“Really, you don’t have to do anything!” she says, but we know better. It’s time to show the world’s best mom or mother figure in your life just how much you appreciate her. Cards, flowers, Sunday brunch, and maybe dinner at her favorite restaurant are all perfectly fine, and she’d love any one of those. But this year, why not go the extra mile and surprise her with the gift of travel?
There’s no need to put her on a plane; New England has it all, whether she’s a culture maven, art lover, outdoor enthusiast, food and wine connoisseur, or just looking for a peaceful respite and a scenic view. Here are three New England destinations where moms can find adventure and relaxation, luxurious accommodations, and quality “me” time. (Or some quality bonding time, if you persuade her to take you along.)

Llama, llama loves your momma
If your mom enjoys a round of golf, we bet she’d love this new adventure: the Llama Tee Time Trek at the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield, N.H. (Rates start at $199 depending on the season.) One of the resort’s well-cared-for and oh-so-adorable llamas will be her caddy and companion during a round of golf at the historic nine-hole Mountain View Golf Course. And what a companion: no opinions or golf tips offered, just soulful looks and friendly nudges.
The sprawling, historic resort is well known for its working fiber farm, with a herd of llamas, sheep, alpacas, rabbits, goats — and chickens and ducks, too. Even if mom isn’t into golf, she can visit the farm (meet the farmer tours are offered daily from 9-9:30 a.m.) or take a llama or goat for a guided trail walk, ending with a picnic breakfast.
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Set on 1,700 acres, with stunning views of the White Mountains, the resort, dating back more than 150 years, has a storied past and a who’s who guest book, including Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Richard Nixon. Writers Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Stephen King have also visited. To learn more about the hotel’s history, guests can take a guided historical tour of the resort.
If your mom likes to stay busy, she’ll be in nirvana here. There are indoor and outdoor pools, pickleball, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, ax throwing, disc golf, ATV tours, themed dinners, mixology and cooking classes using organic ingredients from the resort’s gardens, art classes, and a variety of fitness and wellness classes, like yoga, aquatics, and meditation.
Or she could simply relax, spending time at the Tower Spa, enjoying treatments with titles like Purifying Earth Wrap, Mountain Meadow Scrub, Collagen Boosting Facial, and CBD Serenity Massage. In the evening, head to the cozy 1865 Wine Cellar, with a prix fixe menu, or the Harvest Tavern (also serving breakfast and lunch) to enjoy dishes like the clam fritters, rare tuna saku, duck confit, and roasted lamb cutlets. Consider dining before sunset to enjoy the stunning mountain views.

A day at the beach
There’s something therapeutic and calming about being near the ocean, the salty scent of the air, the sea breeze, and the rhythmic sound of the waves. It’s a salve for everyday stress and an antidote for breaking out of the drab quotidian. Throw in cultural pursuits, good eats, spa treatments, and luxurious digs, and you’ll quickly rise to the top of mom‘s favorite kid list. We’re talking about sending mom to Rockland, a buzzy town hugging the shores of Penobscot Bay in midcoast Maine.
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Start by booking a room at the Samoset Resort (May midweek rates start at $189, weekends $229-$309), because nothing but the best will do for mom. Rooms at this 178-room oceanside resort in nearby Rockport are freshly renovated with nautical hues, with private balconies or terraces overlooking the sea or gardens. There are also suites, cottages (recently renovated), and condominiums.
Of course, mom will start with a visit to The Opal Spa at the Samoset, a cozy, relaxing oasis, offering a variety of top-notch treatments, including top-of-the-line facials, body treatments, and massages. Top choices include the mineral-rich body exfoliation, the detoxifying body wrap, the aromatherapy or CBD massage, and thesignature hydra-facial.
All loosey-goosey, mom can head down to the Enoteca Wine Bar for a beverage and snack, perhaps the balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts or the Sicilian grilled octopus, followed by dinner at La Bella Vita, with crispy Sicilian brick oven pizzas, traditional Italian dishes, and house specialties like the Ocean Stew, packed with mussels, shrimp, clams, lobster, and octopus. Fling open the balcony doors and drift to sleep to the sound of the surf.

Mom might be perfectly happy staying on the property, grabbing a seat on the lawn overlooking the ocean, swimming and lounging at the pool; there’s also an 18-hole oceanside golf course. Or drive into Rockland to visit The Farnsworth Museum of Art, known for its collection of Wyeth family works. The museum, with a collection of some 15,000 works of American artists from the 18th century to present, also hosts a variety of special exhibits. Also in Rockland is the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, with changing exhibitions of works from artists with ties to Maine, and the Maine Lighthouse Museum, with one of the largest collections of lighthouse artifacts and mementos.
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For more scenic views, walk the Rockland Harbor Trail, a 5-mile walking path along the waterfront, or the oceanside trails at Beech Hill Preserve.

Let’s have a sleepover — in Newburyport
This small city on the south bank of the Merrimack River on Massachusetts’ North Shore is popular with day-trippers, who come to stroll its picturesque streets and explore the compact riverside downtown, with renovated 1800s brick buildings now housing restaurants and one-of-a-kind shops.
But why rush home? Instead, book your mom a room at the four-story brick Garrison Inn, a circa 1809 National Historic Landmark (room rates range from $330-$520, presidential suite $550, two-bedroom duplex $590). The 24-room boutique hotel, within easy walking distance of downtown, is anything but stuffy. Inside, you’ll find a crisp and bright old-meets-new vibe, with creamy white-and-pastel-hued walls juxtaposed against rich wood floors, wooden hand-hewn beams, exposed brick walls, and working fireplaces. Rooms have original architectural details with stylish furnishings, crisp white linens, and modern marbled baths. The high tea experience offered in the hotel’s bright pink Ladyfinger’s tea lounge is considered one of the finest in New England. A nightly tea service and a hot, made-to-order breakfast are included in your stay.
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Newburyport has a vibrant art scene. Check out the Newburyport Art Association. Also, pop into Valerie’s Gallery, with American-made crafts, artisan jewelry, pottery, paintings, and prints, and Threadneedle Gallery, with a curated selection of works from fine artists focusing on the beauty of New England. Browse other downtown shops (Soak & Shoreline and Pretty Poppy are two of our favorites) before visiting the Custom House Maritime Museum, with exhibits, paintings, and artifacts on Newburyport’s rich maritime history.
For some fresh air and great views, head to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, with a network of paths that wind through maritime forests and salt marshes, and Maudslay State Park, with 19th-century gardens and one of the largest naturally occurring stands of mountain laurel in Massachusetts.
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at bairwright@gmail.com