Great Mother's Day Gift Ideas from a Mom

Honoring your mom, or anyone who is a mother figure, is hard to figure out each year. Yes, moms love the handcrafted coupon books, decoupage trays, and hand-traced flowers (I keep mine in my kitchen). But moms also love to be pampered and just spending the day chilling with the kids. Mother’s Day is sure to be a beautiful day along San Diego’s coastline, and we’ve listed a number of ways to enjoy the day. Because no matter how much you spend on mom, the real value is your gift of thought and time. Happy Mother’s Day!

Flowers: Surround your mom with flowers and take her to the Mother’s Day Celebration at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. Visit the spectacular 50 acres of Flower Fields, which has been an annual colorful celebration of spring for over 60 years. Moms will enjoy creating a freshly picked bouquet from the abundance of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus. From noon to 5 p.m., entertainment will be provided by Sequin in the Sky. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3 to 10. Optional wagon rides available too. The fields are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the last day of the season is May 15. The Flower Fields, 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, 760-431-0352, theflowerfields.com.

Giving: Moms are natural givers, and a generous way to honor your mom is to take her to the 20th Annual Mama’s Day culinary extravaganza at the Hyatt Regency at the La Jolla Aventine, Friday, May 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. Mama’s Day is the biggest fundraiser for Mama’s Kitchen, the only organization that prepares and delivers three meals a day, seven days a week, at no cost to San Diegans who are suffering from critical illnesses such as AIDS or cancer. Through donations, Mama’s Kitchen serves to nourish hearts, one meal at a time. The Mama’s Day event features tastings from over 55 chefs, restaurants and caterers. There will be an opportunity drawing, as well as a Super Silent Auction, where bidders can text in bid amounts. General admission tickets $125, VIP tickets $250. mamaskitchen.org.

Art and Garden: Inspire your mom by viewing both art and gardens during the Mother’s Day Art & Garden Tour in Encinitas. The San Dieguito Art Guild hosts the self-guided tour. Eight home gardens are on view from Del Mar to Encinitas, each featuring artists, refreshments and entertainment. All of the art displayed will be for sale, so guests just may find that perfect present for mom’s house. Tours are on both May 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Tickets are $20, and kids 17 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at Off Track Gallery or Art N Soul, offtrackgallery.com.

Meals: Moms don’t want to cook on Mother’s Day, so treating her to a delicious meal out is a wonderful way to enjoy the beautiful day. There are an abundant number of places to bring mom, including:

• The Marine Room: Besides enjoying views of La Jolla Shores, guests can choose from a decadent, seasonal Mother’s Day menu including Farmer’s Market Sweet Corn Blue Crab Bisque, Pink Guava Ginger Coated Baja Wild Prawns, and Lemongrass Kalbi Basted Maine Lobster Tail. For dessert, local flavors offered are Fallbrook Macadamia Crème Brulee, Carlsbad Strawberry and Peach Cobbler, and Blue Sky Ranch Lemon Raspberry Gratin. The special menu is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mother's Day. 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla, 858-459-7222, marineroom.com
• Pacifica Del Mar: A striking view of the Pacific Ocean is the backdrop for Pacifica Del Mar's special Mother’s Day three-course prix fixe menu. Start with a choice of orange juice, coffee, Bloody Mary or Champagne Mimosa; then choose your first course of Japanese Clam Chowder, Organic Mixed Greens or Scottish Smoked Salmon. Your breakfast main event selection are Brie and Asparagus Omelet, Eggs Benedict or Cinnamon Brioche French Toast. There for lunch or dinner? Then try Barbequed Sugar-Spiced Salmon, Free Range Chicken Breast or Seafood Stew. End with your dessert choice of Pacifica’s Burnet Cream, Three Layer Chocolate Mousse, or Blood Orange Sorbet. Cost is $35 per person. 1555 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, 858-792-0476, pacificadelmar.com.
• Mother’s Day Luncheon with pianist Eleanor Baldwin: The Carlsbad Senior Center hosts this luncheon featuring Eleanor Baldwin, a piano teacher from Carlsbad. She loves playing the best of the past hits, such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. Lunch is on Monday, May 9, 11:15 to 12:15 p.m., cost is $3.50. Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave., Carlsbad, 760-602-4650, carlsbadca.gov.
• Firenze Trattoria: Dine in Tuscany, or at least feel like you are, for Mother’s Day at Firenze Trattoria in Encinitas. The restaurant is offering its regular menu from 1 to 9 p.m. Tasty dishes will surely transport your soul to Italy. Jazz will be playing on the patio from 5 to 8:30 p.m. 162 South Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas, 760-944-9000, firenzetrattoria.com.
• La Costa Resort & Spa: The luxurious, serene resort’s Poinsettia Ballroom is the site for an elegant Mother’s Day Brunch, served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can indulge in a decadent brunch of unlimited offerings. There’s a special station just for kids too. Cost is $68 for adults, $25 for children ages 5 to 12. 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, 800-854-5000, lacosta.com.

Do it All: Why not bring mom out to eat, for a spa treatment, golf, tea and bubbly? Spend the entire weekend relaxing and getting pampered at The Grand Del Mar. The special Mom’s Night-In upgrade is available for those who book The Grand Bed & Breakfast Package. Mention the upgrade upon booking (good until June 30) and get four complimentary amenities including access to The Spa, soothing bath salts at turndown, one complimentary in-room movie and one ice cream sundae. The package starts at $425 a night and includes accommodations and a full breakfast. Then there’s the number of dining options, including a three-course brunch menu served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $45 per person. On Sunday, female guests receive a free round of golf at The Grand Golf Club. Then go to The Grand Dap Spa for special packages, which include Alfresco spa lunch. And being the mom that you are, don’t forget the kids and sign up for the Just for Kids Cooking Class on May 7, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For $65, you get some mommy and me time in the hands-on cooking class. Who knows maybe, they’ll start cooking from now on … just a thought. 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, San Diego, 858-314-2000, thegranddelmar.com.