Tag Archives: Weekend May 8-9

Ideas for Mother’s Day Celebrations Around the DC Area

With my “babies” last Mother’s Day at Wye Island NMRA

 

Mother’s Day is an occasion worth making extra special plans for (in my totally unbiased opinion 😉). This round-up has ideas to help make it a great one for all of the honorees — and to help the rest of the fam plan it. With recommendations that range from fairly mellow to very active, totally free to a total splurge, there’s sure to be something to make every mom’s day. (And make sure she gets some “me” time, too.) Happy Mother’s Day!

Walk in the Woods
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale

Take a hike to enjoy the day. See flowers in bloom, tramp in places with scenic views, walk and explore history at interesting locales, and enjoy a day of active fun. Bring along a picnic for lunch al fresco, too.
Huntley Meadows – The park in Alexandria has an easy, very scenic loop through woods and wetlands.
Riverbend Park to Great Falls – The hike is a particular favorite for a special day, though parking can fill up fast, so go early and have a Plan B just in case.
Patapsco Valley State Park – It’s huge with a great variety of hiking trails, including one to waterfalls, lots of nice picnic spots, and more opportunities for active recreation.
Pohick Bay Regional Park and Fountainhead Regional Park – Both parks in Lorton, VA, have good hiking trails as well as paddling rentals.
Wye Island NRMA – Last Mother’s Day we enjoyed a beautiful hike at this spot on the Eastern Shore. (KFDC tip: Pair it with a crab feast while you’re out there.)
Harpers Ferry – The charming historic town and great hiking makes it a perfect day trip destination for a celebration.
This go-to KFDC post has even more suggestions for great hikes with the fam.

Hike & Sip
Where: A couple of DMV locales
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies

Like the suggestion above, but elevated with a post-hike visit to a family-friendly winery or restaurant. Two outings I recommend for this: Hit the trail at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA, then go to the nearby Barrel Oak Winery.
The Sugarloaf Mountain hike/The Comus Inn combo in Dickerson, MD, also makes for a fab day, or enjoy sips and small bites at Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard right down the road after your walk in the woods.

Strawberry Fields
Where: Farms around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by location

Enjoy the day outdoors gathering fresh strawberries. The pick-your-own season has begun with at least one area farm  welcoming visitors to their strawberry fields, and more may open by Sunday. See this post for details on where you can harvest your own fruits and veggies, several offering much more than just picking.

Do Some Garden-ing
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale

Instead of bringing flowers to mom, take her to them instead! With the bloom season upon us, and landscapes bursting with color, a visit to a garden makes for a lovely outing, especially when there’s often more to do than see the plants and flowers. Explore, play, and see the amazing azalea bloom at the National Arboretum. Stop and smell the roses (and more) and see the rest of the beautiful grounds at Brookside Gardens. Wander around Green Spring Gardens on a scavenger hunt. Venture out to the gorgeous Meadowlark Botanical Garden. You can bring along a picnic to many of these places and make it a whole day’s outing.

A (Crab) Feast Fit for a Queen
Where: Eastern Shore, MD
When: Ongoing
Admission: Depends on how much you order!

This is how we like to celebrate.  The start of blue crab season is perfect timing for the special day, and you really can’t beat a feast of the steamed Old Bay-spiced treats at a waterfront crab house on a nice day. Cantler’s in Annapolis is an institution, and Mike’s Crab House in Riva is also popular with delicious crabs, gorgeous scenery, and a great outdoor tiki bar waiting area if tables aren’t immediately available.  We’ve had a couple of super Mother’s Day celebrations at Kentmorr’s restaurant and beach scene. Keep it closer to home (but forego the waterfront) at Quarterdeck, Ivy City Smokehouse, and Bethesda Crab House. Wherever you go, make reservations, because special occasion days guarantee crowds.  You can also pick up crabs from from The Fish Market at The Wharf and enjoy feast at home — get them already steamed or still alive and DIY. (And, FYI, all of the above recommendations are based on first-hand experience!)

Mother’s Day on the Patuxent
Where: Solomons Island, MD
When: Mother’s Day weekend (or anytime)
Admission: Rates vary by boat & time

This was an excellent way we celebrated Mother’s Day with friends awhile back. A pontoon boat outing on the Patuxent River was a super fun and relaxing time for all. Pack a cooler, don the swimsuits, slather on sunscreen, and get ready for a fantastic day on the water. Afterwards, treat yourselves to ice cream on Solomon’s Island or even stay for dinner at one of the many waterside restaurants there.

Go with the Flow
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale

For other Mother’s Day adventures on the water, a bunch of places around the area rent kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and stand up paddleboards. Fletcher’s Boathouse is a popular place to go and has a great riverside area to hang out and picnic when you’re off the water. We spent a wonderful Mother’s Day a few years ago at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis — with lots of options for outdoor recreation along with paddling, it’s particularly awesome. This post has a round-up of even more places to navigate the local waterways.

Where: Pop-up Studio at Three Littles | Northeast DC
When: Mother’s Day, sessions from 11am-6pm
Admission: $99 to reserve your mini sessions time
Alex Friendly is passionate about getting mothers in the picture, which is why she’s offering these Motherhood Mini Sessions.  Mothers are so often the ones who take all the pictures, but these casual mini sessions make capturing images with your kids as easy and stress-free as possible.  There won’t be any pressure to be perfect, to figure out how to get your kids to sit still, to plan the matching outfits.  Just come as you are, wearing the kind of comfortable clothes that make you feel happy while playing on the floor together.  She’ll capture the joys of motherhood and celebrate everything that you overcame this past year.  Each session is 10-15 minutes with 10-15 final images available for purchase starting at $225, which means you only buy the images you actually want.  To find out more, check out Alex’s Booking Guide  or book your session directly by clicking here.

A few more good (related) things:
* Washingtonian has some really good suggestions for the weekend, too.
* Eater DC’s running guide to Mother’s Day brunch, sweets, and dinner specials.
* This book that you can purchase from Steadfast Supply.

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under 2021, All ages, COVID-19, DC, Holidays, Moms, Spring, Weekend