How to Spend Mother's Day in Asheville, NC

Hello again, Asheville locals!

Is your mom coming to town for Mother's Day weekend? Or maybe she already lives here and you're stumped on things to do. Sometimes we need a little help to jog our memory and get the ideas flowing. Let me share some ideas for what to do this Mother's Day.

Brunch

I mean, brunch is a given. Something about sitting at a sunny table, sipping mimosas, maybe with a little vase of flowers on the table over pancakes or eggs benny scream's "Mom would love this." Here's our favorite brunch spots for just that:

Rhubarb

Among the top-rated restaurants in the city, Rhubarb serves up farm-fresh ingredients by James Beard finalist Chef Fleer for some incredible eats. You can also stop into The Rhu coffee shop down below for coffee and fresh pastries by their classically-trained pastry chef, Kaley Laird. For a sit-down brunch, I would try the Toad-in-the-Hole, which includes glazed pork belly as a garnish! Pro-tip: get a reservation.

Bhramari Brewing Company

Most people have the same reaction when I tell them about brunch at Bhramari, "wait, they do brunch?" They don't just do brunch. They CRUSH brunch. They recommend ordering several varying dishes and doing it family style, because everything is so good, you'll want to try it all. Not to mention, they officially make my personal favorite burger in Asheville.

Early Girl Eatery

Okay, okay, this might be a pretty obvious one to you Ashevillians, but this sat in my blind spot for a while and I wanted to make sure I save you from the same fate. If mom likes to sleep late, fear not - they serve breakfast all day. I would just make sure you get a reservation. EGE has amazing vegan and veggie options, but doesn't skimp on the meat option, so everyone will be happy. Vegetarian or not, at least one person in your group MUST try the Veggie Breakfast Bowl with black beans, sweet potatoes, and other breakfasty goodness. It's pure fuel.

Daytime Activities

Alright, you're all filled up with eggs and possibly riding a slow buzz from brunch. Is that it? Nah, time to walk it off with some of these local spots:

The NC Arboretum

Mother's Day is in spring for a reason: spring symbolizes birth and growth. Take that theme a little more literally by paying a visit to the Arboretum. Enjoy their garden exhibits as well as biking and hiking trails.

Cruise Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Spend too much on brunch? This one's FREE! If you have been living in the area for a while and you still haven't brought your mom here, shame on you! It's a given when you live in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Use this interactive parkway map to find the best entrance. Simply cruise along the two lane highway, stopping at overlook spots, or park and hit the hiking trails.

WNC Farmers Market

Most people can knock out a Farmer's Market in about an hour. Well, you might want to make a little more time for this one. The WNC Farmers Market is set on a 36-acre site overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Biltmore Estate. Year-round, retail vendors offer a variety of farm fresh produce, canned goods, honey, nursery items and hand crafted goods.

Evening Activities

Why do Mother's Day plans always feel like a morning/daytime thing? I suppose it's because the weather is usually nice and spring is in full bloom. However, some of us live for the night, and we sometimes get that from our moms - I'm one of those people. My mom is coming to visit in Asheville, and here are some places I might take her:

Go See a Show

I often go see shows with both of my parents - my love for live music and dancing is definitely genetic. Luckily, Asheville has a strong music scene. Not only are there countless amazing local bands, but Asheville see great acts come into town. On May 12, Lucy Dacus is playing at the Grey Eagle. Why not go grab some nachos and listen to those silky vocals?

Asheville Retrocade

Want to do more than sit over food and talk? I don't know about yours, but my mom likes to have a good time. You don't have to be a kid to have a little "family fun" - especially because this family fun includes beer. Take her to the Asheville Retrocade. For only $10, you get full admission to endless game play from pinball, to console play, to racing and VR.

Mother's Day Pop Up Market at Ginger's Revenge

Head over to Ginger's Revenge for a Mother's Day Market from 6:30pm - 8:30pm This market is a chance for a ladies night out, mother's day shopping, and pampering. They'll have several vendors with products that embrace the importance of self-care. There will also be live music and a raffle!

So that should be more than enough to give you a full day of fun, or if nothing else, help you form some ideas of your own. Enjoy your quality time!