By Lindsay Hand
Mother’s Day is what it sounds like –a day to celebrate moms and shower them in extra love and gratitude. But it’s often hard to find that perfect gift, find the right way to spend the day. To help out with this, here are some unique, fun things to do with the family on May 13th and inexpensive gifts for mom, the one who somehow finds a way to do it all.
Take A Hike
What better way is there to spend Mother’s Day than in Mother Nature herself? Westchester is filled with beautiful nature. Wander around the pond at Gedney or explore the various paths, lakes, and historic sights at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve on the border of Pocantico Hills and Pleasantville. It’s fresh air, exercise, and fun for the whole family!
Learn Your History
Chappaqua and Westchester as a whole, as many know, are rich in fascinating historical sites. For a mom who is interested in the history of the town, a visit to the New Castle Historical Society is surely in order. In addition to this, other must-visits are the Greeley House and the library. Even the most profound history buff will be able to find something new to learn about.
Tweet Tweet
As the May flowers are blooming, wander over to the Pruyn Sanctuary in close by Millwood. Walk the numerous paths in the area and marvel at the butterflies and hummingbirds in the beautiful Butterfly Garden. Look at the wildflowers and enjoy a wonderful day in the fresh air with the family.
Have An Adventure
Art? Check. History? Also check. There are many museums in the Chappaqua area, and it is a fun way to spend Mother’s Day with the family. Go see the unbelievable works of art, learn something new, or be amazed by wonders elsewhere. And what’s the best part? The Chappaqua Library has museum passes for many museums on their website, www.chappaqualibrary.org.
Shop Till You Drop
For something even closer to home, venture into downtown Chappaqua and take advantage of the various local enterprises. Shopping our vibrant, wonderful downtown shops is an excellent way to spend time with the family and pick up something special for mom.
Bring It Home
Why go out when you can stay comfortably at home? For older kids who have long run out of ideas for gifts for mom, nothing is better than giving her a break and cooking dinner. There are plenty of simple but delicious recipes that even the most culinary–challenged can make into a yummy meal that will remind mom just how much you appreciate what she does every day.
From the Heart
As younger kids are not as capable with the oven, an equally as good gift for mom is a homemade card or gift. Putting time and effort into creating something special is touching and adorable, when coming from a child. Homemade gifts can range from drawings, to beaded or string bracelets, to something as simple as a card. And, of course, a bouquet of flowers will always brighten mom up!
Bring the Magic Home
Feel like staying in? No problem! Get together a few of mom’s favorite movies and have a fun “movie day” at home. Make some popcorn, relax on the couch, and enjoy spending time together and watching movies all day. It’s the perfect way to spend a rainy Mother’s Day and have a fun, bonding experience with the whole family.
Stay Local
Though sometimes forgotten, there’s always just taking mom out to dinner at one of Chappaqua’s fine food establishments. There are a number of different types of restaurants in downtown Chappaqua, ranging from casual pizza to a more classic sit-down at a restaurant. Have a nice dinner all together and remind mom how much you love her!
No matter what you do during the day, the primary focus is one single person: mom! She is the one that organizes everything; the one that makes sure everyone is where they need to be; the one that goes to no ends to do what needs to be done. So enjoy this Mother’s Day with something fun, and thank mom for all that she does!
Lindsay Hand is a sophomore at Horace Greeley High School, and has written numerous articles and served as September’s “Guest Editor” for Inside Chappaqua.
