Where to Take Mom on Mother's Day in San Diego

If you want to make your mom feel special, take her to the grand dame of San Diego, the Hotel del Coronado. The place just oozes elegance, and the hotel is famous for its Mother's Day Brunch. Even if you don't do brunch, just stroll along the grounds and along the wonderful sandy Coronado Beach adjacent to the hotel for a memorable day.

Mother's Day is a great day to visit the San Diego Zoo since it is the time of year is when many animals give birth, which also ties right back into the "mother" theme of the day. If you can, take her to lunch at the Zoo's sit-down restaurant, Albert's. It's a nice little place to make her feel special.

On Mother's day, take your mom to the best mall in San Diego, Fashion Valley. Of course, then you may be on the hook to buy her something as a gift, but she likely deserves it. Or perhaps treat her to a movie with dinner at one of the mall's many onsite eateries.

If your mom is more of an outdoorsy type, the Point Loma Tide Pools are a great place to check out the local sea life, take in the ocean air and see the magnificent views atop Point Loma. Best of all for offspring on a budget, the price is right because it's free.

A pleasant day trip is always a good idea for Mother's Day, and a trip into the mountain town of Julian is a fun activity. The town — just 90 minutes from San Diego — seems like a world away, and the mountain scenery is a nice change of pace. Stroll the antique shops, and be sure to stop by Mom's Pie House (of course) for some delicious apple pie, a Julian specialty.

Need a special picture to take of mom? Then take her to the Carlsbad Flower Fields. It's a perfect, colorful spot to take a photo. The ranunculus fields are a favorite attraction of flower lovers, but you better hurry: the Fields only stay open through Mother's Day (how convenient!).

An outing to a local farmer's market is a fun thing to do, especially if you haven't been before. San Diego has a number of certified farmers' markets, and this is a great time of year to visit, as many fruits and vegetables are coming in season. Oh, and make sure you buy your mother a bouquet of fresh flowers while you're there for Mother's Day.

Is your mother a music lover? Then you're in luck because it's a great time to take her to a musical show since the summer concert tours have begun and San Diego's outdoor concert season is in full swing. Treat her to a lovely time via a show under the stars on a mild spring evening.