Celebrate Mother’s Day Around the Lake!

By Sarah Wright

Milton Berle once joked, “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” Yes, being a mother is certainly a juggling act, but the love, nurturing, and patience of a mother for her child are hard to match. Mother’s Day, on May 12, is a chance for us to show “Mom” our appreciation. Some of us also choose to celebrate other women who have held a similar role in our lives, like grandmothers, stepmothers, and aunts. As we grow older, our relationships with our mothers may ebb and flow, but that special bond always remains.

Castle in the Clouds is a great place to take Mom on Mother’s Day.

Many people show their gratitude for their mothers with flowers, breakfast in bed, or a thoughtful card, but there are lots of other ways to show her you care. This year, as always, the Lakes Region offers a number of memorable ideas for spending the day with Mom. 

Mill Falls Marketplace on Daniel Webster Highway in Meredith starts celebrating mothers on Saturday, May 11 with a “Mom’s the Word” event from noon to 3 pm. Shop the stores, or peruse the wonderful artwork for sale by talented local artisans. (The first 100 mothers to arrive will receive a special, handcrafted gift from Artisans by the Bay.) There will be live music and light refreshments to enjoy as you shop, and you’ll even be able to enter for a chance to win a $100 Marketplace shopping spree! Come back to Mill Falls on May 12, and stay for a lovely Mother’s Day brunch in the elegant Church Landing Ballroom. The Lakehouse Grille will provide a delicious brunch buffet from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, with dinner specials to follow. All mothers who attend will received a flower while supplies last, in support of the New Beginnings Crisis Center in Laconia. Call 603-279-5221 to make a reservation.

All day on Mother’s Day, moms can tour beautiful Castle in the Clouds in Moultonboro free of charge with their child’s admission (this can be a child of any age). Moms can get free admission at the Front Gate located on Route 171 or at the Gift Shop if you enter via the service entrance, on Ossipee Park Road. Call 603-476-5900 or visit www.castleintheclouds.org.

Tanger Outlets in Tilton is holding a Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 11 from noon to 5 pm. Find a great gift for Mom while she enjoys delicious food truck menu items like tacos, burgers, barbecue, Cajun cuisine, ice cream, baked treats, and more! There’s even a beer tent courtesy of 405 Pub & Grill. Don’t miss this event that will also have live music and a classic car cruise-in. Visit www.tangeroutlet.com and click on May events for more information. 

The Gilmanton Winery at 528 Meadow Pond Road in Gilmanton offers a beautiful view with their delicious Sunday Brunch, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. The brunch is served family style, and previous brunches have included fruit; fried dough; French toast and bacon; scrambled eggs, home fries, and sausage gravy over sweet bread. This year’s menu will be posted online soon! Reserve your place today, by calling 603-267-8251. 

Start off a day of shopping in Wolfeboro with brunch at Wolfe’s Tavern at The Wolfeboro Inn on Main Street. Brunch is served from 10 am to 3 pm, and the full buffet will include salads, a carving station with ham and prime rib, haddock, an omelet station, waffles, desserts, and more. For reservations, call 603-569-3016.

Schuster’s Tavern and Steakhouse at the Gunstock Inn on Cherry Valley Road in Gilford is holding the Second Annual Mother’s Day Brunch and Benefit for Belknap House on Sunday May 12 from 10 am until the last seating at 4 pm. Reservations are strongly suggested; call 603-293-2021. The M/S Mount Washington has donated tickets for a cruise for four, G.I. Fitness, Jerico’s Salon, Eden Nails, Hermit Woods Winery, Nu-Do’s Salon, Salon 603, SunDay’s Salon, Johnson’s Seafood and Steak, Fratello’s Restaurant, Weirs Drive In, and D.A.D.S. Painting have donated generous gifts for the silent auction to benefit Belknap House. (The Belknap House is located at 200 Court Street in Laconia and assists local families in need during the cold winter months.) For information on Belknap House, email contact execdir@belknaphouse.org, visit www.belknaphouse.org, or call 603-527-8097.  There is a “wish list” on the website for needed items, such as laundry detergent and baby wipes; please bring items from the Wish List to the Mother’s Day Brunch.

Other restaurants around the lake offering brunch on Mother’s Day include the Homestead Restaurant in Bristol (603-744-2022); the Common Man restaurants (www.thecman.com); Hart’s Turkey Farm in Meredith (603-279-4433); the Hilltop Restaurant at the Steele Hill Resort in Sanbornton (603-524-0500); and the Corner House Inn in Sandwich (603-284-6219). 

Take advantage of the warmer weather and enjoy brunch on the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee, courtesy of the M/S Mount Washington. While taking in the view, choose from three chef’s choice entrees; enjoy eggs and bacon, fruit, Belgian waffles, carved London broil, salads, assorted desserts, and a complimentary mimosa. The boat leaves from Weirs Beach at 10 am and at 2 pm. Call 603-366-5531 to order tickets, or visit www.cruisenh.com. 

Experience an old-fashioned train ride with the Conway Scenic Railway and enjoy brunch and a beautiful view! Spend Mother’s Day journeying on historic rail routes in vintage passenger cars from the 1874 train station in North Conway Village to Bartlett and back again. Departures are at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm for this round trip of just under 2 hours. Complimentary appetizers will be served in First Class, or you can upgrade to a dining car and enjoy a three-course brunch. Call 603-356-5251 or visit www.conwayscenic.com for ticket information. 

Why not treat your mother to a show? The Winnipesaukee Playhouse at 50 Reservoir Road in Meredith is featuring the musical comedy, Company, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. This Tony-winning musical takes place in 1970s Manhattan, where we meet Robert, an unhappy and single 35-year-old. It’s funny and endearing, witty and wise; the genius of Sondheim shines in a score that celebrates friends and the joy of “being alive.” Show times for May 9, 10, and 11 are at 7:30 pm, and on Sunday the 12th at 2 pm. Call 603-279-0333 for ticket information. 

If your mother has a love for history, spend the afternoon together at The Wright Museum on Center Street in Wolfeboro. Travel back in time to WWII through the many exhibits, and experience what life was like in America at that time. The museum is open from noon to 4 pm on Mother’s Day. Moms get in free with another paying adult. For further information, call 603-569-1212.

What mother doesn’t enjoy flowers? Surround yourself with spring at Tarbin Gardens on Salisbury Road in West Franklin. Mothers are admitted free when accompanied by another ticket payer. Take a leisurely walk through the only English landscape-styled garden in New Hampshire. Bring a picnic lunch and relax on the Rose Garden Patio. Maps are provided and all the plants are labeled. According to the blooming schedule, Mother’s Day features flowering trees and shrubs like magnolias, spring bulbs, flowering cherries, and forsythia. The gardens are open from 10 am to 6 pm. Call 603-934-3518 for more information or visit www.tarbingardens.com.

With all these options, it’ll be easy to make the day special for Mom. After all, spending time together is what it’s all about. Happy Mother’s Day!