Mother’s Day Weekend Getaways
Ready to unplug from the daily routine and treat your mom (or yourself!) to something special? I explored many of these spots over the last decades during Mother's Day with my son and husband, and I find them ideal for spending quality time together.
Given a 23% traffic jump at U.S. airports at Mother’s Day, I was glad to discover we weren't the only explorers this month. Here are my favorite personally tried-and-tested Mother’s Day ideas (some as a part of a larger ten day road trip) - I hope you will love them too.
New York City
Although we lived here for 10 years, we set on celebrating Mother’s Day in Manhattan. I have to warn you that since there are heaps of amazing things to do here, join a guided tour if you need some help getting oriented.
First thing we did in NYC was check into Solita Soho Hotel, a lifestyle hotel close to SoHo. It's a 3-star hotel that's affordable as far as New York City goes (from $178 per night). In this part of Manhattan, you get easy access to art, cafes, small stores, and that cool NYC magic energy. It's also kid friendly.
In the afternoon we headed to the High Line in Chelsea. I think it's one of the coolest urban parks and an underrated NYC gem. You can just walk along the elevated walkway at your own pace and enjoy the city.
Dinner was in the West Village at Dante West Village. They are known for their fresh seafood and we weren't disappointed.
What I loved best:
The next morning , we headed to Brooklyn next for a relaxing walk along the waterfront, and Mother's Day lunch with our in-laws.
Grand Teton National Park
If you are in a mood for a Mother's Day weekend out in the natural world, I can't recommend Grand Teton National Park (Google Maps Pin) enough! It's one of my favorite national parks and completely underrated compared to the famous Yellowstone just north of it.
We usually find getting to Grand Teton pretty straightforward because there are a good number of flights landing in Jackson Hole every day. Accommodations are plentiful too and since Mother's Day is shoulder season, you don't have to spend a lot to treat yourself to this vacation.
I have to warn you if you are arriving from a low elevation city like Austin TX where we live, you need a couple of days to get used to the altitude. So don't plan any strenuous hikes on your first day! This is very important! I usually get a headache if I try to push myself too hard. And a headache when you're supposed to be enjoying your Mother's Day dinner is not fun.
You don't need a lot of planning in Grand Teton. Just driving around, you can take heaps of great photos and see wildlife from scenic overlooks along Snake River.
What I loved best:
For me, walking near Jenny Lake was especially memorable as you can see in my photos. We shared a picnic with a view before heading back to the hotel. If you would like a more detailed itinerary with places to stay for your trip to Jackson Hole Valley and Grand Teton, I recommend this article.
Kapalua, Maui
While we were living in Hawaii, one of my favorite Mother's Day weekend getaways was the northwest coast of Maui near Kapalua. There are so many amazing sandy beaches here, several restaurants, spas and even golf courses.
We started our morning with walks along Napili Bay, Oneloa beach or Kapalua Bay. They all have this lovely soft sand in common that always tempts me to take off my shoes and feel the sand on my feet.
What I loved best:
For me Kapalua, Maui is one of the best Mother’s Day weekend getaways. Our son loves playing in the sand which means that Chris and I get some time to just chat and enjoy the view. You don't want to miss the sunset from the beach here. Even if you are in a hurry, it's worth the wait. Or you can book a table at Merriman's Kapalua and enjoy a Mother's Day dinner with a sunset over the Pacific.
