13 experiences to celebrate Mother’s Day in Seattle and beyond

In typical time-is-flying-faster-than-I-can-comprehend fashion, Mother’s Day is just around the corner. This year, put away the gift lists and prioritize spending quality time with your mom and the special women in your life. From tea dates and brunches to wildflower hikes and weekend getaways, make some new memories on May 12.

For the tea-loving mom

I have memories from a young age of going to afternoon tea with my mom and grandma. Today, my mom and I keep up that tradition, from seeking out tea experiences around the world to making a ritual out of brewing a pot of tea at home. This Mother’s Day, here’s where to experience some multicultural tea traditions across the Greater Seattle area.

• Bring mom to The Pantry in Ballard for a Persian tea party hosted by Omid Roustaei of the Caspian Chef. There, you’ll learn about generations-old Iranian tea rituals and how to make a Persian tea of botanicals and spices while snacking on savory and sweet Persian bites. Roustaei’s tea party will be at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend ($140/person). thepantryseattle.com
• Although there are plenty of memorable afternoon tea experiences right in Seattle, get a change of scenery at Kenmore’s Lodge at St. Edward Park. The historic building, which sits in a serene forest on the shores of Lake Washington, was constructed in 1931 and once served as a Catholic seminary. Today, the 84-room lodge offers a peaceful, picture-perfect setting for an afternoon tea with mom, where you can spend the afternoon sipping botanical blends and savoring tea sandwiches and scones. Mother’s Day tea ($72/person) is 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12. thelodgeatstedward.com
• Make a trip to the Seattle Japanese Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum to learn more about the sacred Japanese tea ceremony, an ancient art rooted in simplicity, harmony and respect. Pass through the traditional roji garden to reach the Shoseian Teahouse, which hosts tea ceremonies every Saturday, as well as some Fridays and Sundays ($15/person). seattlejapanesegarden.org

For the home cook

If some of your favorite memories with your mom are in the kitchen, carry on the tradition and cook together this Mother’s Day. Elevate your cooking skills at the Hot Stove Society, a Tom Douglas Restaurants cooking school inside Belltown’s Hotel Ändra. Hot Stove Society hosts fun, globally inspired cooking classes all year long. Gift mom a day of learning to cook pizza, Mediterranean mezzes, Spanish paella, and other delicious cuisines. (Cooking classes typically range $90-$150/person.) hotstovesociety.com

Looking to extend your quality time together after class? Book a staycation at Hotel Ändra, where cooking class students get a 20% discount on a hotel stay. After you’ve filled up on your tasty creations, explore the Belltown area or unwind in your plush suite. hotelandra.com

For the floral enthusiast

It’s hard to go wrong with celebrating the mother figures in your life with flowers. Although they’re usually a sure way to bring a smile to her face, skip the bouquet and experience the brilliance of spring blossoms together this year instead.

• Head to downtown Seattle to see brilliant blooms at the Pike Place Flower Festival. The historic market’s annual festival celebrates the diversity of Western Washington’s flowers and the flower farmers who make our lives more colorful. Bring the mother figure in your life to fawn over colorful bouquets of tulips, irises and peonies. Live tunes will set the scene for a flower-filled day in the city 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11-12. pikeplacemarket.org
• Learn the art of ikebana at the Chihuly Garden and Glass’ Spring Bloom. Guest artisan Megumi Schacher teaches the centuries-old Japanese flowering arranging tradition every other Sunday, including Mother’s Day (free with Chihuly entry, which starts at $35). Afterward, stop by The Bar inside the museum’s Collections Cafe for a spring-themed cocktail. chihulygardenandglass.com
• Celebrate Mother’s Day with a botanical brunch blitz at Seattle’s famous Fairmont Hotel ($120/person, including flower bouquet). Choose a colorful arrangement at the pop-up floral shop and fill up on a floral-themed brunch menu, which includes rose- and orange blossom-infused pastries and salads with edible flowers. Don’t forget to toast mom with a spritz from the botanical bar. fairmontolympic.com
• Aspiring florists and creative souls can learn the art of flower design with Fleurs Creative in Snohomish ($125/person). If you can’t make the Mother’s Day class, join instructor Alicia Schwede for classes the following week. fleurscreative.com

For the outdoorsy mom

With the gloom of April (hopefully) behind us, take mom outside to enjoy the longer days and newly blooming nature of the Pacific Northwest.

• For an adventure close to Seattle, head to Montlake to go for a stroll through the Arboretum. The rhododendron garden tends to be particularly magnificent this time of year. botanicgardens.uw.edu
• With Seattle’s abundance of kayak rentals, take mom out on the water for a paddle. Grab a kayak from Alki Kayak (rentals start at $25/hour; kayakalki.com) to paddle around West Seattle, explore Seattle’s lakes and bays with a kayak rental from Agua Verde Paddle Club in Portage Bay (beginning at $22/hour; aguaverdepaddleclub.com), or get out on Shilshole Bay with Ballard Kayak (rentals at $22/hour; ballardkayak.com). If you’re itching for an adventure further afield, head north to Bellingham. Women-owned Dragonfly Kayak Tours runs half-day tours ($85/person; dragonflykayaktours.com) exploring the enchanting coastline of Chuckanut Bay, which is teeming with wildlife.
• Hiking season might not be in full swing yet, but spring is the perfect time to search for early wildflowers and roaring waterfalls. Waterfall chasers should head to Mount Rainier National Park. Little Mashel Falls, accessible from the Carbon River section of Mount Rainier, is a moderate 5-mile hike featuring three waterfalls. For a longer excursion, hike Chenuis Falls in the Mowich region of the park, or check out Goat Falls near Chinook Pass for a short jaunt to some beautiful cascades. 
• The Columbia River Gorge area in southwestern Washington is the spot to go for early wildflower adventures. Grassy Knoll, Big Huckleberry Mountain and Weldon Wagon Road offer hiking adventures of varying lengths and difficulty, complete with brilliant wildflowers and views of Mount Hood.

For the road-tripping mom

If you manage to snag a whole weekend with mom or the other special ladies in your life, take a road trip to Oregon’s Willamette Valley for a few days of regenerative, outdoor- and wine-themed fun. On your drive down, make a stop at Amaterra Winery, located just 15 minutes outside Portland, for sustainable sips. Tucked between the Willamette River and the Coastal Mountain Range, Amaterra specializes in high-quality pinot noir that reflects its unique geographic location. amaterrawines.com

Continue your drive and land at Inn the Ground (rates start at $389/night), about an hour southwest of Portland. This bed-and-breakfast opened last summer and is the perfect setting for quality time with loved ones. The striking architecture blends into the hillsides of the Willamette Valley on the grounds of a regenerative farm where you can take part in yoga, meditation and guided hikes. theground.love

Between resting and relaxing in the atmospheric inn, make a trip to Durant Vineyards’ tasting room in Dayton, Ore. In addition to wine-tasting, take a tour of Durant’s olive mill, relax in the vineyards with a picnic basket or check out the winery’s Mother’s Day basket-hanging workshop on May 11 ($85/person). durantoregon.com

To top off a day at the winery, make a reservation for a spring meal at Humble Spirit in McMinnville, Ore. The eatery specializes in thoughtful, hyper-seasonal dining. The ingredients embrace the spirit of regenerative farming and are sourced locally from the best of the region’s farmers, fishers, ranchers and winemakers. Tuck into meals reflecting the here and now of spring, from hakurei turnips with roasted carrot hummus, to fresh greens and radishes. humblespirit.love