Mother's Day is Sunday May 13, 2012.
Mothers and daughters have a special bond that can strengthen through the act of travel. Everyone remembers their first family road trips as a kid, but there comes a point in our adult lives where a mother-daughter trip is equally important to bring you together in the way only a trip to the unknown can. In honor of Mother's Day in the US, here's a look at five destinations across the nation for five different types of mother-daughter pairs.
Mother's Day Trip To Be Pampered: Sedona, Arizona
If the key to your mother-daughter getaway is relaxation, look no further than Sedona, Arizona. A series of "vortexes" discovered in the 1980s put Sedona on the map as a popular New Age retreat and to this day a combination of ancient mysticism and red-rock majesty envelope the modern Mecca. The popular tourist town also boasts a thriving art scene and an abundance of gastronomical delights. Sedona's award-winning Enchantment Resort and Spa is an ideal base, offering stunning sunset views over a quixotic landscape of grand buttes and flat-topped mesas. The Native American-inspired Mii amo Spa offers a "full-service spa experience where guests can find balance and harmony." The resort also provides art lessons, cooking demonstrations, fitness classes, and programs by visiting experts.
For more ideas, read: Road Trip USA: The Wild West
Mother's Day Trip To Wine & Dine: Long Island's North Fork
Who doesn't enjoy a fine glass of wine, a beautiful view, and time with family? Just two hours outside of the United States' largest city is a calm oasis of unspoiled beaches and sprawling vineyards. Envision a hybrid of Cape Cod and Napa Valley and you'll begin to understand Long Island's North Fork. The burgeoning wine region is now some 40 years in the making and the tourism industry has been been quick to plant its seed. Yet, this sinewy strip remains a much quieter alternative to the pomp and circumstance of the Hamptons below. With a bottle of wine and two patio chairs, you could get lost in a lazy afternoon conversation for hours. If you'd like to be within stumble distance of the vino, try and book the exclusive Tuscan suite at Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard and Bed & Breakfast.
For more ideas, read: Long Island North Fork Wineries: 10 Can't-Miss Vineyards
Mother's Day Trip To Get Away From It All: San Juan Islands, Washington
No, the San Juan Islands is not another name for Puerto Rico. This rambling archipelago of forested isles between Washington State and Vancouver Island offers complete serenity and a menagerie of surprises from pods of orca whales in the Puget Sound to sheep-riddled valleys, a large alpaca ranch, and even a camel named Mona. The main islands of Orcas, San Juan, Lopez, and Shaw offers endless paths for hiking and biking and remote beaches for an afternoon dip. From farm-to-table culinary offerings to vineyard tours, agritourism is booming in the San Juan Islands. The biggest problem you'll face is deciding where to hunker down. The energetic town of Friday Harbor is the easiest choice, but there are plenty of other spots like the peaceful artist hamlet of Olga. Peruse a selection of local farm stays, cottages, and B&Bs at San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau.
For more ideas, read: Exploring The Hidden Treasures Of America's National Park System
Mother's Day Trip For Bright Lights, Big City: Chicago
Chicago! It's the New York of the Midwest. It's the LA of the Midwest. It's the only city anyone has ever heard of in the Midwest.
New York and LA get all the buzz, but the United States' third-largest city has all the hustle and bustle to match its coastal rivals. This global city is a thriving center of international trade and commerce, art and theatre, music and history, and, with one of the world's busiest airports, there are plenty of flights in. Any good mother-daughter outing in the Windy City would begin on Michigan Avenue for top notch shopping and art. Next, grab a slice of the city's famous deep-dish pizza where it all began: Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due. Head to the lakefront in the evening for a shoreline architecture cruise or catch a show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Grab a nightcap at Cafe des Architectes and then crash in the Sofitel upstairs.
For more ideas, read: Destination Chicago: How to Spend a Weekend in the Windy City
Mother's Day Trip For Southern Comfort: Charleston, South Carolina
Check your stress at the airport and prepare to ease your way into to the lazy splendor of Southern living. The air is balmy, the sea breeze soothing, and the storied streets of Charleston are so charming, they'll make your tooth ache. The hospitality of Southerners is effusive, but if you've come to the Old South looking for the cast of "Hillbilly Handfishin'" "My Big Redneck Wedding" or even "The Dukes of Hazzard" you're out of luck. Chances are Dixie Country is nothing like you've imagined.
The historic Charleston City Market reopened last June after a $5.5 million renovation. The market's been the beating pulse of downtown Charleston for over 200 years and inside, you'll find paintings, pottery, jewelry, and Charleston's famous sweetgrass baskets. If you're not thoroughly drenched in Southern charm, take a stroll south from the Market down East Bay Street and pass "Rainbow Row." Continue on to the Battery to admire the antebellum architecture along Charleston's achingly romantic side streets. Be sure to make reservations at Husk, rated No. 1 new restaurant in the U.S. by Bon Appetit Magazine, and make the Vendue Inn, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, your base of operations.
For more ideas, read: American Road Trip: The Old South
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