30+ Things To Do in Los Angeles on Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8, 2022, and mothers deserve an extra special outing to celebrate. So here’s what you won’t find on this list: things that kids (and only kids) want to do. Here’s what you will find on this list: outings and activities in Los Angeles that moms will really enjoy—and that kids will have fun doing, too! Because nothing ruins a day faster than a complaining kiddo.
Start with brunch, of course, either made by your kids from one of these easy recipes or at a spectacular spot serving one of the best brunches in Los Angeles. Then, full and happy, move on to one—or more—of these 30+ options that will delight and surprise the mothers in your life.
Happy Mother’s Day, from all of us at Mommy Poppins.
1. See the Sport of Kings
Pack the makings for mimosas and settle on the edge of the field to watch a polo match at Will Rogers State Park.
2. Solo Spa Day
Treat mom to a spa day by herself at Glen Ivy Hot Springs.
3. Or a Together Spa Day
Treat mom to a spa day with some company at Wi Spa, which is a great first spa experience for kids, and welcomes the whole family.
4. Get Out in Nature
Go hiking with the mom(s) in your life! We have so many favorite hikes to pick from: overall favorites, ones where toddlers can walk along with you, perfect hikes for strollers, hikes where you can catch the last of the wildflowers, waterfall hikes, and even walks where mom can see some wildlife (that she didn’t give birth to…).
RELATED: 40+ Fabulous LA Restaurants with Outdoor Seating for Kids
Hikes, nature, cave paintings, and wine! Photo courtesy of Malibu Wine Hikes
5. Just Add Wine
Book a wine hike, where you hike on the private grounds of the vineyard, explore Chumash Native American cave paintings, and get wine to bring home with you at the end. Tours are for all ages, but please know that strollers or wagons aren't allowed. Wine is, obviously, only for those 21 & up.
Hit the beach for an outing that's built for two. Photo courtesy of visitsantamonica.com
6. Get Mom on a Bicycle Built for Two
Hit the beach and rent a bike for two, or bikes for all.
7. Take Mom Out To Eat
Visit one of these fabulous restaurants for brunch before or after some of these other activities. Our brunch picks are some of the prettiest tables in town, and serve up special meals on patios, in dining rooms, or to go.
8. See the Swallows
Book a tour of the gorgeous San Juan Capistrano Mission, or just stroll through the gardens and museum.
9. Visit the Pier
Take a visit to the Santa Monica Pier, where moms and kids can visit the Heal the Bay Aquarium, have a lobster roll lunch at the Albright, and take a spin on the Ferris wheel out over the ocean. (Sometimes the Ferris wheel gives a free ride to moms on Mother’s Day. This year that freebie is still TBD, but it can't hurt to ask!)
RELATED: The Very Best Mother's Day Brunches in Los Angeles
Treat mom like a goddess at the Getty Villa. Photo courtesy of J. Paul Getty Trust
10. Take a Trip To Ancient Rome
Via the 101, no airport required. Simply take a little spin up PCH to the Getty Villa. In this recreation of a Roman villa, you can see ancient art, stroll the gardens, and dine at the cafe. Just don’t forget to make reservations for the free museum.
11. Strut with the Peacocks
The peacocks at the Arboretum put on a dazzling display of nature. The grounds might look particularly purple on Mother’s Day, as irises and jacaranda are in full bloom.
12. See Mamas and Babies
Drive up to Santa Barbara and visit the Santa Barbara Zoo. Plenty of babies were recently born, and those still little youngsters can be seen with their own moms. (This is a great zoo for Mother’s Day because it’s beautiful and more manageable than the big LA Zoo, and more of a relaxing outing for moms.)
13. Take a Scenic Horseback Ride
Check this off your bucket list: a ride through the hills under the Hollywood Sign.
14. Take Mom To the Rose Bowl Flea Market
Let mom peruse the antiques at the Rose Bowl Flea Market to her heart's content and pick out a Mother's Day gift she really wants!
RELATED: Mother's Day Brunch Recipes Kids Can Make to Spoil Mom
Find the butterflies together. Photo by Gina Cholick/ Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
15. Soar with the Butterflies
Visit the Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Gardens at the Natural History Museum or the tropical butterflies at South Coast Botanic Gardens for a lovely and delicate outing.
16. See Flowers in Nature
Forget cut flowers that mom needs to put in water and tend, take her to see the wildflowers, irises, and the last of the lilacs in bloom at Descanso Gardens.
17. Get Mom Roses
Take a free trip to the Rose Garden at Exposition Park. You can even hop on the metro to get there! Bring a blanket and a picnic and loll in the splendor of the blooming roses.
18. Or a Whole Field of Flowers
Want even more flowers? Visit The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, where the flowers are blooming and the fields are open for the very last day of the season where mom can enjoy yoga, picnics, and live music.
19. Take Mom Out To the Ballgame
The Washington Nationals are playing against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim this weekend, so root for Los Angeles even if you're a Dodger fan. The Dodgers are playing in Chicago, so if the mom in your life bleeds Dodger Blue, stay home and catch the game with some peanuts and Cracker Jacks (or score mom a bag of the new Cracker Jill!).
20. Whisk Mom Away for a Weekend
A world away, yet just down the coast, is Terranea Resort. Whether you have the time (and money) for a staycation getaway or just a brunch on the cliffs, take advantage of all the luxuries and activities Terranea offers, like spa visits, pony rides, fishing adventures, archery, nature hikes, tide pooling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and more.
21. Explore Some Art, Indoors and Out
LACMA still has art for everyone in the family both indoors and out. Kids can run around outside at the streetlamps and inside they’ll be mesmerized by Metropolis II. Parents can catch the City of Cinema exhibit and also see the cool Mixpantli: Contemporary Echoes exhibit.
22. Recreate Venice
Can’t hop a flight to Italy? No problem. Take a gondola ride through the canals of Long Beach or Oxnard.
23. How About a Private Beach Cabana?
Reserve private chaise lounge chairs or a whole private area at Paradise Cove Beach. If that’s a bit too pricey, make a reservation for brunch, lunch, or dinner, and then stroll this private beach before or after dining.
RELATED: Great Mother's Day Gifts That Moms Actually Want
The Ventura Botanical Gardens provide a stunning view. Photo by Meghan Rose
24. See Spectacular Views
Get away from it all up the coast at the Ventura Botanical Gardens. These off-the-beaten-path pathways have gorgeous views of native flowers, the California coastline, the Channel Islands, and Ojai’s Topa Topa.
25. Make Mom's Heart Pound
Daredevil moms might like a trip to Magic Mountain because motherhood is one heck of a thrill ride!
26. See Some Immersive Art: Classic or Modern
If classic art is more mom's jam, walk into the world of Van Gogh and walk through projections animating his paintings at Immersive Van Gogh. For the hipster mom, check out Street Art Alive, where street art from around the world comes to life as you see sections of the Berlin Wall and walk through a subway recreation.
27. Get a Little Momentum
Theatricum Botanicum's annual Mother's Day celebration, Momentum Place, creates a fantastical world of aerial & circus performers and dancers & musicians in a fun performance that captivates kids as well as adults.
28. Travel Back to the Renaissance Period
Mom's the Queen; treat her to an experience like no other. Get into character by slipping into Medieval costumes and heading to the Renaissance Pleasure Fair for live jousting tournaments, swashbuckling, music, magic, and giant turkey legs.
29. Take a Trip Around the Harbor
Take advantage of the beautiful weather in Los Angeles and spend the day by the water in Marina del Rey. Start with brunch on the waterfront while you enjoy the spectacular views of the Marina, then have some good ol' kayaking fun. Enjoy the beautiful views of the sunset or splurge on a dining cruise and enjoy the scenic views of the Harbor.
30. Watch a Movie from a Boat
Keeping on that watery theme: Head to Castaic Lake for the ultimate cinematic experience. Rent a small boat or seat on the beach to enjoy a magical moment movie watching under the stars. Although Jaws is screening on Mother's Day weekend, so maybe come back the following week for Titanic, instead.
31. Have a Vegan Brunch with Rescue Animals
Animal lovers will enjoy a vegan brunch at Kindred Spirits Care Farm this Mother's Day. Visit with the rescued animals at the farm, followed by a delectable brunch under the olive trees.
32. Take Mom to the Fair!
What? The LA County Fair in May? After a tough two-year COVID hiatus, the Los Angeles County Fair returns for its 100th anniversary in the lovely, cooler month of May. Deep-fried Oreos anyone?
Additional reporting by Ana Belibasis