Unique Ideas for Mother's Day

It's time to treat your special lady!

Below is a list of 10 ideas of places to go and things to do near(ish) Atlanta to help inspire your Mother's Day (and Spring!) plans.

1. Eat Lunch at Julep Farms

Beautiful restaurant and shopping in Dillard, GA

Julep Farms in north Georgia, has a Chip and Joanna Gaines/Magnolia vibe (and you know mom loves her HGTV). It's just just lovely! You will find a full-service restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating, a small coffee counter, beautifully curated shop and an outdoor croquet lawn for games. Sometimes they host events like wildflower picking and specialty brunches so make sure to check ahead!

2. Take a (non) Hike to a Waterfall

One of Georgia's most beautiful waterfalls requires almost no walking

Enter through the gift shop to get to the stunning Toccoa Falls located on the Toccoa Falls College Campus in Toccoa Falls, GA. There is a nominal entrance fee ($2/person on our last visit and my family of 5 paid only $6 using a group rate). Once you enter the gift shop, it's a short 100 yard path to the falls making it an easily accessible experience for everyone! Visit nearby Toccoa for some small town charm (if you go on a Sunday, we found most shops closed but we enjoyed exploring anyway).

3. Go on a Mystery Road Trip

Secret envelopes take you on an adventure close to home

If your mom is into an "experience gift" over things, than this is a great idea. This was the second trip we've taken with Guess Where Trips. I love any excuse to spend time with my kids, but I especially love it when I don't have to plan any of it! Read more about our experience here or visit their shop here and use code MAINSTREETS10 for 10% off (watch for shipping deadlines if you want this by Mother's Day).

Disclosure: *I am a Guess Where affiliate so may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through the link.  This is at NO additional cost to you and helps support the costs to keep this site running. Thank you for shopping through the links, I appreciate your support!

4. Visit a Winery

Drink wine, eat pizza and listen to live music at this Cumming, GA winery

Visiting a winery is one of my favorite things to do on Mother's Day. I love sitting back and enjoying a beautiful vineyard setting. We like to take a picnic but if you're in the mood for a full service option, we like Stoney J's Winery because it's not too far and they offer some delicious food options in addition to their wine and beer menu. I recommend the wood-fired pizza! They also have live music on the weekends and the farm setting is absolutely lovely. Please note: Only children 14+ with the exception of infants and strollers.

Click here for a list of other wineries within an hour of Atlanta.

5. Take a Train Ride

Take a trip through history on the SAM Shortline Railroad

Full disclosure, I have not done this yet but if my family is reading this...this is what mom wants! I love the idea of sitting in a vintage train car and watching the world go by. The "Presidential Flyer" excursion travels through Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains and also his boyhood farm. If you haven't been to either, I highly recommend a visit.

These pictures were taken on a visit to Plains, GA and the crew was kind enough to give me get a sneak peek inside the train.

6. Go on a Day Trip

Open a map, pick a town and make a day of it

If you're looking for inspiration, the town of Senoia, GA is a great option to explore with coffee shops, one of the cutest bookstores I've seen, shopping and lovely homes around the area. This is also a great spot for tv and film buffs as many things have been filmed here. Make sure to stop by the visitor's center downtown for more information!

7. Do Some Shopping

Visit an old mill turned shopping district in Canton, GA

I love exploring local shops and small retailers especially when they are in such a unique building like this former 1900s denim mill transformed into a retail space in Canton, GA. The Mill on Etowah is a gorgeous industrial space featuring locally owned shops, eateries, a 45,000 square foot antique market, brewery and more. They often have events on the outdoor green space so make sure to check ahead!

8. Go to a Game

Watch your mom yell...(in a good way)

I can only speak from experience but one of my favorite ways to spend time with my kids is at an Atlanta United game at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. I just love it! The tickets are usually pretty reasonable and the drinks and food prices (for a stadium) can't be beat. It's a fantastic way to spend the day. And if you go early you can see the players arrive and spend some time in the Home Depot Backyard.

9. Surround her with flowers

Enjoy a stroll in one of Atlanta's most beautiful places

Ok, this one is not a unique idea, but a visit to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is an absolute must especially in spring. Stroll the gardens, grab a glass of rosé and just enjoy each others company. Also, did you know there is an Atlanta Botanical Gardens branch in Gainesville, GA? Check it out here!

10. Visit a Coffee Shop

Pour a cup of coffee and spend some time together

There are so many great coffee shops to choose in and around the Atlanta area. The one pictured here is called Mountain Mama's Coffee Shop in Blue Ridge, GA and is located at the back of the beautiful Blue Ridge Inn. It absolutely charming and centrally located in downtown Blue Ridge so you can fuel up and spend the day exploring the shops and galleries. If you're looking for something different, check out my instagram post about coffee shops here!

Thank you for reading and however you decide to spend Mother's Day weekend, I hope it's a great one!