Mother’s Day is right around the corner on Sunday, May 12! Looking for a fun way to spend the day with your family? Check out these Boston-area Mother’s Day ideas — and let someone else do the planning!
Stroll through the Public Garden and join Duckling Day
Hop on a Swan Boat and then take part in Duckling Day in the Boston Public Garden. Based on the classic book “Make Way for Ducklings,” hundreds of children parade through the park dressed adorably as characters from the book. Plenty of other kids activities and music will be happening as well.
Enjoy Sunday brunch
If you’d like something a bit more relaxing, enjoy a fabulous brunch at one of Boston’s great restaurants, like Henrietta’s Table, Alcove, the Beehive, Grana at the Langham Hotel, Davio’s, or Cafe Luna — their lemon-ricotta pancakes are reason alone to go!
Sip afternoon tea in Boston (or beyond)
Enjoy beautiful tea sandwiches and artistic baked goods along with a relaxing cup of tea this Mother’s Day. There are so many picturesque spots for afternoon tea in the Boston area — we especially love the Courtyard Tea Room at the Boston Public Library (reservations are much sought-after), Fancy That Tea House, the Ladyfinger Lounge, and Abigail’s at the Boston Tea Party Museum.
Explore the Museum of Fine Arts
Check out the many current exhibits. They also have several cafes where you can grab a snack or share a meal.
Relax on a harbor cruise in Boston or Gloucester
There are several options if you’d like to enjoy a relaxing harbor cruise in the city or on the North Shore. Boston has a brunch cruise with live jazz, or if you’d like to explore Gloucester for the day, hop aboard the Beauport cruise line harbor cruise.
Explore the boutiques and art galleries on Newbury Street
Stroll down Newbury Street in and out of the many art galleries. Stop by Eataly for an Italian lunch or dessert!
Walk the Freedom Trail
There are a number of fascinating Freedom Trail tours that are worth exploring! You can tailor your tour to whatever theme you’d like — including revolutionary women (perfect for Mother’s Day!), the North End, or African-American patriots.
Attend the Arnold Arboretum’s Lilac Sunday
What a beautiful way to spend Mother’s Day! There are tours, children’s activities, and picnic space available. Lilac Sunday has been celebrated at the arboretum for more than 100 years.
Pick tulips at a local farm
Tulip picking generally starts at the end of April and lasts for a few weeks. Some local places worth checking out (get your tickets in advance!) include Wilson Farm, Golden Hour Tulip Farm, and Wicked Tulips Flower Farm.
Do you have a love for craft beer? Are you looking for a fun night out? Why not check out one of the many fantastic breweries Boston has to offer? Many are family friendly, so pack up the kids and enjoy the local flavor! 
For my kids, a trip to a good bookshop can be more fun than visiting a 
A playground visit with younger kiddos can be the perfect outing! But not all playgrounds are created equal, and when the structures are too large or the layout isn’t conducive to wandering toddlers, it can be stressful for mom. I’ve discovered so many wonderful playgrounds with my boys over the years while living in Lowell. Here are some of our favorite family parks and playgrounds — that are perfect for the baby and toddler years — in the cities and towns north of Boston.
Recently, I did something I never thought I’d do as a parent: I put an Alexa device in my child’s room. 
Turns out, this is one of my new favorite skills. We love reading books at bedtime, but there’s always a small gap of time between when my kiddo goes up to her room and we come to tuck her in. Playing a bedtime story helps settle her in, and she’s definitely calmer by the time we come up to do our bedtime routine!
This is a classic but exceptionally useful tool that takes the pressure off moms to remember how many days until the next birthday, school vacation, or holiday. One of those Alexa Skills that gives kids some independence!
Want to get a little silly? SillyThings will give your child (or you!) prompts for something funny to act out, like, “Act like you just ate a really sour lemon,” or “Do your most silly dance,” or, “Act like you are standing on hot lava.” It’s a fun one to try with the whole family, too!
