Five Out-of-the-Box Mother’s Day Ideas

Mother’s Day is just around the corner—are you ready? If not, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mom. Brunch is nice and flowers are sweet, but why not shake it up this year? This Mother’s Day, give her an experience she’ll remember. Whether she loves to pamper herself at the spa or would rather lace up her hiking boots and get outside, the Capital Region, Hudson Valley, and North Country offer exactly what Mom wants.

Get artsy

She can explore her creative side with a variety of art classes. Paint and sip classes are available across the Capital Region and beyond. Canvas, Corks & Forks has two locations (Troy and Schenectady) and offers classes for adults and kids; food and beverage packages are available. Sip & Canvas in Glens Falls and Saratoga Paint & Sip Studio also offer beverages on-site, but if you’d rather bring your own, reserve a seat at Latham’s Painting With a Twist.

From digital arts to ceramics to woodworking, The Arts Center in Troy offers multi-week art classes taught by local artists. Don’t want to commit to summer-long sessions? Try one of the center’s Crafty Hour events.

Go see a show

Proctors and The Palace Theatre have stellar lineups this year. Pick a show that the whole family will enjoy, or choose one from Mom’s bucket list. For entertainment al fresco, head to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Take in the annual jazz festival, Live Nation concerts, Opera Saratoga, and more.

For a casual, last-minute entertainment option, drive-in movie theaters are perfect for warm-weather fun. You can find them in Broadalbin, Palatine Bridge, Queensbury, and Malta. Pack a blanket and some healthy snacks (check the theater’s outside food policy), pop the back hatch, and enjoy a night at the movies under the stars.

Raise a glass

Microbreweries and distilleries are as popular as ever, so it’s easy to sip and find your new favorite. Take the Capital Craft Beverage Trail from Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company in Catskill to Adirondack Winery in Lake George. In between you’ll find Nine Pin Cider Works, Brown’s Brewing Co., Druthers Brewing Company, Schenectady Distilling Company, Inc., Great Flats Brewing Company, Racing City Brewing Co., and four dozen other breweries, wineries, distilleries, and even a kombucha maker. Cheers to that.

Take it outside

The Capital Region and Adirondacks offer no shortage of ways to get outside and enjoy spring and summer. With activities that appeal to both the serious Adirondack 46er and the hardcore couch potato, Mother Nature is ready for you. Take in sweeping Hudson Valley views from high over the river at the Walkway Over the Hudson, then have a picnic lunch at the state historic park. Enjoy a different perspective from the seat of a railbike. Revolution Rail Co. offers two- and four-seat cars that passengers pedal along decommissioned railroad tracks. If you’re up for a challenge, take on the treetop courses at Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, where you can swing, walk, and zip your way across and around obstacles for an afternoon of fun for kids and grownups alike.

Learn together

Art, history, molecules, or moose—the museums of the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Adirondacks offer hands-on experiences and information for the whole family. Kids and grownups can explore Construction Junction, Nature Place, Nano Exploration and more at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Troy. Across the Hudson in Schenectady, the whole family can learn about physics, biology, and space, as well as take in traveling exhibits, at the Museum of Innovation and Science (MiSci). Bring the kids or make it a grown-ups-only trip to the New York State Museum, where you can peruse art exhibitions, learn about the state’s history, and discover more about the people and places that shaped New York and the nation.

Tucked into a historic house in Glens Falls, The Hyde Collection features art and paintings from Renaissance masters to contemporary legends. The museum also offers classes and events throughout the year.

The Wild Center in Tupper Lake is an indoor-outdoor exploration of nature and ecology. At Adirondack Experience, you can learn about the history of the Adirondacks and why the region has long been a tourist attraction. Hands-on experiences give young and old alike the chance to see what it takes to make it in one of America’s great wildernesses.

Take your pick! There’s sure to be a unique, out-of-the-box idea that will wow Mom this Mother’s Day. You can keep taking care of Mom even after Hallmark takes the pink, flowery cards off the shelves. Encourage her to take time for herself, do the things that bring her joy, and stay on top of her physical health by seeing her doctor regularly and getting her no-cost preventive mammogram to check for breast cancer.

What great, unique gift ideas do you have for Mother’s Day? Share them in the comments!