If your mom loves the outdoors, you might find it hard to plan a fun Mother’s Day, especially if you are more of an indoor type.
Well, I’ve got you covered. I’m an outdoorsy mom, so I know how frustrating some of the typical Mother’s Day outings are because I find them to be totally unrelatable. No, I don’t want a tea party, flowers, or brunch. Anyway, I’m going to help you out.
So keep reading for outdoorsy Mother’s Day ideas.
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Book A Boat Ecotour
Even if you don’t consider yourself an outdoorsy person, you can enjoy an ecotour on a boat with your mom. The boats are captained by friendly and knowledgeable folks who can help you and your mom find various wildlife and points of interest.
Ecotours often raise awareness of conservation efforts and some of the area’s major environmental issues, which would appeal to your eco-conscious mama.
All the boats and tours are unique, so do your research beforehand. If the tour company accepts reservations for Mother’s Day, make one!
Watch the Sunrise
Watching the sunrise is easy! Just go to a scenic spot near your mom’s house and let the sun work its magic.
Crank it up a notch with mimosas, pastries, or a full breakfast at a nearby restaurant with outdoor seating. Bring a blanket, outdoor chairs, and a small table to set the scene.
Don’t forget to check the forecast and make sure you and your mom are dressed appropriately.
Take a Guided Hike
If you are able to join mom on a guided hike, you should do it!
Just make sure that the hike is something you want to do. Maybe it’s a short scenic hike so that you can enjoy it too. Of course, the day is about mom, but she doesn’t want her kids to be miserable.
Do plenty of research and ask the hike leader a ton of questions, mainly:
- what to do if you or your mama have mobility needs (some places have all-terrain wheelchairs)
- proper attire and footwear
- how long it will take to complete the hike
If you’re unsure how to sign up for a guided hike, the most straightforward place to start is at a state or national park. Check the park website, and if you don’t see any information, call and see if they have any recommendations.
Hit the Water with a Paddle Tour
With a name like Walk and Paddle, of course I’m going to recommend a paddle tour with your mom. You can choose kayaks or paddleboards.
Although some folks think you have to stand on paddleboards or that they are hard to balance, getting on a paddleboard from a seated position works best, and no one has to stand. Sitting is perfectly acceptable.
Do you or your mom have mobility needs? A tour company should be able to work with you and modify the location and board to fit everyone’s needs. If you aren’t sure where to look, search for ‘adaptive paddleboarding’ or ‘adaptive kayaking.’
Want to know more about paddleboarding in general? Check out my Paddleboarding 101 blog post.
Spend the Day at a Park
You can take mom to a county, state, or national park for her big day. Just make sure you research the park before making plans.
Every park is different and has different activities and amenities. Some places even have extensive visitor centers, exciting events, and places to eat and drink.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is an example of a park with tons to do, including walking trails, paddling, beach access, a restaurant, and other activities.
Still trying to figure out where to start? Check out these articles:
Go on a Sunset Cruise
Who doesn’t love a sunset cruise? I mean, there are probably folks out there who would hate it, but many people would call this a win.
A sunset cruise is beautiful and relaxing and gets everyone outside in a more upscale way.
They are all a little bit different, so do some research in your (or your mom’s) area to see what they offer.
I went on one, and it was wonderfully full—maybe 20 people. We all got to help with the sails. It was beautiful and so much fun. It was very casual and for all ages.
Some cruises have refreshments and live music.
Geocache with Mom
You might ask, “What the heck is geocaching?” or “I’ve heard the word, but I don’t get it.”
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting activity that uses Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled devices.”
So you and mom would go out into the great outdoors and find hidden containers (geocaches). You or your mom will need a Geocaching app to find locations near you. If you don’t love being in the woods, you can look for more urban locations to explore.
Check out this article by REI about how to get started geocaching.
Birding for the Win
This is a pretty easy activity you can do with mom. It’s relaxing, and the birds are beautiful (we’ll breeze right over vultures for a minute). If your mom is into birding, she will love it!
All you need for a successful day of birding are:
- Binoculars
- Field guide or Birding App
- Notebook to record your sightings
- A place known for birding
If you really want to kick it up a notch, pack a snackle box and fun drinks (with or without alcohol). Bring chairs in case you find a spot with good birding opportunities that don’t require following a trail.
Forest Bathing – shinrin-yoku
It’s a Japanese practice—a physiological and psychological exercise of immersing oneself in nature, consciously connecting with one’s natural surroundings. And no worries—nudity isn’t required.
Give your mom the gift of a stress-free and mood-improving day with forest bathing. Allow yourselves to focus on the simple and connect with her in a new way.
You can go with mom to just explore a natural and scenic place and:
- Look
- Listen
- Smell
- Feel
- Taste (but only with an expert/guide on this one!)
You can also find trained guides to lead you and your mom in a meditative experience.
Find out more about shinrin-yoku here.
Let’s Go Fishing
Does your mom love to fish? Plan a fishing trip. It can be as easy as finding a local lake and casting a few nets. Or you can make it more involved by renting a fishing boat or going out on a fishing tour.
Just make sure everyone has a fishing license. If only your mom has one and you still want to go with her, just hang out, watch, and encourage. You cannot help her, though. Research the fishing license required in your state. Some places will allow you to buy a visitor fishing license for the day.
Or, you know, buy your mom a fishing outing as a gift and don’t worry about it at all.
Catch Some Waves with Surf Lessons
Has your mom always wanted to surf? Help her make that dream come true with surf lessons!
Keep in mind that this isn’t just a fun day on the beach. There will be quite a bit of physical effort and sun. So make sure everyone is up for the challenge and for potentially being sore the next day. And everyone needs clothing that will stay on even in the waves.
The lessons are typically one or two hours long and can be private, semi-private, or group.
Join Mom on her surf lesson, and afterward, make it a beach day!
Check out this great article about learning to surf at any age (and ability). It’s about surfing in San Diego, but your area should have surfing schools that can accommodate everyone.
Rock Climbing in an Indoor Facility
If your mom loves rock climbing or has always wanted to try, consider a rock climbing center.
There are many places where folks can climb, and you can join her or just watch from a comfortable distance. The best things about an indoor rock climbing experience are staff to help you and your mom and no stress about the weather.
If you don’t want to go but know your mom would love this, consider buying her a rock climbing gift card.
Still trying to figure out where to start? Check out REI’s guide here.
Grab Some Bikes and Ride
Whether you and your mom have bikes or not, you can ride together. You can rent single, tandem, quadcycles, electric bikes, and more!
It can be as simple as cycling around the block or heading out to a place known for cycling and spending the day. Or you can find a fun bike path near you.
If you aren’t familiar with cycle paths, they are completely separate from motorized traffic. Some cut through urban areas, while others meander through forested zones.
And like so many other things, you can go on a bike tour to make it unique.
See if your area has biking brochures like this one in Florida.
Yoga, but Outside or by the Beach
Give your mom the gift of relaxation and healing movement.
Find a cool outdoor or beach yoga class. There are great ones out there for all physical abilities and levels. Some also have equipment available, so if neither you nor your mom has yoga mats or blocks, you might find a class that lets you borrow them.
If you want to make it more personal, see if you can find an instructor who offers private lessons. That way, it can just be you, mom, and whomever else you want to join you. A private lesson will allow the instructor to tailor the session to your mom’s needs.
Picnic at Mom’s Favorite Park
Pack up some of your mom’s favorite foods or foods you loved during childhood and head to her go-to park.
Book a pavilion to make it extra special and keep you and mom off the ground. Bring a decorative tablecloth, picnic-ware, food, and drinks, and you are good to go. You can decorate the pavilion too. Just because your mama loves the outdoors doesn’t mean she might not love a cute floral arrangement on the table or a “you’re the best mom” banner.
If she likes something fancy, hire a picnic set-up company. Yep, there are companies out there that will set everything up, provide decor, plates, cups, etc., and tear it down, too. Some also provide beverages. You provide the food. Oh, and other companies do a pop-up dinner table; they set up an eating table anywhere for you.
Plant Shopping & Gardening
If your mom loves plants, why not take her plant shopping? Head to the best (or her favorite nursery) and shop away.
After the shopping trip, help her in her garden by:
- planting the plants you just purchased
- working on other gardening projects she’s interested in
If your mom can’t garden like she used to due to physical limitations, this would be a great way to help establish a garden for her or clean up the one she has.
If you aren’t typically into gardening, let this be an opportunity for her to share her planting wisdom. Or if she doesn’t have a green thumb and you do, give her some friendly tips.
If you want to have a little more fun with it or make it more memorable, buy matching garden gloves, hats, and knee pads.
Skip All This and Buy Her Stuff
You might be thinking, “Jessica, there’s no way I want to do any of this, and my mom doesn’t want a fancy brunch.” The last resort here is to get her fun and outdoorsy things.
Practical and Fun Items
Cute Baseball Caps for:
- sunny hikes
- kayaking
- paddleboarding
- camping
- days on the beach
- visiting parks
Cool gear:
- hammock
- minimalist cup holder for paddling and boating
- a starter paddleboard
Helpful and Thorough Guidebooks for:
Cool Gift Ideas
Fun Themed Shirts for:
- general outdoors
- hiking
- kayaking
- paddleboarding
- birding
Journals to store memories when:
There are many other gift ideas for your outdoors-loving mama, so check them out here.
Mother’s Day Done!
I hope my ideas will help you celebrate your outdoorsy mom!
I like that this list has so many options!
Thanks!
great article. sending to my sister so Chelsea and she can come up with the perfect mother’s day for me. hehe
Hi Liz. Lol. Good! I was hoping us outdoorsy moms would finally get something we liked for Mother’s Day!
I love the way you detail everything and remind me of things to bring
Hey Paula. Thank you! Glad you found it helpful!