Mother’s Day Brunch and Activity Guide

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There will be no mistaking you care with these plans for a great Mother’s Day

Spend some quality time with your mom this Mother’s Day with these ideas for brunching, pampering and making her feel as special as she is

On the one day a year dedicated to Mom, plan something she’ll remember long beyond May 13.

Mother’s Day Meals

Brunch
There’s no shortage of Mother’s Day special offers, but it is one of the busiest brunch days of the year so make reservations to avoid disappointment. Open Table has dozens of restaurant listings all over the province; you can search by price, menu, availability and neighbourhood and make reservations online. There’s lots to chose from, including Mother’s Day menus, hotel buffets, jazz brunches and prix fixe options.

A Meal to Remember
The historic Rosewood Hotel Georgia is hosting a West Coast brunch in its completely restored Spanish Ballroom. The 1920s-themed event will include children’s activities, door prizes and live jazz music by the Kris Covlin Trio. Adults $75, seniors $65, children 6-12 $35, children under 5 free; book at 604-682-5566.

Dim Sum Deliciousness
Dim sum is very condusive to group dining; it’s casual, family style and kid-friendly. Many Chinese restaurants host regular weekend dim sum; Sun Sui Wah on Main St. and Kirin Restaurant are popular spots that accept reservations.

Tea for Two
Classic tea service is such a treat! For a list of restaurants and hotels that offer it, check out Pinkies Out: High tea in Vancouver.

Dine at a Winery
Enjoy a delicious meal (and plenty of amazing wine) at Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Nestled in Okanagan’s bucolic wine country, Miradoro’s 2-course brunch tasting menu is just $30, with $5 going to BC Children’s Hospital Caring a la Carte program. Or, indulge in a glass of wine, a harpist, a view of Lake Okanagan and a sumptuous buffet – Mica Restaurant at Spirit Ridge is hosting what promises to be an idyllic Mother’s Day afternoon brunch. Reservations recommended, 250.495.8007,

Tigh-na-mara Brunch
The picturesque Tigh-na-mara Seaside Resort  & Conference Centre hosts a delicious Mother’s Day brunch with a carvery station and classics like eggs benedict and waffles, as well as abundant kids options. May 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 1155 Resort Drive, Parksville.

Mother’s Day Activities

Mom and Me Manicure and Pedicures at Pure Nail Bar
Spend an hour chatting and catching up on gossip magazines while getting your digits perfectly polished at one of Pure Nail Bar’s 10 Lower Mainland locations. Choose matching colours for you and mom from a rainbow of OPI options – coral is perfect for spring. Manicure/pedicure combos from $50 pp.

Rock of Ages
Music-loving mamas will go wild for the hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages. With 28 ’80s tunes by big-hair bands including Journey and Bon Jovi, this is a gift that will have her singing a happy tune for days. (PS: For a less-expansive alternative, you could instead promise to take her to the movie version this summer.) May 8-13, The Center for Performing Arts, tickets $45-$95.

Township 7 Vineyard and Winery
Raise a glass to mom! Langley’s Township 7 Vinery & Winery is holding a free outdoor event with a wine-tasting bar, kids’ craft station, and a display by local artisans. There will be brunch items for sale by the Make and Break Arts Foundation, so bring a picnic blanket and soak up a day of sun and relaxation. May 13, noon-4 p.m., RSVP to gail@township7.com by May 10 if you plan on attending brunch, free by donation to charity. 21152 16th Avenue, Langley.

Blue Sky Circus at PNE Gardens
Don’t you just love when the circus comes to town? Well this grown-up spectacle goes way beyond piling clowns into a car; the Blue Sky Circus is on for three nights only and features acrobats, trapeze, object manipulation and family-friendly entertainment. May 10-13, 2012, two shows daily (12:30 p.m., 7 p.m. daily) at PNE Garden Auditorium. Adults $20, Youth (18 & under) $13, Students and Seniors ($15).

Bar Method Vancouver
Spend an hour of mother-daughter “tuck” time at The Bar Method Vancouver. A celebrity favourite, this ultra-effective workout incorporates ballet, Pilates and interval training to create long, lean muscles. Between the deep stretching and spa-like facilities, you’ll both feel refreshed and fit after the hour-long class. Warning: classes are highly addictive, so this could quickly become mom’s new hobby. Two studios: Yaletown (837 Beatty Street) and West Vancouver, $24/class, book online at

Pier Street Farmers Market and Arts Fair
Enjoy the picturesque beauty of Campbell River at the Pier Street Farmers Market. Take mom for a leisurely waterfront stroll and pick up fresh produce, chat with farmers and shop for wares from local artisans under a (hopefully) sunny sky. Use the fresh ingredients as inspiration for a home-cooked Mother’s Day dinner. Free admission, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

UBC Botanical Garden
If mom likes to stop and smell the roses, she’ll love this annual Perennial Plant Sale. Rare and unusual plants, fruits, grasses, shrubs, plants and gardening accessories are for sale, and there are experts offering great advice for a green thumb day to remember. Free admission, May 12 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.).

Hastings Racecourse
A day at the races? You bet! Book a private box, spread out on a picnic blanket or cheer on your filly from the benches at Hastings Racecourse, Vancouver’s only horse track. There’s a special Mother’s Day brunch, or if mom is busy studying the stats, pick up some classic outdoor fare (like hot dogs and beer) from the concession. For a touch of Kentucky Derby flare, don a hat or fascinator (maybe you have one left over from Will and Kate’s wedding viewing party?) Book a brunch reservation at 604-216-5200.

Psychic Medium Reading
For a sixth sense experience, treat mom to a 60-minute psychic/medium reading with Shana Lee Gibson. Book one for each of you so you can compare notes afterwards. Can be done in person or over the phone, $100/hour.

Stay and Play Downtown
Turn Mother’s Day into a night at one of downtown Vancouver’s swankiest hotel. The Loden Hotel has a Mise en Place for Mom package that includes a glass of sparkling wine at check-in, a soothing infrared sauna treatment, tea service at turndown, a bubble bath drawn especially for her by a Bath Butler and a guaranteed reservation at the sumptuous Tableau Bistro (pictured) for four – along with four complimentary Mommy Dearest cocktails – so you and the rest of the family can join her for brunch. Rates from $269 (brunch not included), valid April 26-13.

Need more gift ideas for your mom? Check out our Mother’s Day gift guide.