We can all agree that being a mom is one of the toughest jobs in the world. From caretaker to teacher to disciplinarian, our moms are incredible ladies that deserve our love and gratitude for all they do for us. What better way to show appreciation than to treat them to a special weekend? Here are fifteen things that you can do in and around Baltimore to create a fantastic outing for all the mothers in your life.
1. Make a home-cooked meal together
Nothing says I love you quite like a warm home-cooked meal does. As a surprise, why not take a trip down to one of Baltimore’s five public markets with mom?
Baltimore has one of the oldest public market systems in the U.S., and there are a great many products to be found there. Spend the morning browsing through local produce, high-quality meats, and fresh seafood.
After you’ve picked up some ingredients, you can head home and cook up something delicious. Cooking together is a great way to spend some quality time with your mom, and the delicious food afterwards just makes it better.
2. Treat her to a fancy brunch at the Inner Harbor
It’s also nice to give mom a break from the kitchen sometimes! Baltimore’s Inner Harbor boasts great spots to indulge in a weekend brunch.
If your mom has a sweet tooth, then head over to Miss Shirley’s Café. There, you’ll find treats on the menu such as Coconut Cream Stuffed French Toast or Berry Fresh Waffle Sampler. Miss Shirley’s Café is open on Sundays from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm, so it’s a good option if your mom is an early riser!
Otherwise, you can enjoy fantastic seafood at the Rusty Scupper. Their Sunday brunch from 10.30 am to 2.00 pm is one of the best in the city. The restaurant also has a great view of the harbor, so both your eyes and taste buds get a treat. Afterwards, you can take your mom for a stroll along the harbor to walk off all the food you just ate.
Miss Shirley’s Café
Address: 750 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202 United States Inner Harbor
Contact: +1-410-528-5373
3. Take a daytrip to Frederick, Maryland
Escape Baltimore for a fun day in Frederick, Maryland. Frederick is about an hours’ drive away from Baltimore, and is well-known for being rich in history, as well as for its picturesque setting at the foot of the Catoctin Mountains.
You can head out from Baltimore in the morning and reach Fredrick just in time for brunch. Dine alfresco at one of the restaurants along Carroll Creek, or check out some of the restaurants along Market Street.
Frederick’s downtown shopping area is classy yet quaint. Many of the shops are housed in historic buildings and sell everything from books to fashion. After brunch, you can take your mother there for a stroll – the many shops are bound to yield something your mother wants, if not needs.
4. Spoil your mother with a staycation at The 1840s Carrollton Inn and Plaza
Ever felt like giving your mother the royal treatment she deserves? You know have the chance to do that – by booking her a pampering weekend at the 1840s Carrollton Inn and Plaza.
As the name suggests, the Carrollton Inn is like taking a trip back in time. It’s made up of a series of row homes (houses that are connected to other houses), some of which date back to the 19th century. The buildings surround a charming courtyard where guests can enjoy a homemade breakfast.
The Carrollton Inn has 13 suites and rooms, all uniquely decorated with historic pieces of furniture. Of course, the rooms also come with modern conveniences like cable, high-speed Internet access and a microwave and refrigerator.
The service here is excellent, and a weekend stay is bound to leave your mother feeling wonderfully pampered.
1840s Carrollton Inn
Address: 50 Albemarle Street
520 meters (0.4 ft) from National Aquarium
5. Marvel at nature at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail
If your mother enjoys nature, why not spend a day with her at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail? In the early 1900s, the Chesapeake Railway brought visitors to the grand hotels and resorts along Chesapeake Bay. Now, visitors can enjoy a different sort of grandeur as they walk along the trail.
The trail occupies a portion of the abandoned railway, and is now a boardwalk built over water and marsh. It is scenic and it is a lovely place to take an evening walk. Enjoy the view of the wetlands, as well as lots of birds and marine life.
You can cycle along the boardwalk, or take it slowly and enjoy the view with your mother. It’s a short trail and the boardwalk is well maintained, so it’s good if you and your mother aren’t lovers of too much physical activity.
6. Enjoy a fancy Italian dinner together ...
Baltimore’s reputation as a foodie town is steadily rising. Nothing says classy quite like Italian food, and Baltimore has no shortage of that. After all, the city has a neighborhood called Little Italy for a reason. From homemade pasta to lobster-brandy ravioli, Baltimore’s Italian places will have something to wow your mom. Most of the restaurants also have a well-paired wine menu to go along with the food.
These are some of the well-reviewed Italian spots in Baltimore:
Aggio
Located in the Inner Harbor, Aggio was opened by Bryan Voltaggio, the James Beard Award’s finalist behind Frederick’s Volt (see point number 12). It’s has some of the hottest tables in town, serving house-made pasta and modern Italian fare.
Aggio
Address: 614 Water Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Aldo’s
Found in Little Italy, Aldo’s has been around for nearly twenty years, and has consistently produced delicious, classic interpretations of Italian dishes.
Aldo's
Address:306 South High Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Pazo
Over at Harbor East, Pazo places an emphasis on food from Southern Italy. Think Neopolitan Pizzas, wood-grilled meat and seafood, and house-made ricotta with honey. It’s set inside a 19th century machine shop, managing to be elegant and cozy at the same time.
Pazo
Address: 1425 Aliceanna St. Baltimore, MD 21231
7. … Or go around the world with Baltimore's international dining scene
Remember Baltimore’s foodie reputation? Well, it wouldn’t get that reputation if it didn’t give you the chance to go around the culinary world. Thankfully, it’s got lots of options for that! Here are some places to try something different to impress your mom:
Azumi
Over at Harbor East, Azumi brings together the delicacy of Japanese cuisine and the edgy side of its modern culture. It honors traditional Japanese dishes with a wide range of sushi and sashimi. If you’re feeling less adventurous, they also have fare like roasted chicken and wagyu steak.
Azumi
Address: 725 Aliceanna St Baltimore, MD 21202
Contact: +1 443-220-0477
Charleston
Charleston is widely accredited with bringing fine dining to the Baltimore food scene in 1997, and it’s still going strong today. Enjoy exquisite French cuisine and excellent service in an elegant dining setting.
Charleston
Address: 1000 Lancaster Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Tio Pepe
Authentic Spanish cuisine anyone? For the past 47 years, Tio Pepe has brought flavorful Spanish dishes to Baltimore’s shores. Make sure to try the paella, or the selection of grilled and roasted meats. If you want to avoid crowds, go during the lunchtime period.
Tio Pepe
Address: 10 E Franklin St Baltimore, MD 21202 United States Mount Vernon
Contact: +1-410-539-4675
8. Admire artwork at Walter's Art Museum
Walter’s Art Museum has paintings, sculptures and art from around the world and throughout the ages. Take in artifacts, paintings and jewelry from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th century Europe. The museum is full of treasures, such as Greek sculptures and Roman Sarcophogi. Your mom might not like the art as much as she liked your childhood art pieces, but it’s still a good place for you and your mother to spend an afternoon slowly admiring art from around the world.
Walter’s Art Museum
Address: 600 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD
Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (except Thursdays), 10:00 - 21:00 (Thursdays)
Fixed holiday: Mondays & Tuesdays
9. Surprise her with tickets for a show at the Hippodrome Theater
You don’t just get to enjoy a performance at the Hippodrome Theater – you also get to enjoy amazing architecture from the 1900s. The theater was built in 1914 and its box office has been kept busy ever since then.
Catch a musical or a concert with your mom for a pleasant evening. Be sure to get there early so you can admire the gorgeous facades and designs.
The Hippodrome Theater
Address: 12 N Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD
10. Let your mom escape to Tilghman Island for the weekend
Does your mom ever complain about needing a break from the hustle and bustle of city life? If so, you can make that dream come true by booking her a weekend Tilghman Island.
Located on Chesapeake Bay, Tilghman Island was settled in 1659, and has remained the quaint fishing village it was centuries ago. The pace of life is slow, and residents and visitors alike seem to like it that way.
Your mother can choose to relax the weekend away, or try out some of the other activities on Tilghman Island, such as cycling, kayaking and fishing. Animal migrations, including porpoises, monarch butterflies, and birds, also pass through the island at various times of the year. There are many affordable places to stay on Tilghman Island, making it a perfect place for a weekend away.
11. Explore the diverse ecosystems of Lake Roland Park
Located just outside the northern limits of Baltimore City, Lake Roland Park is full of different landscapes. It includes wetlands, meadows and hardwood forests. The Bare Hills area in the west contains the serpentine barrens, which have many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
If your mother loves nature and all its diversity, you definitely have to bring her here. Aside from trekking on the trails, you can also try out other activities like cycling, canoeing and kayaking. You have to bring your own canoe or kayak for water activities.
12. Have the culinary experience of a lifetime in Frederick
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A trip to Volt is one step above taking your mother to a fancy dinner – taking her for a 21-course tasting menu prepared by James Beard Award’s finalist Bryan Voltaggio. If 21 courses sounds like a bit too much, you can always try the six-course tasting menu, or dine a la carte. Their entrees are seasonal, and are prepared with locally-sourced ingredients that showcase classic flavor combinations.
The restaurant is located in a 19th century brownstone mansion, creating a distinct ambience that is a mix of Victorian elegance and contemporary sophistication. Volt is the perfect place to experience fantastic food in a unique and classy setting, making it great way to celebrate a special occasion with your mom.
Volt
Address: 228 NORTH MARKET ST. FREDERICK, MD
Contact: +1-301-696-8658
13. Pack a picnic basket and go to the Cylburn Arboretum
The May weather is perfect for packing a picnic basket and wandering through the beautiful flower gardens of Baltimore’s Cylburn Arboretum. An arboretum is a collection of trees, and the Cylburn Arboretum boasts over 20 themed gardens and three miles (4.8 kilometers) of wooded trails. Each garden offers colors and textures that are sure to delight visitors.
You can arrive in the late morning and slowly stroll through the park, enjoying the beauty of nature. Afterwards, spread out a mat under some trees (the grove of Japanese maples date back to the late 1800s) and enjoy a picnic lunch. It is perfect if you have little ones who want to spend some time with their grandma too!
14. Treat her to a spa day
Being a mom is one of the toughest jobs in the world. To pamper your mom for all the hard work she’s put in over the years, you can take her to one of Baltimore’s many spas. A spa day is a perfect way for her to unwind and rejuvenate.
One well-recommended place is Zina’s Day Spa and Salon, which offers a wide variety of packages and a la carte services. You can join your mom for the session and spend some quality time relaxing together, or wait till her visit is over and take her to a nearby restaurant to eat.
15. Cruise around Baltimore (from USD 100.0)
Take your mother for a special day to enjoy the sights of Baltimore Harbor and fun activities onboard a day cruise. There will be plenty of great photo opportunities as the Baltimore skyline drifts by, creating fond memories to look back on later.
You can book a ticket with Spirit Cruises, who provide lunch, brunch and dinner cruises. Onboard, you can expect some lively entertainment from the ship’s DJ, or you can step outside and admire the view. The night cruise gives you a beautiful view of Baltimore’s lights against the night sky, and is a perfect way to end a great weekend.
Baltimore Signature Dinner Cruise
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Something for every kind of mom
Whether she loves nature, art or fashion, there’s definitely something in the City of Charm that your mother will enjoy. Don’t forget to show your mom some love, treat her to something special, give her a hug and a thank you for all the hard work she’s put in over the years.
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