Treat Mom on Mother’s Day
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11, and if you are wondering what to do for Mom, there are many ways to celebrate and honor that special person in your life. The following offers a variety of ideas for Mother’s Day activities.
For a fascinating look back at the days of World War II, head to the Wright Museum of World War II on Center Street in Wolfeboro. The museum opened for the season on May 1 with exhibits from its extensive permanent collection covering the years 1939 to 1945. The museum will be open on Mother’s Day with displays to show what life was like on the home front and the battlefield, together with military vehicles, allowing visitors to explore a seminal period in American history.
The museum is open throughout the summer and fall and also has a series of informative programs with special speakers. This year’s featured exhibit opens on June 1 and is called “The Cold War – Spies to Satellites.”
Bring the entire family to the Wright Museum for a look back at a critical time in history; if the weather is nice, take Mom and the family for a walk at the nearby Bridge Falls Path with lovely water views. Call 603-569-1212 or visit www.wrightmuseum.org.
The Colonial Theatre on Main Street in downtown Laconia is the perfect place to take Mom for a show. Get tickets now for a variety of performances, including The No Apologies Comedy Show on May 15; an Evening with Sara Evans on May 18; comedian Juston McKinney on May 24 and many more concerts and shows throughout the season. Visit www.coloniallaconia.com or call 1-800-657-8774 for tickets.
The Lakeport Opera House in Laconia has a selection of shows that Mom will enjoy, such as Line Dancing Neon Nights on May 23; Yesterday Once More – a Tribute to the Carpenters on May 30 and shows throughout the summer. The Opera House is located at 781 Union Ave. in Laconia. Visit www.lakeportopera.com for tickets and information.
Castle in the Clouds is a fascinating place to spend a day. Bring Mom for a hike on a choice of 28 miles of hiking trails on the grounds. Trails are located at Shannon Pond with convenient parking. (The Castle, with tours of the famed estate, will open for the summer season later in May.)
If your Mom is a music lover, reserve tickets for dinner and live music as you watch the sun set over Lake Winnipesaukee from the beautiful outdoor terrace at the Castle’s Carriage House. Bring Mom for a memorable dinner and music throughout the summer. A variety of top-notch musicians will perform as guests enjoy their meal during Dinner Music Night evenings. The dinner night events are by reservation with two seating times (5:30 and 6:30 p.m.). Get tickets for the dinner with your Mom now and gift her an evening out this summer for a meal and show.
Many events will occur at the Castle during the season; from Opening Up Lucknow: An Interactive Play on May 18 to Shakespeare on Tap on May 29; Garden Tours; Creative Writing workshops and much more during the summer and fall.
For details and a complete list, visit www.castleintheclouds.org or call 603-476-5900. The Castle is located at 455 Old Mountain Road, off Rt. 171 in Moultonborough.
One of the best and most unique entertainment venues in the area is the Great Waters Music Festival. Located under a vast concert tent on the grounds of Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, and with a second location called Concerts in Town (Wolfeboro), the series offers a variety of concerts. Get Mom tickets to one or more shows to take place this summer. The schedule includes the Great Waters Gala A Broadway Cabaret at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro on July 10; Human Nature Back to the Sound of Motown at the Castle in the Clouds on July 12; MTV Style Dance Show at the Castle on July 18; the Abby Mueller Trio You’ve Got a Friend The Music of Carole, Joni and James on July 24 at Brewster Academy; Brass Transit The Musical Legacy of Chicago on Aug. 2 at the Castle; Proud Tina - The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner at the Castle on Aug. 9; at Brewster Academy on Aug. 16 with Peter Cincotti; Elements Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute at the Castle on Aug. 23, and Ted Vigil Songs of John Denver in Wolfeboro on Aug. 27 in Wolfeboro. Order tickets at www.greatwaters.org or call 603-569-7710.
Get outside and enjoy the natural world with Mom. Trails are open at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. On the walking trail (trails opened to the public on May 1), you will see animals rehabilitated from injuries, and learn about habitats, adaptations, interrelationships, and animal populations as you walk the path. The different animals you will see (living in large enclosures) include Black Bear, Fishers, River Otters, Bobcat, Coyote, Mountain Lion, Gray Fox, Red Fox and White Tailed Deer. Also on the trail you will see birds such as the Bald Eagle and Black-Crowned Night Heron, Great Horned Owl, Reptiles and Amphibians and fish. The trail is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bring a picnic and enjoy a meal with Mom on the grounds of the Science Center. If you want to get out on Squam Lake, the Science Center offers many cruises during the season.
The Science Center is the perfect place for the whole family to learn about nature in a beautiful setting.
The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located at 23 Science Center Road near downtown Holderness. Call 603-968-7194 or visit www.nhnature.org.
The unique and fun Granite State Rail Bikes opens in May; reserve a spot for the whole family for an excursion Mom is sure to love. Located at 15 Veteran’s Square in Laconia, each Rail Bike has four seats per bike. Visitors will enjoy a two-hour, round-trip Rail Bike ride along the shores of Lake Winnisquam, starting the trip at the Laconia Railroad Station. The Rail Bike treks are a unique and fun way to get outdoors and enjoy the area with Mom and the whole family. To reserve, call 603-745-2135 or visit www.gsscenic.com.
Celebrate Mom by taking her on a unique cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee. This is the 152nd season for the M/S Mount Washington. The Mount offers a Mother’s Day Cruise on Sunday, May 11, featuring a grand buffet and entertainment. Located at Weirs Beach, the ship navigates around Lake Winnipesaukee. Choose from a 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. cruise; each cruise is 2 ½ hours in duration. Mom will surely enjoy a leisurely and memorable lake tour with her family accompanying her.
The Mount runs throughout the summer and into the fall with many cruise options, both day and evening. Or you can reserve a spot on the M/V Sophie C. The U.S. Mailboat provides postal service to island residents of Lake Winnipesaukee and is a unique way to see the islands up close. The Winnipesaukee Spirit is equipped for private events and charters.
For tickets and a schedule, visit www.cruisenh.com or call 603-366-5531. Take Mom on a Mother’s Day Brunch cruise or get her a gift card to use during the season.
Canterbury Shaker Village sits on nearly 700 acres, with beautiful historic buildings, trails, ponds, and gardens for outdoor exploration. The Village opens for the season in May (date TBA). You can take your mother for a walk on the grounds, which are open to the public from dawn until dusk daily. (Check out a map of the village at www.shakers.org.)
Events this season offer something just right for Mom, from Mapping the Shakers on May 18; Special Tours on select days; Learn to Tape a Shaker Chair; Make a #3 Shaker Oval Box; and an outdoor Sunday summer concert series.
Canterbury Shaker Village was established in 1792 when members formed a Canterbury, New Hampshire community. The village existed for many years, with Shakers living and worshipping on site. It has operated as a museum focused on Shaker history and culture since the early 1990s. At its height in the 1850s, 300 people lived and worked in over 100 buildings at Canterbury Shaker Village. Call 603-783-9511 or visit www.shakers.org for information. Canterbury Shaker Village is located at 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury.
Interlakes Theatre brings Broadway to the Lakes Region and your Mom will surely appreciate tickets for the variety of shows that take place throughout the summer. The lineup includes She Loves Me; The Comedy Musical Tootsie; My Fair Lady and Menopause the Musical. The theatre is located at 1 Lake Lane in Meredith. For tickets call 603-707-6035 or visit www.interlakestheatre.com.
Choose from a wide variety of shows at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith. Top-notch shows that Mom is sure to enjoy include The Wedding Singer from June 12 to 21; Potus from June 27 to July 5; Little Shop of Horrors from July 11 to 19; Fully Committed from July 25 to Aug. 2; Once on This Island from Aug. 8 to 16 and many more shows throughout the year. The theatre is located at 33 Footlight Circle in Meredith; call 603-279-00333 or visit www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.