Oh to be a mom on Mother’s Day in San Diego! Whether you’re a tourist or a local, your kids are little or grown, you have a big budget or a small one, we may have found the perfect way for you to celebrate motherhood. Choose from 50 fabulous DIY brunch recipes or a sophisticated brunch out, family-fun activities or something just for Mom, an outdoor nature hike or a relaxing spa treatment. There are plenty of things to do on Mother’s Day in San Diego, so dive in and find what clicks for the special woman in your life.
Just for Kids: Mother’s Day Confections – This one requires some planning, because kids make and package chocolates for mom the weekend before Mother’s Day. Make chocolate bark, almond cakes with strawberries, or cardamom shortbread cookies at The Curious Fork in Solana Beach.
Carlsbad Flower Fields – It’s the year of the California super bloom. Celebrate mom with a season-ending tour of flower displays. Watch the colorful BV High Ballet Folkorico dancers. Let Mom create her own self-made mixed bouquet for $5.
Brunch at Home – It’s fun to take Mom out to brunch (so you can eat out too!), but how about surprising her with a fabulous brunch that you made yourself? Set up on the patio, bring it to the beach or park, or serve her brunch in bed. Here are 50 fabulous recipes.
Hops and Shop Spring Market – This one’s on Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day. 32 North Brewing Co. hosts a spring market with numerous vendors. Bring Mom to attend workshops and demos while snacking from food trucks and drinking a beer or two. Swag bags for early birds!
Elfin Forest Way Up Trail – If your mom is the outdoorsy type, Elfin Forest is a great place for hiking, mountain biking, photography, botanical nature walks, and picnics. The best part is that you can spend the whole day with mom, and it’s free – including the parking.
San Diego Golf – San Diego’s perfect weather makes America’s Finest City a haven for avid golfers. Treat mom to 18 holes at one of two premier public courses Torrey Pines Golf Course or Coronado Golf Course. With 90 public and private courses in San Diego County, you’re sure to find the right one.
Gaslight Gathering 7 – If you’re looking for unique, this is it. Gaslight Gathering Steampunk and Victoriana Convention. The event, held at the Handlery Hotel San Diego, Mission Valley, features science fiction and fantasy fashion shows, a makers room, and more. Come for the weekend or just the Mother’s Day Tea.
Brunch at La Valencia – For an opulent brunch that’s sure to impress Mom, take her to The MED ocean view California-Mediterranean restaurant in La Jolla’s famed La Valencia Hotel. Share bottomless mimosas and champagne with brunch and listen to live music.
Padres Mother’s Day – Hit Mother’s Day out of the park by ordering Mom a Padres “Mom #1” shirt that she can wear to the Monday night game (the day after Mother’s Day) when the Padres take on the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Day at Petco Park.
Mama’s Day – The 26th Annual Mama’s Day tasting event is Friday evening of Mother’s Day weekend at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla. Over 50 restaurants will offer tastes at this premier tasting event. There is music and a silent auction. The event benefits Mama’s Kitchen.
Tacotopia – Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, The San Diego Reader sponsors the third annual Tocotopia in Golden Hill Park. At this fun event, 50 of the best taco vendors from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Tijuana compete for the honor of best taco…and attendees decide.
Coronado Historic Home Tour – Is your mom a local history buff? Maybe addicted to HGTV? Either way, the annual Coronado Historic Home Tour of six beautiful homes that capture the essence of the island will make her Mother’s Day special.
Ron Funches Standup – Another pre-Mother’s Day event here. Catch comedian Ron Funches from NBC’s “Undatable” and Comedy Central’s “Drunk History” at the American Comedy Co. in the Gaslamp Quarter. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend.
Chocolate Festival – Here’s a scrumptious pre-Mother’s Day event that’s sure to make Mom happy. Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day, San Diego Botanic Garden hosts their famous Chocolate Festival. The family-friendly event has tastings, demos, a chocolate fountain, and more.
Art, Garden & Studio Tour – The San Dieguito Art Guild presents its 52nd Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Art, Garden & Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday. The self-guided driving tour is in Encinitas and Carlsbad featuring artists showing and selling their work and free refreshments.
Koi Paint Night – Koi Bar presents its Koi Paint Night with “Bob Ross” Mother’s Day Edition on Friday evening of Mother’s Day weekend. The artist/instructor will help you and Mom create your masterpieces together. Session includes a free Happy Hour drink.
Jazz Brunch at the Abbey – Here’s another extraordinary Mother’s Day Brunch to consider. Held at the historic Abbey on Fifth Avenue downtown, it includes free-flowing mimosas and champagne, a sumptuous brunch buffet, live jazz, and a flower for Mom.
Gator by the Bay – The four-day Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival wraps up on Mother’s Day. There’s a full menu of music with zydeco, blues, Cajun, swing, salsa, country, and jazz There’s dancing, Cajun and Creole food with 10,000 pounds of crawfish, and plenty of family-friendly fun in Point Loma.
inBloom Tea Party – What says tradition better than Mother’s Day tea? inBloom at Flower Hill Promenade hosts a traditional English tea party in Del Mar. You’ll sip tea from fine china and nibble handmade scones, fruit, cookies and finger sandwiches for an elegant experience together.
The Catamaran Spa – Pamper Mom with a spa day at the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa in Mission Beach. Build your own spa package from a menu of treatments. Amenities include robe and sandals for the day, relaxation lounge, secluded Mission Bay-view whirlpool, and more.
These are our San Diego Mother’s Day picks, but there are tons of spring activities to choose from for enjoying time with Mom. The Mother’s Day Brunch list alone is nearly endless! Tell us how you like to spend Mother’s Day in America’s Finest City.