Experiential Mother’s Day Celebrations Await in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley

Instead of delivering Mom a wrapped gift this Mother’s Day, Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley offers a range of unique experiences in celebration of the important women in our lives. Ranging from traditional offerings like Mother’s Day tea to an active, fun-filled family hike, the Shenandoah Valley is just the right place to celebrate moms.

Now that spring has finally sprung, it’s the perfect time to enjoy being outdoors and the Shenandoah Valley does not disappoint. Pebble Hall Wildflowers in Weyers Cave invites families to start their own tradition this Mother’s Day by bringing a picnic to enjoy while overlooking the flowers, valleys and mountains before picking mom a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers. The State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce hosts its annual Garden Fair on Mother’s Day Weekend (May 12 and 13) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.  This plant and garden supply sale features more than 90 vendors and an entire weekend of events, including guided tours, activities for children (noon to 2 p.m. each day), food and more. In honor of Mother’s Day, Birdsong Pleasure Garden in Luray is hosting a “Festival of Flowers” Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 13. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic lunch, camera and painting supplies to enjoy the various gardens in bloom. And yet another way to take in the blooming wildflowers is to book a Mother’s Day Carriage Ride at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University in Harrisonburg. The horse-drawn carriage rides are available on Sunday, May 13 from noon to 3 p.m.

For a more active outdoor activity, celebrate Mom with a family-friendly hike up Turk Mountain in Waynesboro on Mother’s Day. The moderately challenging hike is just over two miles round trip and offers stunning views of the Valley. The outing begins at 9 a.m. and hikers (of legal drinking age) are invited back to Basic City Beer Co. to indulge in a hard-earned beer afterward.

More celebratory food and beverage options await in the Shenandoah Valley. The 21+ crowd, can book mom on a tour of the area vineyards along the Shenandoah Spirits Trail and let Shenandoah Wine Tours do the driving. Many of the vineyards along the trail offer specials during Mother’s Day weekend. For a beverage of another kind, stop by the Anne Hathaway Cottage Tea Room in Staunton. Housed in a traditional Tudor-style home, the restaurant offers a beautiful spread of tea sandwiches, shortbread and scones, along with the star of the show: the tea, which is imported from England. (Insider’s tip: reservations are highly recommended.)

Combine a mother’s love for art and shopping with a visit to SoLace Studios Fine Handcrafts in Elkton. A part of the Shenandoah Valley for more than 20 years, the gallery features the fine marbling of owner and artist Barb Polin, along with fine handcrafts from more than 250 regional and national artists.

And finally, if Mom is a history buff, schedule a horse-drawn carriage tour of historic downtown Lexington with Lexington Carriage Company. The 45-minute narrated tour explores the rich history of this town and passes many historic sites, including the Stonewall Jackson House and Memorial Cemetery, Washington and Lee University, Lee Chapel and Museum, Virginia Military Institute and a residential district dating back to the 1820s. Afterward, stroll the brick-lined sidewalks, window shop or spend time further exploring one of the sites from the tour.

To begin planning your visit and to learn more about these sites and all the adventures that await you in the Shenandoah Valley, please check out www.virginiasshenandoahvalley.com.