written by Nishtah Thomas
Mother’s Day is just around the corner! We all know mom deserves the best, no matter how late in the game your ideas might be. For those who want to surprise their mothers and wives, but aren’t organized enough to plan that far ahead, 1859 has you covered.
Getaways – Mother’s Day – Portland
Get out of the city and head to nearby Hood River to stay in the Historic Hood River Hotel. Relax while immersing yourselves in Nordic culture. Dig in to new foods in the Scandinavian dishes served there while enjoying the beautiful views of the Columbia River Gorge. Take advantage of year round skiing and buy passes to Mt. Hood Meadows. Truly live out that Nordic lifestyle. (Rooms $143-$215)
Go above and beyond and treat your significant mother to a relaxing weekend getaway in Willamette Valley wine country, at the Allison Inn & Spa. Sip on soothing local wines while looking over 35 hillside acres of vineyards. Relax at the spa or take in the beautiful scenery while taking advantage of the many amenities that the Allison offers. (Rooms $435-$695)
Brunch – Mother’s Day – Portland
Brunch is pretty much a Mother’s Day essential. What better way is there to spend Mother’s Day than at Mother’s Bistro? Serving enticing breakfasts from 8 a.m to 2:30 p.m. on weekends, this cute, local restaurant celebrates mothers every day of the year. Enjoy the featured Mother of the Month and the special dishes she brings to the table.
To have a great meal and to support a great cause, go to the Oregon Zoo’s Mother’s Day Brunch in the Cascade Grill Ballroom. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., dine on a delicious, local spread buffet style. All revenue goes to support the zoo in its conservation, education, and animal welfare work. $50 for ages 12 and up and $25 for children ages 3 to 11 years old. Oregon Zoo members and moms receive a 10 percent discount!
For all of the seafood-loving moms out there, treat her to Jake’s Famous Crawfish. Starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays, enjoy your brunch with the most fresh, local fish prepared in town.
Urban Farmer also has a Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet Special. Treat your mother to a fancy meal that also has a wide variety of waffles, an omelette station, and a large list of desserts. $65 for adult. $25 for children 12 and under. Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Spas – Mother’s Day – Portland
Plan a rejuvenating experience this Mother’s Day by booking a relaxing spa day for mom! Give her the alone time she needs to wind down and de-stress or book something for the pair of you to enjoy.
At Dragon Tree Spa, enjoy award-winning facials and massages. Facial prices range from the 30-minute Daydream Facial at $55 to the 90-minute Epicuren Signature Lifting Facial at $180.
For a great choice of traditional Hawaiian spa practices, head over to the Kanani Spa in downtown Portland. Choose from a wide variety of spa packages that can provide a blissful day of relaxation that any mom would love. The Perfect Day package is a four-hour treatment that includes a signature facial, a lunch, an 85-minute massage, and a body scrub all for $393. Another option is the Pono Spa Package, which is a two-hour treatment with a custom facial and an hour- long massage for $244.
Dosha Salon and Spa offers many options for a day of relaxation. You can get your hair, makeup, and nails done or spend your day in their spa. For $190, they offer a 3- to 4-hour Day Sampler package, which includes a massage, a facial and a pedicure. You can customize your own package for a spa day as well. Pick and choose what would be the ideal spa day for your mom on her day.
Cultural – Mother’s Day – Portland
Visit the Japanese Gardens on Kingston Avenue. Immerse yourself in the Japanese culture by walking through the gardens as part of a soothing tour. Starting on May 12, you can enjoy the beautiful Shokunin exhibition that explores the works of five different Japanese artisans. After a day spent learning, you can then take some time to relax by drinking tea at the Umami Cafe. Adult $16.95, Student $13.50, Youth (6-17), $11.50, Child (5 and under) free.
For a fun, family activity, the Portland Art Museum has the “Animating Life” exhibit going until May 20. For the kids and adults who are fans of animation, this exhibition explores the studio behind the wonderful creations of Kubo and the Two Strings, Coraline, and ParaNorman. Enjoy a family tour on Mother’s Day at 12:30 p.m. Admission for the museum costs $19.99 for adults, $16.99 for college students/seniors, and is free for children under 17. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Shopping – Mother’s Day – Portland
For some, a day filled with the “treat yo self!” mentality is all that’s needed to make the perfect Mother’s Day. Enjoy browsing and bonding with your mom by taking her out to these major shopping hotspots.
The Pioneer Place shopping mall has all of your needs in one stop. With all the fancy name brand stores for clothes, accessories, and technology, high end restaurants for meals, and even a movie theater for when you need a break from being on your feet!
On the more hipster, artsy side there are always the boutiques in the Alberta Arts District. Visit the Frock Boutique for all your vintage, crafty, local and also obscurely foreign needs. Then treat yourselves to a classic Portland sweet snack and stop by Salt & Straw to get all your favorite, wacky ice cream flavors.
Or lose yourselves in The Pearl District. Browse for hours along the many isles and floors of Powell’s Books. Read from your new finds while enjoying the cafe inside. Stock up on all the outdoor supplies you may want at the REI around the corner. Grab a slice from one of the many good pizza places in that area or sit down and sip a classic Oregon brew at Deschutes Brewery.
Soccer City, USA – Mother’s Day – Portland
Take that soccer mom to the next level and buy her tickets to see the Thorns and/or the Timbers play in downtown Portland at Providence Park! On Saturday, May 12, the Thorns play the Orlando Pride at 12:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $70. On Sunday, May 13, the Timbers play the Seattle Sounders at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $52 to $200.
