7 of the Best Mother’s Day Activities to Do in Your City
Psst: Mother’s Day is coming up imminently—like, May 13th imminently. But if you haven’t made plans yet, don’t sweat it. We’ve compiled seven suggestions for the best Mother’s Day activities you can do in your city, from bakery crawls to flea market adventures and more.
Even better: Most of these require very little advance planning, so even if you’re the last-minute type, you can make sure this year’s Mother’s Day is memorable for all the right reasons.
1. EMBARK ON A BIKE TOUR: Want to show Mom around your favorite neighborhood spots? If the weather's fine, there's no better way to get acquainted than a relaxing bike tour. Hit up your city's bike-share program for an affordable set of wheels for the day and draw up your own map: From the coffee shop near your apartment that does those awesome flat whites to the cozy neighborhood restaurant you hit up once per month, your faves are best explored—and shared—on two wheels.
2. HIT THE FLEA MARKETS: If you're like us, you probably already know that flea markets are a great way to shop in your city: You can support local makers and vendors, cut down on your carbon footprint by buying secondhand finds, and walk away with clothes and accessories that are totally one-of-a-kind. If your mom's the stylish type, bring her along to your favorite local flea market or craft fair, and surprise her by buying that necklace, scarf, or other item that catches her eye.
3. SIGN UP FOR AN ART CLASS: One of the best Mother's Day activities to plan for your urban day out? An art class. Sign yourselves up for an oil-painting course, give the wheel a whirl when you learn how to make your own pottery, or combine the best of both and visit a paint-your-own-ceramics studio to make customized mugs. You're sure to enjoy stretching your creative muscles, plus you'll walk away with mementos of the time you shared together. (Trust us: Moms love that.)
4. GO ON A BAKERY CRAWL: Breakfast in bed is all fine and dandy, but if you still haven't mastered the art of the perfectly poached egg, then take Mom out for a bite instead. Bypass your city's buzzy brunch stops—they're bound to be packed—and instead embark on a bespoke bakery crawl. Visit that French patisserie for chocolate croissants, break for a hearty bagel, and finish up with a throwback ice cream sandwich. Mother's Day is the time to treat her to the best...and a parade of pastries is bound to be her idea of a good time.
5. SIGHTSEE ON THE WATER: From a languorous architecture tour down the Chicago River to a cruise on the New York Harbor or a sunset sailing trip around the San Francisco Bay, many cities offer engaging ways to see the sights from the water's edge. Mother's Day is the perfect occasion to pony up for two tickets to a river cruise or other boat tour—and hey, you'll probably enjoy the new perspective on your city, too.
6. SEE THE SEASON'S BEST: As long as your Mom's pollen allergy isn't too severe, making a beeline for your city's green spaces is one of the best Mother's Day activities to plan this year. Drop by your local botanical garden, follow our guide to find the loveliest secret gardens around the country, or even see if her favorite flower happens to be growing wild in your city. Bouquets wilt in a matter of days, but memories of a garden tour are bound to last.
7. A DOSE OF CULTURE: Nothing says "special occasion" like tickets to the ballet or the hottest new play in town. If your mom's into her high culture, then this is one experiential gift that's bound to make her day. And don't fret: Even if you've got a budget to consider, you can score affordable rush tickets on the morning-of.
1. EMBARK ON A BIKE TOUR: Want to show Mom around your favorite neighborhood spots? If the weather's fine, there's no better way to get acquainted than a relaxing bike tour. Hit up your city's bike-share program for an affordable set of wheels for the day and draw up your own map: From the coffee shop near your apartment that does those awesome flat whites to the cozy neighborhood restaurant you hit up once per month, your faves are best explored—and shared—on two wheels.
2. HIT THE FLEA MARKETS: If you're like us, you probably already know that flea markets are a great way to shop in your city: You can support local makers and vendors, cut down on your carbon footprint by buying secondhand finds, and walk away with clothes and accessories that are totally one-of-a-kind. If your mom's the stylish type, bring her along to your favorite local flea market or craft fair, and surprise her by buying that necklace, scarf, or other item that catches her eye.
3. SIGN UP FOR AN ART CLASS: One of the best Mother's Day activities to plan for your urban day out? An art class. Sign yourselves up for an oil-painting course, give the wheel a whirl when you learn how to make your own pottery, or combine the best of both and visit a paint-your-own-ceramics studio to make customized mugs. You're sure to enjoy stretching your creative muscles, plus you'll walk away with mementos of the time you shared together. (Trust us: Moms love that.)
4. GO ON A BAKERY CRAWL: Breakfast in bed is all fine and dandy, but if you still haven't mastered the art of the perfectly poached egg, then take Mom out for a bite instead. Bypass your city's buzzy brunch stops—they're bound to be packed—and instead embark on a bespoke bakery crawl. Visit that French patisserie for chocolate croissants, break for a hearty bagel, and finish up with a throwback ice cream sandwich. Mother's Day is the time to treat her to the best...and a parade of pastries is bound to be her idea of a good time.
5. SIGHTSEE ON THE WATER: From a languorous architecture tour down the Chicago River to a cruise on the New York Harbor or a sunset sailing trip around the San Francisco Bay, many cities offer engaging ways to see the sights from the water's edge. Mother's Day is the perfect occasion to pony up for two tickets to a river cruise or other boat tour—and hey, you'll probably enjoy the new perspective on your city, too.
6. SEE THE SEASON'S BEST: As long as your Mom's pollen allergy isn't too severe, making a beeline for your city's green spaces is one of the best Mother's Day activities to plan this year. Drop by your local botanical garden, follow our guide to find the loveliest secret gardens around the country, or even see if her favorite flower happens to be growing wild in your city. Bouquets wilt in a matter of days, but memories of a garden tour are bound to last.
7. A DOSE OF CULTURE: Nothing says "special occasion" like tickets to the ballet or the hottest new play in town. If your mom's into her high culture, then this is one experiential gift that's bound to make her day. And don't fret: Even if you've got a budget to consider, you can score affordable rush tickets on the morning-of.
