12 Summer Trips You Should Take With Your Mom

As you get older, your vacation plans tend to change. Once you have kids, adulting kicks in, and you likely spend most of your time planning trips around the needs and desires of your children. You’ll do anything to ensure happy times and amazing experiences.

While these family vacations are great memories, don’t forget to leave time (and money) to take a vacation on your own. Yes, you want to plan trips with your best friends and spouse or significant other, but don’t overlook one very important person — mom!

Our moms can be awesome travel companions. Plus, they’ll likely jump at the chance to travel with you and experience different parts of the country or world. Here are a few trips you might want to consider taking with your mother.

1. Your Mom’s Hometown

If your mom grew up in a different town than you grew up in, ask her to show you around. Go visit her elementary school and some of the sites from her childhood, and then ask her to tell you stories. You can learn so much about your mom from these memories, and she’ll love that you took an interest in her earlier life. If you can, stay the night in the town or neighborhood she grew up in to make it a real throwback trip.

2. Wine Country

Going on wine tours and tastings is a perfect mother/daughter activity. You don’t have to go to Napa to do this either; there are so many wine spots all over North America. If you do a search for “wine trails,” you’ll find lots of options all over the country. For an easier trip, choose to visit one nearby — or use it as an excuse to travel somewhere far away.

3. Where You Went to College

Chances are, you spent your college years pretty focused on friends and your studies. You might have gone home from time to time, but it probably wasn’t a big “hang out with mom” period in your life. So now go back to your college town with your mom. Take her to all your favorites stops, and tell her some of your college stories (at least the PG-13 rated ones!).

4. An Epic Shopping Trip

For this one, you need to hone in on what kind of shopping would be the best fit for you and your mom. Do you both like thrifting or antiquing? Or do you enjoy shopping for deals at the outlet? Plan this one out by a few weeks, and put together a strategy to go shopping with your mom. Don’t forget to throw in an overnight somewhere (and maybe a mani/pedi) so you can get refreshed for the next day.

5. The Magical World of Disney

Disney brings out the child in everyone, so why not enjoy the magic with your mom? It’s pretty much guaranteed to bring up memories from your childhood, and you’ll both have fun feeling like a kid again.

6. A Historic City Where You Have Ancestors

Dig up a historical city that you know your family has ties to, and then plan a trip with your mom. You might want to go back a few generations so you can make this a big overseas adventure. Try to learn about the culture ahead of time, and really get involved in local traditions and experiences.

7. The Beauty of a National Park

National parks make amazing, memorable vacations, and you have plenty to choose to plan a trip with your mom. Maybe you like adventure and you want to hike the Grand Canyon. Perhaps you want to see the northern lights and head to Alaska. Talk about all the great possibilities of the national parks, and then choose a destination with your mom.

8. The Bright Lights of Vegas

Vegas seems like a destination for bachelorette parties, but it can be a great spot for mom, too. There are so many great things to see in Vegas without ever spending a dime on gambling. There are elaborate, popular shows, unique museums, great shopping, and really awesome restaurants. Treat yourselves to a little “Sin City” splurge — you know you both deserve it.

9. A Charitable Bike or Run

If you’ve ever thought of raising money for a good cause, then this is a great goal to have with you mom. Avon has epic walks they do in cities across the country, and there are also organizations that do charitable marathons and half marathons. Challenge yourself and your mom to take one on together — and then take time to enjoy the local sights and scenes of the host city.

10. A Mom/Daughter Cruise

You can find specific “girlfriends’ getaway” cruises out there, or just book a regular cruise instead. Cruises can be a great way to see really gorgeous parts of the world from the comfort of a ship. You can do European cruises, Alaskan ones, and of course, the ones that involve stunning beaches. Go relax and have some girl time!

11. The Big Apple

This is another destination that has so many options. You can soak in so much history; you can also shop until you drop or hit a Broadway show. Or you can do a combination of everything, keeping everyone happy and entertained on the trip. New York is a perfect multi-generational destination.

12. A Staycation

Staycations are awesome, and very popular these days. Invite your mom to staycation at your house and just go check out your local neighborhood or city. Go to all those places you’ve wanted to go to but never have time; try a new restaurant or introduce your mom to one of your favorites. This is a good way to have some easygoing and inexpensive one-on-one time with your mom.

This post was written by Stacy Tornio, the author of The Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book and the mom of two adventurous kids. Together, they like planning vacations centered around the national parks.

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