Photo by Marian Vejcik
Mother’s Day 2024 falls on Sunday, May 12. If you don’t have that date circled on your calendar, take a minute to do it now. (We won’t judge if you forgot.) Planning the perfect day for the perfect mom takes time, which is why we’re here to help you make the day a little more special and personal for her. We aren’t talking store-bought gifts or last-minute brunch reservations at the Omni Mount Washington or The Old Salt, though neither of those options are bad ideas; we’re talking about spending quality time together in unique places around the Granite State. Whether you choose a date at a local tearoom, a scenic tour around Woodstock or the Isles of Shoals, or even a cozy paint night in, our curated activity list goes beyond a vase of sunflowers to make sure mom feels loved and celebrated this year.
For the tea lover
Each of these tearoom experiences offer a whimsical escape from day-to-day life, and a step into a “Chronicles of Narnia” wardrobe meets “Pride and Prejudice” afternoon high tea that will lead to an abundance of relaxation and pampering. (Don’t forget your fascinator — pinkies up!)
Étagère in Amherst. Photo by Kendal J. Bush
Étagère
114B Rte. 101A, Amherst
(603) 417-3121
sipshopsoak.com
The Silver Fountain Inn & Tea Parlor
103 Silver St., Dover
(603) 750-4200
silverfountain.com
The Cozy Tea Cart
104A Rte. 13, Brookline
(603) 249-9111
thecozyteacart.com
Fezziwig’s Food and Fountain
112 State St., Portsmouth
(603) 501-0023
fezziwigs.shopsettings.com
For the chef
Whether your mom wants to try her hand at learning how to make pasta, or she’d rather sheet-pan meals for the family, each of these cooking classes and their expert chefs will have her feeling like Julia Child by the end of the day. (Check out their websites for virtual class options if you’d prefer to stay home!)
The Culinary Playground
16 Manning St., Suite 105, Derry
(603) 339-1664
culinary-playground.com
Williams-Sonoma
9 Via Toscana, Suite 620, Salem
(351) 277-6136
williams-sonoma.com
Liz Barbour’s Creative Feast
Hollis
(603) 321-5011
thecreativefeast.com
For the garden lover
For a bit of outdoor relaxation, visit one of the state’s public gardens, each offering inspiration (maybe for mom’s own garden, or just to delight in) and time for a much-needed pause among natural beauty.
Photo courtesy Fuller Gardens
Petals in the Pines
126 Baptist Rd., Canterbury
(603) 783-0220
petalsinthepines.com
Fuller Gardens
10 Willow Ave., North Hampton
(603) 964-5414
fullergardens.org
Tarbin Gardens
321 Salisbury Rd., Franklin
(603) 934-3518
tarbingardens.com
Kirkwood Gardens
900 Route 3, Holderness
(603) 968-7194
nhnature.org
For the cozy homebody
No need to take mom out to have fun. An indoor picnic? An evening spent sipping wine and painting? A game or craft night? These local companies will help you create Polaroid-worthy memories in the comfort of your own living room.
Photo courtesy Boho Pop-up Picnic
Seacoast Picnic Co.
Portsmouth
(603) 809-9437
seacoastpicnic.com
Muse Paintbar
42 Hanover St., Manchester
(888) 607-6873
musepaintbar.com
AR Workshop
875 Elm St., Manchester
(603) 573-9662
arworkshop.com
Brainstorm Puzzle Co.
Dover
wearebrainstorm.com
For the adventurer
From island walking tours, to brewery or birding tours, to tours through the mountains or through an arcade, there are endless Granite State adventure opportunities to scratch mom’s every camaraderie-plus-exploration-tour itch.
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves. Photo by Stillman Rogers
Funspot
579 Endicott St. North, Laconia
(603) 366-4377
funspotnh.com
Isles of Shoals Steamship Company
315 Market St., Portsmouth
(603) 431-5500
islesofshoals.com
Scenic RailRiders
188 Sewalls Falls Rd., Concord
(603) 931-1700
scenicrailriders.com
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves
1712 Lost River Rd., North Woodstock
(603) 745-8031
lostrivergorge.com
Alpine Adventures
41 Main St., Lincoln
(603) 745-9911
alpinezipline.com
The Savory Lane
(978) 912-0444
thesavorylane.com
Mother’s Day Flowers
A beautiful bouquet of flowers is a tried and true Mother’s Day gift, one that will surely bring your mom some much-needed joy.
Paisley Floral Design Studio
2107 River Rd., Manchester
(603) 493-8386
paisleyfloraldesign.com
Cymbidium Floral
141 Water St., Exeter
(603) 772-1300
cymbidiumfloral.com
The Flower Kiosk
61 Market St., Portsmouth
(603) 436-1234
flowerkiosk.com
Apotheca Flowers
24C Main St., Goffstown
(603) 497-4940
apothecaflowershoppe.com
Jacques Flower Shop and Garden Center
712 Mast Rd., Manchester
(603) 625-5155
jacquesflowers.com
Prescott’s Florist
23 Veterans Sq., Laconia
(603) 524-7945
prescottsflorist.com
Mountain Roots Farm
4123 Main St., Bethlehem
(603) 686-0296
mountainrootsfarm.org
Ruthie’s Flower Shop
328 White Mountain Hwy., Conway
(603) 447-8878
ruthiesflowershop.com
Want to see more Mother’s Day events, or book a Mother’s Day brunch? Check out our Mother’s Day Events guide here! For more assistant editor Emily Riley’s Mother’s Day gift picks, check out her article here!