For many of us, the next week will see us looking to find the perfect gift to show mum our appreciation. There are no hard and fast rules about what to buy your mum for Mother’s Day, but we bet all she really wants is to spend some quality time with you. So we’ve put a unique travel twist on some traditional gift ideas to inspire you. Eschew traditional chocolates and flowers for something altogether more exciting. Here are some wanderlust-inspired treats to show your mum how much she means to you!
Tour a chocolate factory in Belgium
We know we said to eschew traditional chocolates, but we’ve changed our minds. Leave the box of Black Magic on the shelf and do chocolate – and mum – the justice they deserve this Mother’s Day. Belgium is the place to be for everything chocolate, so hop on a ferry to Zebrugge and have a good old gossip during the short 26-minute drive to Bruges. Once you’re there head to Choco-Story, the finest chocolate museum in Bruges. Dip into the fascinating history of cocoa with a guided tour of the chocolate factory before joining your mum on a “Praline and Truffles” workshop, where every delicious morsel you make can be taken home.
Pick tulips in Holland
Forget the store-bought flowers, why not take your mum on a day trip to Holland, otherwise known as the “flower shop of the world”. Just a 45-minute drive from Rotterdam, Keukenhof is a breathtakingly beautiful spring garden lined with windmills, boasting over 7 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Flower season starts mid-March, and it takes around four hours to see the park in its entirety, so be sure to pack a picnic. Don’t forget to bring home some spoils from Keukenhof’s flower bulb shop, which sells only the most beautiful varieties displayed in the park.
Dine under the sea in Hull
As the City of Culture 2017, there’s lots going on in Hull over the next few months. Why not treat mum to one of the most memorable meals of her life this Mother’s Day? Hull’s world-class aquarium The Deep is putting on a totally unique dining experience at their Two Rivers Restaurant. Your mum will be welcomed with a glass of prosecco on arrival, before sitting down to a decadent three-course dinner at a table surrounded by tanks of beautiful tropical fish. The evening will be rounded off with freshly brewed coffee and handmade macaroons. Explore the exhibits on the restaurant floor between courses or after your meal; the table is yours for the whole evening so you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. Make sure to see the Gentoo penguins (one of which is named after Sir David Attenborough) and the handsome loggerhead turtles.
A shopping spree in Paris
Whisk your mother off her feet this Mothering Sunday with a trip to Paris she’ll never forget. Of course, the Champs-Élysées is the top of all Parisian shopping experiences, but if you’d prefer to shop in indoor luxury surroundings, why not try the gorgeous Galeries Lafayette? Browse the plethora of French boutiques with mum and treat her to something really special. The mall boasts a decadent interior with piano players on every corner – oh, and we’ll let you in on a little secret: the roof boasts unrivaled views of the whole of Paris.
Ready to plan your Mother’s Day getaway? Book a ferry crossing to your chosen destination today.
Featured image by >littleyiye<.
