By Leandra Beabout

(Leandra Beabout is an experienced freelance travel and lifestyle journalist who has written for Fodor’s Travel, The Everygirl, Dame Traveler, and more.)

There are plenty of fun ways to celebrate the mom in your life, make her feel special, and maybe spend some time outside as well!

These are some of our favorite ways to show your mom how much you care:

Pack a picnic for Mom

Plan a simple menu of your mom’s favorite foods. Then pick a place that she would love. Maybe it’s watching the sunset from a bluff or shoreline. Or maybe it’s hanging out in her own backyard with her favorite music playing. Put down a blanket, put up a hammock, and put out a spread.

Explore a new trail together

If your mom likes hiking or nature walks, explore a new trail or new park together.

Arrange a garden brunch for Mom

A colorful garden sets the stage for photo memories and quality time together. Add some flowers to your backyard if needed and arrange a brunch. Use your best china, make some beignets and mimosas, dress up, put on some jazz, and have a proper Sunday brunch!

Plant some flowers together

Buying a bouquet of tulips or roses on Mother’s Day is a time-honored tradition. But what about giving her flowers to plant together in her own great outdoors? Blossoming flower beds last longer than any bouquet on the kitchen table.

Capture family memories outside

Most moms we know have walls covered with family photos. But moms are also often the one behind the camera. This Mother’s Day, what about arranging a family photo shoot outside?

Go camping

Does your mom love camping under the stars or making s’mores by the campfire? There are campsites for every camping style in Alabama. Or, you can just camp in your own backyard.

Offer her solitude

Moms with young kids always appreciate this one. Tell her she has the day off—no expectations whatsoever. Then entice her with an afternoon lounging inside on the sofa or outside in a hammock. Whatever she wants.

Try outdoor yoga

If your mom enjoys staying active, invite her to join you for an outdoor yoga session. You can adjust to her preferences with a relaxed flow or muscle-burning poses with tricky inversions.

Set up an outdoor painting studio

Unless you have a family where arts and crafts are common, you may have to plan ahead for this one. Buy some paints, some canvasses,  some cheap easels,  spend the afternoon painting landscapes or pets or whatever you want.

Catch a sunrise or sunset

Grab your cameras, drive to the nearest hilltop or peak, and toast the day with a cup of morning coffee or a sparkling nightcap.

Find the perfect gift for your mom at Alabama Outdoors! We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Take advantage of our shipping, curbside pickup, or home delivery services or make an appointment for a virtual shopping trip today! #BeOutdoors

By Amy Wright

(Homewood-based writer Amy Wright has more than 20 years of experience writing about a broad range of topics from personal banking to camping gear to parenting a special-needs child. She enjoys gardening, reading, cycling, and generally being outdoors!)

Does the mom in your life prefer pitching a tent under the stars or camping out in front of the TV? Would she rather hang out in the backyard, fuss over the flowers or lounge on the couch, and scroll through social media? If your mom can’t get enough of the outdoors, whether she is hiking, gardening, or just looking at the stars, make the most of this Mother’s Day by planning an outdoor activity that she will love. Here are some suggestions.

Plan a family hike

If family time and the great outdoors are two of Mom’s favorites, pick a couple of picturesque hikes nearby, and let her choose a trail. Then pack up some of her favorite snacks, put away the phones, and hit the trail!  And, if you really want to make her day, gift her with a new pair of her favorite brand of trail shoes. Because even outdoorsy moms love new shoes.

Relax the day away

What could be a better way to spend Mother’s Day than lounging in a hammock with the ones you love? Whether you plant yourselves deep in the woods or in your own backyard, a day of doing a whole lot of nothing outside could be exactly what your mom needs.

Bring along some icy cold beverages, and you could stay hydrated and horizontal for hours.

Run in the sun

Spending time with the family while clocking miles would make mom’s day. If she loves hiking, too, consider going trail running so she can get the best of both activities. Or she may consider it a treat to go on a long run by herself.

Give her a gift that will inspire her to take some time for herself and enjoy a Sunday run. Every serious runner knows it’s important to have the right kind of gear for the run.

Does she have shoes made for trail running? Or does she burn easily? Could she use a UPF 50+ fabric tunic or a new pair of polarized sunglasses? Look for items that will make it easier for her to completely focus on her run.

Practice poses

Since your mom can’t visit a yoga studio during social distancing, create a class in your own home. Download a yoga app and offer to practice some poses with her. And maybe order some new yoga gear for her.

Float her boat

Plan some family time on the water. Whether you opt for a leisurely canoe trip or a weekend at the lake, making memories is sure to make mom very happy. Make mom proud, too, by remembering to pack the sunscreen, and, just in case, some fast-drying travel towels.

While thinking of a gift is nice, it’s definitely not the most important thing. The most valuable gift you can give that special mom in your life is the luxury of free time to spend doing something she loves with the people who love her or on her own. Let her pick. It’s her day, after all.

Find an awesome gift for your outdoorsy mom at Alabama Outdoors! We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, and we work to build loyalty one connection at a time. Visit our online store today! #BeOutdoors