Taking off Travel blog

Mother’s Day is just a few short weeks away (May 12, to be exact).  What do you get for the woman who has everything?  There’s only so many can openers one person should own at a time. What Mom really wants is more time with her darling children and/or precious grandchildren. So, why not take her on a quick weekend get-a-way, or a longer vacation?

Whether your mom is a fashionista, naturalist, or just a mom that wants to hang out, there’s a destination for you.  Our family took a lot of family vacations.  My parents showed us the United States from the back of a Ford, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.  So, one place I might like to take my mother is the Grand Canyon.  From just driving around the Canyon to hiking through it, there’s something for every level of activity.  With activities ranging from hiking along the rim to taking a free shuttle ride along the Scenic Hermit Road, or even taking a train aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, Mom will love it.

Ok, if that sounds something more like you dad would like, better scrap that idea.  His holiday isn’t for a couple months.  So, how about just a beach resort visit.  There are many places peppered throughout the United States a mom can relax with a nice lounge by the pool, a mani, pedi, or complete facial.  Treat Mom to a body massage to relived the stress and strain from her week, then take her out to a nice dinner and some quality time with her favorite child of the moment.  Depending on the location of your trip, you may be able to incorporate your stay with some wine tasting, art gallery visits, or even outlet mall shopping.

A couple days in New York City is good for almost anyone, including a fashion-forward thinking Mom.  Where better to catch up with great fashion than NYC.  From the Fashion District to all the hip boutiques your mom can stay on top of her game.  Plus, not to mention you could swing in a couple of your favorite things, too.  And, there is always time for a Broadway Show, a trip to the Guggenheim, MOMA, or the Bronx Zoo.  On my last trip to NYC, we managed to fine a street fair and found some great original work by a local artist.

My mom is also a huge baseball fan, so head out to a sporting event.  You can get as loud as you like and no one is going to “shush” you, too much.  And, eat all the things that are typically bad for you on the outside of the baseball stadium, but are perfectly acceptable during a ball game.  Buy her a Mother’s Day present of a jersey with her favorite players number and you are definitely nominated for kid of the year!

Trips are a lot of fun and you can bond with your mom.  What a great gift for her!  If you need to fly out for your trip, check out ParkRideFlyUSA.com for great parking rates at off-airport parking.  With lots at all the major airports, our vendors provide a guaranteed parking space, great rates, transportation to and from the airport terminal and luggage assistance.  You mom will love it that you planned ahead for a change!

Mother’s Day is Sunday. To celebrate the day, we’ve put together some interesting facts about this observance.

1. Although it may seem like Mother’s Day has been around forever, that’s not the case. In fact, it’s been an official observance for just 98 years. Congress designated Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May in 1914 at the request of Anna Jarvis, who first held similar observances in Philadelphia and West Virginia in 1908.

2. Even though it was her idea to mark the day, Anna Jarvis wanted it to be a day of prayer and reflection on the role of mothers. She was appalled at the commercialization of the day and actually went to court to try to prevent it – a battle she lost!

3. Mother’s Day is not celebrated on the same day throughout the world. In the UK, Mothering Sunday has been celebrated since the 16th century on the 4th Sunday in Lent. In other parts of the world, celebrations of motherhood can take place in other months, with some taking place in fall or winter.

4. Carnations are a popular symbol of Mother’s Day. The tradition is to honor mothers who are living with colored flowers, and those who are deceased with white ones. Most of the flowers given for Mother’s Day come from California. Read more »

Are you planning on traveling to visit Mom this coming weekend? With Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday 13th many people are. While it’s now too late to save on advance airline bookings, there are still plenty of ways to cut the cost of your trip home – and do something nice for Mom with what you save.

Mother’s Day Travel Deals

For a start, now’s a good time to look for last minute deals. Airlines with unsold seats for travel this weekend may offer a flight sale. That’s a great way to fly home without breaking the bank. If you’re stuck for Mother’s Day gift ideas, why not take advantage of the seat sale and take your mom somewhere really special for the weekend?

So that’s the flight taken care of – what about somewhere to stay? If you’re flying home, your old room is probably still available. But if you’re looking to make it a special weekend with mom then there are other deals on offer too. Since the start of May, some hotels have been offering special deals too, which takes care of accommodation for your trip. Check out your favorite travel sites on Facebook and Twitter to see what’s on offer.

Discount Airport Parking

You can also make savings on airport parking before your trip. Look out for special deals and discount parking coupons to cut the cost of this part of your trip. (You don’t have to look that far, either; we’ve got a sweet parking deal running this month with a CINCO coupon code).

Got any reward cards? Use these for additional savings on every aspect of travel – and see whether you can redeem any of them for a beautiful Mother’s Day gift.

Lighten the Travel Load

Another way to save is to travel light so you don’t incur baggage fees. If you’re staying at home, you’ve probably got some old clothes knocking around, so all you need are the basics plus something fancy for going out on the day itself. That means you can travel with a carryon, making your travel experience relatively hassle-free.

What are your plans for Mother’s Day? Look out for some fun facts about the day later this week.

Image: Bill McChesney/Flickr

It’s almost May, which means summer is around the corner! But before we get there, we have plenty of occasions to celebrate in May.

Cinco de Mayo

Coming up first is Cinco de Mayo, originally a Mexican holiday and now celebrated in many parts of the US. We’ll be covering the holiday in more detail next week.

Mother’s Day

People have already celebrated Mother’s Day 2012 in the UK but now it’s our turn to make much of our moms and splash out on flowers, chocolate and celebrations. Sorry, dads, you’ll have to wait another month for your turn.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day on May 28th is the day to honor the war dead at Arlington National Cemetery and across the country. Here’s how we marked the day last year. You can also honor the armed forces on Armed Forces Day on May 19th and the merchant navy on National Maritime Day on May 22nd. Read more »