Great Local Mother’s Day Gifts
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, and many people may still be at a loss for gifts. Instead of turning to the old standbys flowers, chocolate, and breakfast in bed (or perhaps in addition to them), consider giving Mom something a little bit more unique. Here are some ideas to make this Mother's Day one she'll always remember.
Wine Tours
After a long day at work or at home, sitting down with a glass of wine can be heaven. You can give your mother an extended wine experience at one of Rhode Island’s beautiful vineyards. Newport Vineyards offers winery tours twice every day. Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth has tours and tastings each day, and starting in May they put on Jazz Tastings featuring live jazz music along with seven types of wines. And in addition to wine tasting tours, Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton has a May wine sale going on this month, with sales on their Petit White, Spring Bouquet Rose, and more, to give your mom as an extra gift to take home. Wine makes everything better.
High Flying Adventures
For a more thrilling gift for Mom, try something airborne. A hot air balloon ride is a memorable and exhilarating gift for anyone, and there are different companies offering rides to show you Rhode Island in an entirely new way. Check out your options here and here. And if your mother is even more adventurous, maybe think about getting her the experience of a lifetime- a gift certificate for skydiving. It may not be for everyone, but if your mom is one who likes to get out there and try new things, this could be the perfect gift. Skydive Rhode Island offers tandem jumps, so she can feel the excitement of the dive without worrying about opening and closing the parachute. Either ballooning or skydiving will make a gift that you can be sure she won’t forget.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Food, Books, and Special Gifts
There are plenty of different kinds of gifts from local shops that your Mom will love. Farmstead/La Laiterie has a special box of treats for Mom this year. It includes a tangy spreadable New England cheese, Kate’s Rustic Scones, and a jar of sweet jam from Bonnie’s Jams. There are also hand-crafted goodies from Garrison Confections in Central Falls and Q-Tee mini cutting board and cheese spreader. Barrington Books has an assortment of books especially for Mother’s Day, from books about subjects like gardening, extraordinary mothers, food, and even a book filled with “Yo Momma” compliments. And if you have no idea what to get her, visit the Frog and Toad in Providence to get some ideas. With a friendly staff, eclectic gifts from around the world, and an abundance of locally-made items, like jewelry, handbags, art, T-shirts, handicrafts, and more (and free gift wrapping), it’s not likely you’ll leave empty-handed.
Art Classes
For the creatively inclined mother, an art class may be just the thing to make her day. The Rhode Island School of Design has summer courses for adults in areas like drawing, painting, glass blowing, ceramics, and jewelry making. The Newport Art Museum has many adult classes in May and the rest of the summer months, with classes like Figure Drawing, Intro to Oil Paint, and Basics of Digital Photography. The East Side Art Center in Providence runs summer classes starting in July to give everyone, no matter their level of experience, a fun, relaxing art experience. They have classes in beginning and advanced drawing, watercolors, multi-media painting, and creating portraits. Art is great therapy for calming frazzled nerves, which is something every mother needs.
Spa Packages
You can’t go wrong with a spa day, and luckily a few of Rhode Island’s best spas are offering Mother’s Day specials. Elan Day Spa in Cranston has a deluxe package including a Salt Glow, Personalized Facial, 50 minute massage, 90 minute Spa Pedicure, and Spa Manicure all for only $220. Spadyssey in Providence has a large array of packages to choose from to pamper Mom. The Mom’s Symphony treatment includes a Europa facial, Swedish massage, and spa manicure and the Mother/Daughter package gives both special ladies a spa experience. But for the ultimate in Mother’s Day gifts, consider the Mother’s Day Surprise Makeover, where a limo arrives at her house with flowers and champagne, then takes her to the spa for a lunch or dinner, hot stone massage, facial, and mani-pedi. She’ll leave feeling like the queen that she is.
Kayak Trips
For the outdoorsy mom, the Kayak Centre of Rhode Island is holding a special Mother’s Day paddle so you and Mom can enjoy some quality time out on the water. A Kayak Centre guide will accompany you as you paddle around the charming Wickford Village in a stable double kayak with her. This is a gentle journey, so no experience is necessary, although you both should wear some clothes that you aren’t afraid to get wet. Two trips are leaving on Mother’s Day, one at 9:00 AM and one at 1:00 PM, so you can go either before or after brunch. You’ll both have a lot of fun, soak up some sun, and get a bit of exercise in the process.
For more Mother's Day coverage, don't miss GoLocalTV, fresh every day at 4pm and on demand 24/7, here.
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