Guide to Mother's Day in Los Angeles: Brunches and Things to Do

Set sail on Mother's Day with a champagne brunch cruise or supper cruise in scenic Marina del Rey by Hornblower Cruises & Events. Brunch cruises typically depart at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. with boarding 30 minutes before departure times. The two-and-a-half-hour supper cruises depart at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. You can choose your departure port from either Marina del Rey or Newport Beach. The cost ranges from $75 to $95 per person, depending on which cruise you select.

The House of Blues hosts one seating at the famous Gospel Brunch at Anaheim GardenWalk. The gospel brunch begins at 10:30 a.m. and doors open 45 minutes before the show so you can get your food and get settled. Brunch is $45 and is well worth it for the show and the food.

Light up Mom's evening with a matinee or night out at the theater with performances such as the Mother's Day With Elvis Concert featuring renowned Elvis impersonator Raymond Michael at Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, or performance of "And Then There Were None" at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. Pantages Theater features Broadway hits such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera.

Surprise Mom with a mimosa and a snack while she enjoys creating special Mother’s Day-themed pieces at Clay Ceramics Studio in Long Beach. During the two-hour sessions, moms have a blast with their kids creating beautiful one-of-a-kind pottery pieces using a pottery wheel. Learn different wheel-throwing techniques to create personalized vases, ring holders, and heart-shaped bowls to last a lifetime. The Mother's Day sessions take place at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. and cost $65 per person.

Usually, you think of getting Mom out of the kitchen on her special day, but if the mom in your life really enjoys the gourmet cooking experience or would like to improve her kitchen skills, joining her for a Mother's Day cooking class at EATZ may be just the present for her. Of course, you'll get to eat your tasty dishes afterward! The $105 fee includes all food, wine, and cocktails.

Mother's Day Champagne Sunday Brunch is served in the Grand Salon aboard the stately Queen Mary in Long Beach. The brunch includes a carving station, Pacific Rim options, a Mexican buffet, a breakfast buffet, an omelet station with pancakes and waffles, a salad and cheese table, and a multitude of desserts. Live entertainment and free-flowing champagne make it a festive occasion. Reservations are recommended. Special Mothers' Day menus are also available at Sir Winston's and Chelsea Chowder House aboard the ship. This special occasion costs $69.95, plus tax and gratuity.

Treat mom to a Mexican brunch with music by Corazon de Mariachi at iXTapa Cantina in Pasadena. All of iX Tapa's classic favorites—like their sangria, tacos, and bacon-wrapped hotdogs—are available. The brunch has two seatings (11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) and costs $64.

The Aquarium of the Pacific puts on a feast with the fishes for Mother's Day Brunch. Brunch, which costs $74 for adults and $34 per child (ages 3–11) includes admission to the museum where you can enjoy more than 11,000 different kinds of aquatic life. Past menus have includes dishes like a spinach frittata, applewood smoked bacon, a strawberry-feta balsamic salad, and more.

Lighten up Mom's day with a little sleight of hand, mind reading, and sketch comedy at Magicopolis in Santa Monica with Mother's Day Magic Show and champagne treat. The entertaining show is more like live theater than your typical stale magic show—past performances have included illusions, mind-reading, and a Houdini-inspired escape. The cost is usually $30 per person.

If the mom you're celebrating is the mother of your children, a romantic dinner away from the kids and the kitchen might be appropriate. Try any one of these romantic Los Angeles restaurants with a view:

• Yamashiro is a Japanese restaurant with Cal-Asian cuisine and views from Hollywood to the Pacific Ocean.
• Geoffrey's Malibu, situated on a lush Malibu hillside, offers stunning views of the Pacific coastline.
• The restaurant at the Getty Center in Brentwood has views of the Santa Monica Mountains. Enjoy a sunset dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and for other days of the week, consider going for lunch with a view.

Los Angeles is home to some amazing gardens including native plant gardens and a Japanese garden. Find a garden open on Mother's Day and take Mom for a stroll among the flowers.

• The Botanical Gardens at the Huntington Library near Pasadena, feature 120 landscaped acres with thirteen themed gardens and a conservatory.
• The 127 acres of trees and shrubs at the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, where walking tours are sometimes available, are organized by continent.
• If Mom loves roses, the rose garden at Exposition Park in South Los Angeles is a scenic place to visit.

Moms who follow the celebs and love pop culture would enjoy a tour of Hollywood celebrity homes. On this open-air small-bus tour through Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills, you’ll see the luxurious homes of stars and maybe even catch a glimpse of one. On this two-hour tour, you'll hit many of the neighborhoods of the rich and famous.

Day spas in Los Angeles have treatments ranging from facials to full body massages. You can combine a spa visit with time on the beach at One Spa at Shutters on the Beach, One Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica. The spa is right on the beach and features celebrity-designed treatments.

Or, closer in, consider Wi Spa, the 24-hour Korean day spa located on Wilshire Boulevard. Wi is more than a spa—it has a gym, restaurant, saunas, and quiet rooms. They are renowned for their body scrubs and Korean-style soaks.

For an outdoorsy Mom, go hiking with the family and take along a special picnic lunch. Griffith Park includes a 53-mile network of hiking trails. Try the Ferndell Trail for a hike through a lush, shady woods with gorgeous ferns bordering a stream. The Ferndell hike is an easy half mile round trip, with a 65-foot elevation gain.