OK - you've got your card and your flowers. So, what else can you do for your Mother (or your spouse) on Mother's Day? Besides the tried and true brunch or dinner, San Diego has a number of unique places and activities to make Mother's Day in San Diego a special one. Here are a few suggestions.
If you want to make Mother feel special, take her to the grand old lady of San Diego, the Hotel del Coronado. The grandeur of the place just oozes specialness, and the hotel is famous for its Mother's Day Brunch. and even if you don't do brunch, just stroll along the grounds and along the wonderful sandy Coronado beach adjacent to the hotel. A special spot, indeed.
Now, normally a trip to the San Diego Zoo is more of a touristy thing. But there is a subtext here - you see, this time of the year is when many animals give birth, so it's a great time to see cute little baby animals at the Zoo. Get it? Motherhood and maternal instinct? If you can, take her to lunch at the Zoo's sitdown restaurant, Albert's. It's a nice little place to make her feel special.
OK - pretty obvious, if Mom is a shopper. But on this special day, take her to the best mall in San Diego, Fashion Valley. Of course, then you're on the hook to buy her something special, and the mall is the home to Tiffany, after all. Or maybe just dinner and a movie and one of the many eateries.
If mom is more of an outdoorsy type, the Point Loma Tide Pools are a great place to check out the local sea life, take in the ocean air, and check out the magnificent views atop Point Loma. Best of all, the price is right because it's free.
A pleasant day trip is always a good idea for Mother's Day, and a trip into the mountain town of Julian is a fun activity. The town - just 90 minutes from San Diego - seems like a world away, and the mountain scenery is a nice change of pace. Stroll the antique shops, and be sure to stop by Mom's (of course) for some delicious apple pie - a Julian specialty.
Need a special picture to take of mom? Then take her to the Carlsbad Flower Fields - it's a perfect, colorful spot to take a photo of mom. The ranunculus fields are a favorite attraction of flower lovers, but you better hurry - the Fields only stay open through Mother's Day (how convenient!).
An outing to a local Farmers' Market is kind of a cool thing to do, especially if you haven't been before. San Diego has a number of certified farmers' markets, and this is a great time of year to visit, as many fruits and vegetables are coming in season. Oh, and make sure you buy mom a bouquet of fresh flowers - they are a bargain, and fresh, at the farmers' markets!
Is mom a music lover? Well, this time of year is a great time to take her to concert - the summer concert tours have begun, and San Diego's outdoor concert season is in full swing. There's nothing better than to take in a show under the stars on a mild spring evening.
