Mother’s Day is a special day to celebrate the one person in your life who loves you unconditionally and you can always turn to for advice, supportive words, and fierce hugs.
We hope this list brings you creative ideas for celebrating Mother’s Day in Raleigh and beyond to help you do that this coming Sunday, May 12, 2024. And be sure to check out our Mother’s Day Gift Guide.
These motherly figures extend to our grandmothers, aunts, sisters, mentors, and carers – all those wonderful women worth celebrating.
For those of you who find this day hard due to motherly loss and hardship, our thoughts and hugs are with you, and may your special memories bring you comfort.
You’ll find most of our Mother Day ideas for Raleigh involve experiences over things. As lifelong travelers, we’ve always emphasized memories over an accumulation of possessions. While I love thoughtful gifts, I love even more quality time spent with those I love doing something special.
Think about what the mom in your life loves to do most and embrace that experience with her. Below are ideas shared mostly from our own personal experiences. You can easily combine several of the listed ideas in one day.
Many of these Mother’s Day ideas are great for last minute as they won’t require reservations! And if you are reading this from outside of Raleigh, find the places that match these experiences in your local area.
Mother’s Day Brunch Favorites + Special Events
One of the most popular things to do is Mother’s Day brunch in Raleigh, and brunch is quickly becoming one of our family’s favorite things to do too.
Raleigh has many outstanding brunch options. Below are a few of our current favorites. Share yours in the comments!
Here are our top brunch spots in Raleigh (so far):
- Taverna Agora – It makes me feel like I am back on the Greek Islands. I love enjoying a glass of their ancient Greek retsina wine on their outdoor patio surrounded by oak trees. Their food is also exceptional.
- Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewery – You can’t go past the views from Wye Hill Patio, which pairs perfectly with their innovative cocktails.
- Rosewater Kitchen and Bar – We fell in love with the incredible brunch experience in North Hills, whose floral interior design and ambiance made me feel like I was in Paris.
- Gringo a Go Go is a fun Sunday brunch spot for those who love Mexican and margaritas on a sunny patio.
- Irregardless Cafe is a wonderful place for brunch for those who have dietary considerations like gluten free and vegetarian/vegan.
Mother’s Day brunch events in Raleigh 2024
- Vidrio Raleigh will have a Mother’s Day brunch buffet menu on May 12th, 2024, for $65 Adults // $20 Children 10 and Under
- The Willard Rooftop will have a Mother’s Day rooftop jazz brunch on Sunday, May 12, 11am – 3pm
- Herons at the Umstead Hotel will have an elevated Mother’s Day brunch celebration. 10am-2pm $150 per adult and $46 per child (ages 2 to 10), inclusive of tax and gratuity
- The elegant Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill will have a special Mother’s Day brunch menu from 10:30am – 3pm $129 for adults, $69 for Kids (6-12)
- Crank Arm Brewing will have a Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch There’ll be live jazz, a food truck, and mimosas and Aperol Spritz!
Hike, Bike, or Paddle board together
I love hiking, biking, or paddle boarding together on Mother’s Day because it’s my day and the girls aren’t allowed to complain!
I recommend doing an early morning hike or bike trail (if the weather is warm, I’d even suggest these stand-up paddle boarding spots) and then heading straight for coffee, followed by brunch or another fun activity from this list – maybe a picnic or afternoon live music experience.
A few of our favorite trails:
- Lake Johnson Loop Trail
- Umstead Park
- Lynn Lake Loop
- Bond Lake Loop
- Lake Raleigh is a hidden gem for paddle boarding.
- Art to Heart Trail
- See more top trails in Raleigh here.
Afternoon Tea
We discovered the joys of experiencing afternoon tea together in London. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day together.
While I’m not sure if it will have quite the same ambiance and three-tiered offerings as in England, its traditional Motherland, a high tea in the Triangle can still be an elegant experience.
Notable afternoon teas places include:
- Herons in the Umstead Hotel
- Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill
- Fearrington Village, Pittsboro
- Washington Duke Inn, Durham
- Sugar Magnolia Café, Wake Forest
NOTE: The NC Museum of Art is having a special Mother’s Day afternoon tea that includes savory canapés, finger sandwiches, and inspired patisserie. May 12, 2024, 10am – 3pm $75pp
City of Raleigh Museum is hosting a Mother’s Day Sunset Soiree on Sat May 11 from 5-7pm. The evening will include finger foods, refreshing mocktails and cocktails, a DIY bouquet and candle bar and live music. $75
Picnic in the Park / Garden
If the weather is sunny, I recommend heading out for a picnic in a park. Raleigh has plenty to choose from. This is a great Mother’s Day idea for multi-generational celebrations.
On our first Mother’s Day during lockdown, Craig and the girls took me to Shelley Lake, grabbing some food along the way from STIR in North Hills. It was a relaxing day spent in the sun.
We also visited the Sarah P Duke Gardens one weekend to see their beautiful spring blooms. How lucky are we to have these spectacular world-class gardens nearby and for free? There are plenty of open spaces for picnics.
I also love the open space and city views from Dorothea Dix Park. Take down your frisbee and outdoor games to play together. There’s a great list of Raleigh parks to choose from and here are gorgeous Raleigh gardens to visit.
On Mother’s Day weekend, the spectacular Juniper Level Gardens will be open for their spring showings. They’re only opened 8 weekends throughout the year! What a great Mother’s Day treat!
Golf at Drive Shack
I love an interactive game of golf at Drive Shack. I’m much better at it than normal golf, and our family has a lot of laughs while we play it. It brings out the competitive, yet fun side of us all.
I know for sure my mother would love to play this with us, if she were not on the opposite side of the world. Plus, I love how it’s an indoor-outdoor experience and prefer it over the dark halls of a bowling alley. Read more about the Drive Shack experience here.
Figure out How to Escape Together
I love doing Escape Rooms with my girls. It is fun for the whole family – including multi-generational – and is a great bonding experience as you work together to solve challenging puzzles against a ticking clock.
There are several Escape Rooms in Raleigh:
- Game On Escapes & More
- ROOM 5280 – this was our first escape room and we loved it
- Times Up! Escape Rooms
- Amaze Room Escapes
- The Tower Escapes – we really want to do this one located in an historic house and tower in Raleigh.
Get tickets for a show, live music or theater
My family knows that live music is my jam! Whether it’s an acoustic session in a beer garden, or a headlining concert at PNC, I am there with my happy dance pants on! For Mother’s Day in 2023, we were at the Taylor Swift concert in Philadelphia!
Raleigh also has many theaters if you want to catch a show or more classical style productions. You can see our May event guide to check what concerts and live events are on.
Candleight Concerts
What about listening to a string quartet play songs from some of your favorite modern artists in an enchanting location under the spellbinding light of candles (they are fake though for safety purposes?
My eldest daughter, Kalyra and I enjoyed a date together at the Merrimon-Wynne House in Historic Oakwood for the Tribute to Taylor Swift (she’s a big Swiftie!). We both loved it!
Candlelight concerts happening a few times a month with tributes to artists like Nirvana, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Fleetwood Mac and Taylor Swift!
See our guide to the Candlelight concerts here. See all concerts, locations, times, and availability here.
Strawberry Picking
Tis the season for sweetness – and none more reflective of that than our mothers. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the state you live in and our very important producers. Most farms will also have other produce and may offer other delights like ice cream!
North Carolina is the third-largest producer of strawberries in the United States!
Now to add a cherry on top. Go home and create a yummy treat together. Or drizzle some chocolate over it and sit mom down on the porch with a glass of champagne.
Read our post about u-pick strawberry farms in Raleigh, Wake County, the Triangle and nearby counties
Wine tasting in Raleigh
Yes, we do have wineries near Raleigh! Last year we discovered Cloer Family Vineyards when our friends visited from Australia. It was so fantastic! We loved trying wines from white to red that were actually quite good, and grapes are grown, harvested, and produced onsite in Apex.
This is a wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day. It might be an activity you do with your own mom, rather than with your children celebrating you as a mom!
In North Raleigh, there is also the new ZincHouse Winery and Brewery, which is nestled on 87 acres of vineyards and treetop views. As its new, they don’t yet have their own wine harvested for tasting. But they have a good wine sommelier program. Plus, live music! This is an adult only playground though!
Chatham Hill Winery was established in 1999 — the fourteenth winery in North Carolina & the first winery in the Triangle. They have a tasting room in Cary with wine tastings and charcuterie boards on Sundays.
Why not take the mom in your life to Johnston County to experience Hinnant Winery? Craig and I loved wine tasting there on a date experience in Johnston County. They often have live music and the outlook over the vineyards is gorgeous!
We have a list of great wine bars in Raleigh and Wake County for even more ideas for mom!
Take a Weekend Getaway
You know we’re always up for travel. It’s so important we make time for it in our lives – especially for celebrating and connecting with those we love.
Special occasions tend to force us more into scheduling it in. Do you want to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts and a fancy meal, or would you rather go camping together, or rent a cute beach cottage? You can even make it a day trip rather than an overnight stay.
While the water temperatures may still be a little cool for swimming (but not for some) you can’t beat that fresh salty air, or the pine tree smell from your lake campsite surroundings.
Getaway ideas from Raleigh:
- 15 day trips from Raleigh
- Fearrington Village
- 1 day in Wrightsville Beach
- The Crystal Coast
- 20+ things to do in Outer Banks
- 2 days in Wilmington
- Brunswick Islands
- Carolina Beach
- Biltmore Estate
- Downtown Asheville, NC
- Lake Lure, NC
Give Mom Time Out
One of the best things any one can ever do for their mothers is to give them time out. No work or house duties today for the mom in your life for any reason.
Let them sleep in, make her breakfast in bed, give her a lazy morning sipping coffee on the back deck enjoying any of the gifts you do happen to buy them. Don’t forget to clean the house and make her dinner!
Local Gift Ideas
The gifts moms like the most are thoughtful gifts. I’m happier with a gift my girls bought themselves – or even better yet, made themselves – than I am with anything else.
The next best thing would be a gift that comes from my local community. We’re lucky in Raleigh as we have so many amazing local artisans and stores carrying all kinds of products for the mom you love.
From gifts to boutique clothes stores, vinyls, artwork, and local spirits, we have a cool list of local Raleigh stores where you can find a gift for the wonderful woman you are celebrating on Mother’s Day. A few other ideas moms tend to love. Here is a Mother’s Day gift guide for Raleigh!
Spoil Mom with local chocolate
Did you know that there are several chocolate makers in Raleigh? I’m sure plenty of mothers will appreciate a box of some of their favorite melt in-the-mouth treats.
- Videri Chocolate in the Warehouse district will have Mother’s Day bundles wrapped and ready for you. Their fine, hand-crafted, artisan chocolate is made from high-quality, responsible sources
- Escazu Chocolates: White Chocolate Pistachio and Dark Chocolate Ganache. Oh, and their Peppermint Marshmallows are a hit for dipping in a cup of hot chocolate. There’s also a coffee bar and ice cream.
- Azuerlize Choclates: A chocolate maker making unique gourmet chocolate truffles since 2002.
Plants that last
While I love a beautiful bouquet of flowers brightening up my home, I’m always so sad watching them fade to brown.
Instead, why not give your mom a plant, something that will last for a long time, and she can always think of you when she looks at it.
Just give her clear instructions on how to care for it, if she’s anything like me, she’ll kill it real fast. A next level gift would be an in-house session with Houseplant Hippie who can come to your home and recommend what plants would best suit your home – with instructions on how to care for them. That is very high on my wish list.
Some local House plant shops to consider:
- Logan’s one Stop Garden Shop in Seaboard
- Urban Pothos Houseplant Shop
- Copperline Plant Co in Downtown Raleigh
- Cary Garden Supply
- Green Rabbit – is a new green store in the North Hills Innovation District! It’s very cool!
Books for Mom (from local stores)
I’m sure most moms love reading a good book. Hold on, moms would first love the time to be able to read a good book! Encourage them with a book gift for Mother’s Day.
- Quail Ridge Books in North Hills was founded by Nancy Olson in 1984 and is still going strong as an independent Raleigh bookstore.
- So and So Books in North Person St carry a carefully curated selection of the owner’s favorite titles in all the major genres that you probably won’t find easily elsewhere.
- Liberation Station Bookstore is North Carolina’s first Black-owned children’s bookstore. Owned by Victoria Scott-Miller, an award-winning Raleigh-based entrepreneur, the bookstore specializes in children’s literature that centers on Black children and families. They are online at the moment while they look for a new location.
Once again, happy Mother’s Day, we hope it is a special and enjoyable day for you (and with your kids)!
Tell us your plans or any other great Mother’s Day suggestions you may have!
