GROUPON GUIDE TO CHICAGO

Moms Help Us Determine the Best Experience Gifts for Mom (DUPLICATE)

BY: Colleen Loggins |Apr 20, 2020

This Mother's Day, you could go the traditional route and pick out some cheerful flowers for your mother or a nice piece of jewelry. And if she loves those things, you should definitely stick with the classics. If she's a little less traditional or if you're unsure of what to get her, then it's time to consider experience gifts for Mom.
These basically act as gift experiences for families, not just Mom, but that's OK because they give Mom the opportunity to spend time with her favorite people and create memories. But how do you choose between taking a class and watching a show together? Bonding over a room-escape game and bonding during a spa visit? To help you narrow it down and pick the best experience gifts for Mom, we interviewed several moms to see what activities they've loved doing with their families over the years.
Quick Stats about the Moms
- 15 moms interviewed
- 47% have been a mom for 15 years or more
- 40% have 3 or more children
Their No. 1 Activity of Choice? Getting Out in Nature.
The moms we interviewed overwhelmingly preferred to spend time in nature with their families. Except for one person, every single one of them said it was one of their favorite things to do with their families.
Mary Susan Delagrange, who has four kids ranging from 21 months to 7 years old, visits a local nature center in Ohio about once a week with her kids. She loves how it's "educational without being overly structured." Other moms love taking their young kids to pick and eat strawberries or to pumpkin patches crammed with toddler-friendly activities.
Karen Loster, the mother of three and grandmother of four, loves her family's tradition of hiking through Devil's Lake State Park every year. "We have been doing this for over 40 years, first with my husband's family and now with our grown children and grandchildren." The park has a bit of something for everyone in the family, from rock climbing to swimming. Read our Devil's Lake Travel Tip Sheet if you think your mom would like to visit.
Nature-Related Experience Gifts
A lot of nature activities are free, but if you want to buy your mom a nature-related gift, opt for admission to a botanical garden or try kayaking down a picturesque river or horseback riding along a wildflower-lined trail. And there's always the zoo. "The zoo was always a favorite when our kids were little," says mother-of-two Michele Schwartz.
Their No. 2 and 3 Activities of Choice? Eating Meals with their Families and Visiting Museums.
Nearly all of the moms (73%) said they loved eating a nice meal with their families. Liz Gorr, the mother of three daughters in their late 20s and early 30s, enjoys "celebration meals" with her family. "As little kids, celebrations meant relatives, presents, and good food. As our kids got older, meals meant a time to catch up with each other, share laughs, dreams, and just enjoy being with each other," she explains.
And 67% of the moms said they liked going to museums with their families. Connie Wayman, who has one adult son, says that one of her favorite family memories was exploring the Body Worlds exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Lisa Lux, who has two young kids, said that one of her favorite outings was when she took her 3-year-old out of school for the day and went to the Shedd Aquarium. "He was so thrilled ... it piqued his interest in aquatic creatures and he seeks out books about them," she says. "That experience has stuck with all of us, and we revisit the memory often."
Just maybe rethink the museum if your family has a little one like Aja Scarlato's daughter, Sophia. "Sophia is very social and enjoys every outing ... except the Planetarium. She was terrified. She thinks it (the Planetarium) is stalking her"!
Food- and Museum-Related Experience Gifts
Obviously, you could take your mother out to dinner or explore a museum with her for Mother's Day. But if you want to do something a little different, go with her to try a tasting menu at a famed restaurant or accompany her on an educational guided tour. Bonus points: opt for a guided food tour if she loves both eating out and learning.
Other Gifts to Consider
Consider getting your mom tickets to see her favorite team play (three of the moms said they liked going to sporting events with their families), or if you want to go really big, take her on a vacation. Many of the moms agreed that it was wonderful to break out of their everyday routines and spend time away with their loved ones.
What Did the Moms Not Recommend?
This varied by family, but mother-of-four Mary Susan Delagrange expressed concerns about going out to eat when you have young kids. "Nothing gives me more anxiety than taking my kids to a place that isn't cool with them being kids," she says, adding that a lot of restaurants and their patrons have "unrealistic expectations" for kids. So if you're looking to buy a young mom a nice meal, make sure she can get a babysitter for the evening.
What Happens if You Pick the Wrong Gift?
Don't worry, because sometimes the worst outings make for the best memories. "Those moments are fodder for later laughter!" says mother of two Elaine Gritti.