This year, our Mother's Day Guide is sponsored by the Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel. This iconic urban resort is home to stunning guest rooms, award-winning restaurants, views to impress Grandma, the Fairmont Spa and a sprawling tennis, swimming and fitness club with fun for the whole family.
Mother's Day is May 12th and there are as many ways to celebrate moms as there are moms in the world. We hope you can find just the right way to say, “Hey mama, thanks for all you put up with while raising me to be a decent human.” Here is a selection of ideas to get you started.
Save on a Mother's Day Staycation
Turn the day into an unforgettable weekend with a limited time offer to save 15% off when you book overnight accommodations at the Claremont by May 12th! This offer is exclusive for 510families to join in this Mother’s Day Weekend for all the fun activities. Click here to book now.
Mother's Day Activities
Afternoon Tea. Take in the breathtaking views and create lasting memories with your family at Claremont’s lovely Afternoon Tea. Enjoy a selection of your favorites teas, sparkling wine, and sweet and savory bites from the Claremont pastry kitchen. Call for reservations, (510) 549-8556.
Ice cream tour. We like an activity that keeps kids moving and have enjoyed this Rockridge ice cream tour from Local Food Adventures.
Outdoor adventure. There are dozens of ways to play outside with your family. Pick your favorite hike or outing and force the kids into a gentle “No whining, it is Mother's Day” agreement. I find a pocket full of candy helps. Choose a place outside for bigger kids or little ones. I've had mixed success with a Mother's Day brunch hike in Marin (early risers, go for it!).
Mother's Day Bay cruise. RSVP for tix to a Mother's Day afternoon cruise out of Alameda or another one out of Berkeley. Spend the day out on the San Francisco Bay eating and drinking bubbly.
Do something together on Sunday, May 12 (family-friendly happenings)
9:00 am - 1:00 pm Amazing hike & Pancake Breakfast at West Point Inn9:00 am - 10:00 am FIT4MOM Run Club Meet Up at Peet's Coffee & Tea at Public Market
9:05 am - 10:00 am Free Trial KickStart Mini Soccer Class for 3 year olds at John Muir Middle School Field
9:45 am - 10:45 am Tot Splash at Richmond Swim Center
10:00 am - 11:30 am "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star": for the Very Young at Children's Fairyland
10:00 am - 3:00 pm Farmers Market and Hands-On Crafts at the Kids' Corner at Jack London Square
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Free Day at The Exploratorium at Exploratorium
10:00 am - 2:00 pm Kensington Farmers' Market at Kensington Farmers' Market
10:00 am - 11:30 am Kindergym Sunday PlayDay for Under 3s at Temple Beth Abraham
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Mother's Day @ Oakland Zoo at Oakland Zoo
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Mother's Day Extravaganza at Annie's Annuals & Perennials
10:00 am - 6:00 pm Spring Festival Mother's Day Weekend at Downtown Alameda
10:00 am - 4:45 pm STEM Odyssey for Kids at CuriOdyssey
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Mother's Day Mamas at Crab Cove Visitor Center
11:00 am - 3:00 pm Drop-In Art Studio: I Heart Mom Tattoo Ink Lab at Contemporary Jewish Museum
12:05 pm - 3:05 pm Cal Men's Baseball vs. Stanford at Evans Diamond
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Monkey Times - Family Dance Party at Club Ritmo Fitness
1:07 pm - 5:00 pm A's vs Indians, Breast Cancer Awareness Day at Oakland Coliseum
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Family Recreation Swim at Richmond Plunge
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Mother Earth -A Garden Themed Afternoon at Ocean View Brew Works
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Mother's Day Touch Tank at Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center
Eating Out on Mother's Day
Mother's Brunch. Rosé all day! Claremont Club & Spa invites you to spend Mother’s Day with a bottomless glass of rosé, gift bags for mom, and delicious brunch items (fresh seafood, custom omelets, waffles, eggs benedict, and irresistible desserts). Kids' Club is offering discounted childcare rates of $12/hour/child so she can really relax. Call for reservations, (510) 549-8556.
Other options for my favorite meal of the day? Berkeleyside Nosh has a tasty list of (510) brunch spots including some of my favorites. You could also go to Thailand (locally!) for a special brunch there.
Lunch. OpenTable has a list of East Bay restaurants with special menus and options for Mother's Day. If you'd rather expand your search toward the City than through the tunnel, hit the checkbox for San Francisco and see the list grow. This list did not include my faves, but I can't be everywhere!
Dinner. If the weather is pleasant, take mom to eat outside where she won't have to stress (as much) about manners and noise. We like these places to eat outdoors with kids in Oakland, outdoor patios in Berkeley, and al fresco family spots in Alameda.
Gift ideas for moms
Kid craft projects. Made with love and their own messy handwriting, these cute craft sessions are happening before mom's special day: blooming art project, a potted succulent, or a faux bouquet at Lakeshore Learning.
Paint some kiddo handprints on a lovely keepsake mug at Brushstrokes in Berkeley or Color Me Mine in Alameda. My family has a few of these and I tell my husband that every year, he only needs to fill it with chocolate (but like really good chocolate!)
Book a photography session with a local family photographer. Surprise mom and grandma with the best framed prints.
Night out. UrbanSitter.com has gift cards (Hooray for a gift that goes with everything else).
Mini pedi. More than one East Bay mom has named Joie Nail Spa as her favorite casual indulgence. Deals and discounts on salon treatments >
Deluxe spa treatment. Treat mom to an unforgettable Mother’s Day with a day of pampering at the Fairmont Spa at the Claremont. The award-winning spa is open daily and offers a full menu of amazing massages and revitalizing facials. Umm, complimentary childcare at Claremont Kids' Club is included in all spa treatments! Book her treatment at (510) 549-8566.
The Claremont will also be hosting a complimentary Skincare Pop-up event in their spa boutique on Friday and Saturday afternoon from 11am to 5pm join with senior estheticians as they give tutorials on the best skin practices and daily regiments. Check in with Joy.Shimura@Fairmont.com for more info.
Learn & play. Get Mama signed up for an evening or weekend workshop at Handcraft Studio School or School of Wonder. Or, commit to a hotter kitchen with a class from Kitchen on Fire.
Tickets. Find some deals for upcoming shows and tie the tickets up with a ribbon.
Share the love. For the woman who doesn't need anything, make a donation to local non-profit Help A Mother Out, raising funds to provide diapers to moms in need.
Thanks again to the Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel for sponsoring this guide. The Claremont is the perfect destination for an afternoon getaway or a Bay Area staycation (book it now and save 15%).
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