Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers and mother figures in the U.S. today!
For many, travel restrictions mean that loved ones can’t gather as they normally would.
I just got off the phone with my mom, who lives in another state. Later this afternoon, my partner and I will be using an app to play virtual games with his mom and sister. I texted my sister-in-law and friends.
It’s wonderful that technology can make us feel close even when we’re not. But on days like this, it kind of stinks that we can’t be together.
What’s important to remember is that this won’t always be the case.
An IOU Adventure is a perfect gift to give this Mother’s Day. Why send an object when you can give the gift of time when this is all over?
It doesn’t matter if you only have a day to give, or if you’re on a tight budget. Or if you’re planning a mother-daughter getaway, mother-son trip, or inviting the whole family. It’s easy to find something that works for you and your mom.
Choose your own adventure:
1. Become a tourist in your own town
In this option, you will travel to mom or mom will travel to you. If you live in the same area, even better. But the aim here is to look beyond the same-old.
If you’re like me, then you put off experiencing new things in your hometown because you’ve gotten used to your routine. Now’s the chance to find out what else there is to see and do.
If you and your mom are outdoorsy, find a list of state parks and visit one you’ve never gone to before. Look on Tripadvisor at the Top 10 activities near your home and see what you haven’t done yet.
Don’t be afraid to take a little road trip. One of my favorite days I’ve ever spent with my mom was driving to a cute little town about an hour from where I grew up to go antiquing and then to a vineyard. I had no idea this town existed, but my mom had (apparently) been wanting to share the secret gem with me for some time.
Whether you just go out for a couple hours or decide to go full tourist-mode and rent an Airbnb or hotel room for the night in your own backyard, it can be fun to step outside the doldrums of home and make it fresh again.
2. Find a new spot in between
When my partner’s mom wanted to get the whole family together one weekend over winter, we turned to technology to help us out. We had contingencies coming from the Philadelphia area, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, and we didn’t want the burden of driving to fall on any one group.
There are several websites that will allow you to find midpoints between locations.
Trippy.com is my favorite if you’re working with two origin points. This site gives you a precise meetup location plus lists of recommended nearby cities. It also includes on-screen lists of potential places to stay, activities, and restaurants.
Things get a little trickier if you have more than two hometowns to start from.
Whatshalfway.com allows you to adjust for time and distance for up to three origin points. This is a more convenient option for a group meetup, like if your brother wants to get in on your IOU Adventure plan. This site doesn’t include on-screen lists like Trippy but will take you to a Google map of the area.
Without an app, we might never have discovered Bedford, Pennsylvania. This quaint town in central Pennsylvania was the perfect setting – and distance – for our weekend family getaway this winter. Pictured above is the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, a historical spa and resort, our “home” for the evening.
3. Destined for a destination
If your time, budget, and mother-child relationship allows, then the world is your oyster. Meet in New England for a yoga retreat, the Southwest for a spa getaway, or even Paris for your mother’s dream of eating croissants next to the Seine.
The Wrap-Up
Just because we’re stuck inside for now, doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future. Whether you decide to use these suggestions this year or earmark them for 2021, I hope whatever you decide to do for Mother’s Day, it is done with love.
Until next time, Mel.
The Scaredy-Cat's Guide to Travel 
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