA): 8 Limbs Yoga’s summer retreat lets you escape the hustle and bustle of city life and recharge at their center near North Cascades National Park. In between sessions, you can canoe on Diablo Lake or hike beneath the gigantic cedar trees. We’re already relaxed just thinking about it. (Photo via Charlotte Cora)
6. Love Yoga Fest (Cape Cod, Mass.): Love Yoga Fest is a weekend-long festival that brings yogis and different yoga vendors from around the country to the Cape Cod area to meet and perfect their Scorpion pose. Bring some extra dough to get Mom the new mat she’s been dreaming of.
7. Awaken Whole Life Center (Kansas City, MO): The Awaken Whole Life Center in Kansas City frequently hosts weekend retreats where well-known gurus share their wisdom and and practice with yoga students from around the country. If your Mom has a take-no-prisoners attitude, she’ll love their next retreat, which focuses on how to channel your inner warrior.
8. Om Sanctuary (Asheville, NC): This gem nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers several different meditation-based programs, including yoga and qigong. Asheville has been a longtime haven for local artisans and artists, so build some time into your trip to explore the area.
For the Hiker
9. Forsythe Canyon (Boulder, CO): Forsythe Canyon is a quick trip from Boulder and offers many of the scenic views your hiker Mom is after: waterfalls, canyons, streams and lakes. This hike provides a lot of shade, so go on a hot day to beat the heat. (Photo via The Trail Girl)
10. Higgins Mountain (Georgetown, ME): Higgins Mountain offers a number of easy to moderate hikes that will turn anyone into a nature lover with stunning views of Mohegan Island, Seguin Island and the Gulf of Maine. Breathe in that salty air to send yourself into deep relaxation mode. (Photo via Kennebec Estuary)
11. Mammoth Cave National Park (Mammoth Cave, KY): With over 400 miles of explored caves, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the largest cave system in the world. Whether you’re there for the history, the geology or just to see the sights, they offer tours that will fit yours and Mom’s interests perfectly.
12. Everglades National Park (Homestead, FL): Considered one of the most important habitats for rare and endangered species, the Everglades have a number of land trails for hikes and bike rides. Bring your camera in case you catch a glimpse of a crocodile or a manatee! (Photo via On Earth)
For the Antique Lover
13. Alameda Point Antique Faire (Alameda, CA): Head to Alameda right outside of San Francisco on the first Sunday of every month to see over 800 vendors and their wares. Items must be 20 years or older to be included in the fair, so Mom is bound to find the perfect pair of vintage espadrilles and sunnies for summer. (Photo via George Kelly)
14. Brimfield Antique Show (Brimfield, MA): Known for its quaint, small-town atmosphere, the Brimfield Antique Show has items from thousands of vendors across the Northeast. This event also has some carnival games and food, making it perfect for the kiddos as well. (Photo via Keep Albany Boring)
15. Springfield Antique Show (Springfield, OH): You won’t find any Pottery Barn furniture at this show. The Springfield Antique Show prides itself on providing American-made goods from small-scale, local vendors to its patrons. Specialty shows are held several times a year for those with particular items in mind, so if Mom is hunting for collectibles, be sure to check the schedule in advance. (Photo via LC Smith Saved)
16. Marburger Farm Antique Show (Round Top, TX): Considered the cream of the crop in the antique world, the Marburger Farm Antique Show at Round Top draws visitors from all over the world. With over 43 acres of tents to peruse, you may need to stay a few extra days for Mom to enjoy the full event. (Photo via Roundtop Marburger)
For the Architect
17. San Francisco Walking Tour (San Francisco, CA.): Dreaming of exploring all San Francisco has to offer? Or do you just want to see where Uncle Jesse and DJ Tanner lived? No matter your motive, the best way to see the city is to enjoy the mild, temperate climate on foot. Make sure Mom packs comfortable footwear! (Photo via Ruedes Boulets)
18. Charles Riverboat Company Architecture Cruise (Boston, MA): Get a glimpse of historic and contemporary Boston on the Charles Riverboat Company architecture cruise. Their guides will share information about beautiful buildings like Marriott’s Custom House, the Prudential Building and the Hancock tower.
19. First Lady River Cruise Tours (Chicago, IL): Chicago comes alive during the summer, and there is no better way to celebrate the season than with a cruise down the Chicago River. You’ll learn first-hand about classics like the Wrigley Building and modern masterpieces like the Trump Building from tour guides certified by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
20. Charleston Footprint Architecture Tours (Charleston, SC): Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, so it’s no surprise it’s been voted the top tourist destination by Conde Nast for several years running. This walking tour will take you through the winding cobblestone streets, historic quarters, beautiful homes and maybe even a few ghost hauntings.
For the Sports Fan
21. University of Phoenix Stadium Tours (Phoenix, AZ): As the host of Super Bowl XLIX, the University of Phoenix Stadium got a lot of buzz for their state-of-the-art stadium. Tours are hosted weekly, so you can plan to see the only roll-out field and retractable roof stadium in North America. (Photo via Stephen Mellentine)
22. MetLife Stadium Tours (East Rutherford, NJ): Located in a quick train from Manhattan, MetLife Stadium is the only NFL facility in the country to host two NFL teams, the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Treat your mama to a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion, and if she can’t choose, an “I <3 NY” shirt should do the trick. (Photo via TimGunz)
23. Lucas Oil Stadium Tours (Indianapolis, IN.): Does your Mom dominate your family’s NCAA bracket challenge every year? Take her on a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium, the 2015 home of the Final Four and National Championship game, for an inside look into this high-tech sports complex. You’ll get double daughter points if she bleeds Colts blue. (Photo via Edward Blake)
24. AT&T Stadium Tours (Dallas, TX): Take Mom back to her old cheerleading days with a tour of AT&T Stadium where the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders perform during football season. If high-kicks aren’t her style, AT&T Stadium offers a number of tours, including one of their extensive collection of contemporary art. Who knew?! (Photo via BigNestEgg)
For the Artist
25. The Getty Center (Los Angeles, CA): Perched in the hills overlooking LA, the Getty Center houses thousands of pieces of European and American art, sculptures and photographs, dating from the medieval period to the present. Take a stroll with Mom in the Central Garden for selfie-worthy views of the Santa Monica Mountains. (Photo via LA Travel Bug)
26. Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, NY): One of the premier art museums in the entire world, the Met will stun Mom with over two million works of art, including the designs in the new Anna Wintour Costume Center. Splurge on the audio tour, so she can learn exactly why Picasso was so blue during his Blue Period.
27. Detroit Institute of Arts Museum (Detroit, MI): The Motor City may be known for housing greats like Henry Ford, Aretha Franklin and the “Real Slim Shady,” Mr. Marshall Mathers, but it’s also home to an extensive art collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum. In addition to American, European and contemporary art, the DIA is known for its huge collection of African, Asian, Native American, Oceanic, Islamic and ancient art.
28. The National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.): Gifted to the people of the United States by Andrew Mellon in 1936, the National Gallery of Art has grown into one of the most respected art museums in the entire world. Like many other museums in DC, you can see works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gogh for free! (Photo via Holiday Inn Blog)
How are you treating Mom this Mother’s Day? Share your favorite Mother’s Day activities in the comment section below!
