Updated 6am PT on 5/15: 10 winners announced, please scroll down to see the winning comments.
Good morning everyone and happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there – especially my mom! I might be a bit biased, but I think know I have the best mom in the world! My parents got me hooked on travel at a very young age and my love for travel has only grown larger as I have gotten older (and the ability to earn thousands of miles and points from credit card sign up bonuses has helped too). There are so many family trips around Europe, to various tropical Caribbean Islands, and long road trips around California, picking a favorite family vacation would be impossible. Every trip is special in one way or another.
To celebrate Mother’s Day and to give you all a chance to brag about your mother’s, I decided to set up an Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. Read on to find the details of the giveaway…
My family in St. Kitts (my dad is taking the photo). Cheer’s to all the moms out there!
Contest Rules
Leave a comment below by 11:59pm PT today (5/13) and tell me your favorite memory with your mom or tell me what you plan to do for your mom today on Mother’s Day. I will pick 10 winners on Monday (5/14) and send you a $10 Amazon eGift Card to your email address. That’s all you have to do.
Good luck to everyone who enters, but as long as you have a mother you love and who loves you back, there are no losers today. Now go out and spend some quality time with your mother!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest. I wish I could have awarded $10 Amazon eGift Cards to everyone, but I consoluted with my girlfriend and here are the 10 winners (sorted alphabetically by name):
| Ann | One of my favorite memories of my mom is running out of the house in the early morning hours because our horses had gotten out and were running through the neighborhood. Mom would always go the barn and grab a grain bucket. Nearly always she would coax one of the mares inside the barn and the rest would follow. This morning I made brunch for my Mom and Dad. |
| cnmaz | I remember when she took me shopping to pick out new bedroom carpet and paint as I was approaching becoming a teenager. The biggest kick was that she did all of this as a secret and did not share with my dad until he came home after the purple carpet was installed in my room! |
| David T | My favorite meal of the day was always breakfast but my mom was not a morning person. My favorite was when she’s get up anyways and make French today or pancakes–especially with chocolate chips on top! ;-) I’m taking my mom to coffee today! |
| derek | Being a travel blog, let me tell you about a Mother’s Day tradition. Mom, like many others, are locals that never get to see their own cities. Every Mother’s Day, we go to some part of the city that we haven’t been to in years. Maybe it’s a park or the lake. Maybe it’s the big shopping center on the other part of town. Maybe it’s a well known restaurant. One year, it was even driving around an expensive neighborhood, like a real estate agent might. Next year, it’s going to be Las Vegas. She always thought of it as a tourist trap but never has been there. Little does she know there’s the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, and pyramids in Las Vegas…Ok, not the real ones. |
| GL | Most mom’s are loathe to have their young ones tinkering about the kitchen when they’re cooking but mine encouraged it as bonding time, whipping up delicious dishes and passing down recipes that run for generations. There’s really something in going back to the basics and keeping things simple, and I appreciate mom for those opportunities. She’s always lived a simple life, and in a couple weeks I’m gonna fly her in international J for the very first time. Thanks to this wonderful community I’m able to make this happen. |
| Greg M | I remember this event as though it transpired yesterday. It was on my fourth birthday in December of 1953 and it was after dinner. I was playing with my cars on the hardwood floor in the living room and my mom asked me if I wanted to go outside and build a snowman. I was unaware that it was snowing and was a bit concerned since I had no idea of how to create a snowman and it was dark outside. My mom opened the kitchen curtains and pulled up the shade and she helped me get bundled up. We went into the backyard and it was lit up by the light coming through the kitchen window. Three snowballs were rolled of successively smaller sizes and and then stacked. She had brought out a bag containing buttons for eyes and a mouth and a carrot for a nose. The bag also contained a scarf and one of my dad’s hats. We found a couple of downed tree branches to use for arms. The next morning I ran to the window and sure enough, our snowman was looking at me through the kitchen window. |
| Lauren | So many favorite memories it’s hard to pick, but I especially loved the trips when we took our young boys to Disney. We would fly down & stay on site ~ all five of us in 1 room. We started the tradition when my youngest was only 9 months old & didn’t end it until both boys were in their late teens. Still love traveling together when we get the chance. |
| Luke US | My favorite memories are of our summers spent together in beautiful Costa Smeralda, Italy! I treasure all the happiness and joy that I received! |
| Meg | My favorite memories with my Mom are cooking in the kitchen with her. She is the best cook ever. She won’t write down her recipes so I need to cook with her so that I can pass the recipes down to my own girls. Along, with cooking, we explore different cuisines as we are both adventurous travelers and eaters! Food and travel builds strong bonds. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. Enjoy the day. |
| todd s. | I’m cooking my mom her favorite meal ( BBQ Ribs and Cornbread) for Mothers Day :D |
My mom and I would leave the boys ( Dad and two brothers) at home and take off in the car for a few hours to visit a museum.
Those were the good of days.
I always loved going to our cabin with my mom. The tradition still continues this year, it is a great day.
I saw most of Europe with my mum. She’s the best travel companion I had for years. She is easy going and let me decide on the things to do, places to see and food to eat and she is always game enough to try something new.
So many favorite memories it’s hard to pick, but I especially loved the trips when we took our young boys to Disney. We would fly down & stay on site ~ all five of us in 1 room. We started the tradition when my youngest was only 9 months old & didn’t end it until both boys were in their late teens. Still love traveling together when we get the chance.
One of my favorite memories of my mom is running out of the house in the early morning hours because our horses had gotten out and were running through the neighborhood. Mom would always go the barn and grab a grain bucket. Nearly always she would coax one of the mares inside the barn and the rest would follow.
This morning I made brunch for my Mom and Dad.
My favorite memory with my mom is going to Mystic, CT and watching the boats come and go.
My favorite memory with my Mom is of our annual summer camping trip. With 3 kids & not much extra cash she made that week at the state park the best. Great memories of hiking, fishing and swimming.
I make sure my family now takes the time relax together and we still spend a lot of time at the parks no matter what state we are in.
Ice cream together on her 80th birthday
My husband and kids are away but they’re returning this afternoon. I can’t wait to see them and give them all huge hugs! That’s all I want for Mother’s Day.
Seeing the giddy face on my mom as she flew international first class (for the first time) on JAL! Thanks points for making that possible!
My favorite memories are of our summer family trips to lake george.
My favorite memories with my Mom are cooking in the kitchen with her. She is the best cook ever. She won’t write down her recipes so I need to cook with her so that I can pass the recipes down to my own girls. Along, with cooking, we explore different cuisines as we are both adventurous travelers and eaters! Food and travel builds strong bonds. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. Enjoy the day.
Going to the beach at Padre Island with my mom is one of my best childhood memories. Due to her health she can’t really travel anymore so that time is even more precious. I’m away for work. But left her a card and presents on the table that she opened today. One special lady and a great human being! I’m blessed!
My favorite memory is going on a vacation trip with Mom to Dubai. Most I loved is being with her and able to spend time with her. Happy mother’s day to all Mom’s out there!!
Most mom’s are loathe to have their young ones tinkering about the kitchen when they’re cooking but mine encouraged it as bonding time, whipping up delicious dishes and passing down recipes that run for generations. There’s really something in going back to the basics and keeping things simple, and I appreciate mom for those opportunities.
She’s always lived a simple life, and in a couple weeks I’m gonna fly her in international J for the very first time. Thanks to this wonderful community I’m able to make this happen.
The typical Mother’s day lunch and dinner. Hopefully the lines aren’t that long at the restaurants.
My favorite meal of the day was always breakfast but my mom was not a morning person. My favorite was when she’s get up anyways and make French today or pancakes–especially with chocolate chips on top! ;-)
I’m taking my mom to coffee today!
I remember this event as though it transpired yesterday. It was on my fourth birthday in December of 1953 and it was after dinner. I was playing with my cars on the hardwood floor in the living room and my mom asked me if I wanted to go outside and build a snowman. I was unaware that it was snowing and was a bit concerned since I had no idea of how to create a snowman and it was dark outside. My mom opened the kitchen curtains and pulled up the shade and she helped me get bundled up. We went into the backyard and it was lit up by the light coming through the kitchen window. Three snowballs were rolled of successively smaller sizes and and then stacked. She had brought out a bag containing buttons for eyes and a mouth and a carrot for a nose. The bag also contained a scarf and one of my dad’s hats. We found a couple of downed tree branches to use for arms. The next morning I ran to the window and sure enough, our snowman was looking at me through the kitchen window.
My mom is a control freak and rarely drinks. Something possessed her to go to happy hour about a year ago and I saw her Tipsy for the first time in my life. I couldn’t believe she actually relinquished control for an afternoon!
My most precious memories are of spending time with my mother last year, while she was receiving lifegiving cancer treatments. (Thank God, she’s now in remission, although she’s too weak to accept my gift of a family vacation! Fingers crossed, wood knocked for next year.)
When my kids were off school for a teacher in-service day, my Mom always took my kids and I out to Pizza Hut for the lunch buffet. It was a special time for us all to enjoy with her! ❤️
Being a travel blog, let me tell you about a Mother’s Day tradition. Mom, like many others, are locals that never get to see their own cities. Every Mother’s Day, we go to some part of the city that we haven’t been to in years. Maybe it’s a park or the lake. Maybe it’s the big shopping center on the other part of town. Maybe it’s a well known restaurant. One year, it was even driving around an expensive neighborhood, like a real estate agent might.
Next year, it’s going to be Las Vegas. She always thought of it as a tourist trap but never has been there. Little does she know there’s the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, and pyramids in Las Vegas…Ok, not the real ones.
Book her a vacation to TLV!
One of the best memories with my mom is when I was able to take her to Hawaii for the first time for her birthday. She was so touched and happy and just by seeing her happy face it makes me happy too.
My favorite memory of my mom was taking her fabric shopping to make her a nice dress, and making it. She was a lot of fun, and very pretty.
Since I am currently visiting and staying with my daughter in Guatemala, and my mom is in Maine our annual dinner together is out of the question. But today we did have a nice video chat with a raincheck for that dinner once I get back… even if it is at her favorite restaurant which is Burger King lol.
I’m cooking my mom her favorite meal ( BBQ Ribs and Cornbread) for Mothers Day :D
Hey, that’s what I am doing. Spare ribs for dinner. (see post immediately above). All for Mom.
I am taking my mom for brunch.
My mom’s been gone for nearly 13 years. One of my favorite memories is of us baking Christmas cookies together.
i was a peace corps volunteer in vanuatu. for over a year, she and i communicated by aerogrammes. they took a month to transit the mighty pacific.
my mom wanted to come see me and my bamboo hut and my leaf roof and my no electricity and my no running water and the grass soccer field and shanty hut that were my airport on gaua island.
…however…
i knew that her getting to gaua on her own would be impossible. the nuts and bolts of it were crazy!
…so…
we agreed to meet in new zealand. spend a few days in the wifi/wal-mart world. and then, we’d go back in time.
she landed in auckland on mother’s day. bearded and long-haired, i met her at baggage claim. with a bouquet of flowers and a hug that hadn’t been hugged in ~way~ too long.
eventually, we got to gaua. of all my worries (pit toilet, wacky foods, tropical heat, new cultural experiences), i would have ~never~ guessed that her biggest issue was having to sleep under a mosquito net!!! she said it made her feel claustrophobic!
still bearded and long-haired…i ~LOVE~ my mom!
My favorite memories are of our summers spent together in beautiful Costa Smeralda, Italy! I treasure all the happiness and joy that I received!
I remember a bittersweet moment with Mom, asking for a piece of cheese, which Mom cut her finger slicing it for me. :(
That’s a nice Mom who tries her best, like getting a piece of cheese for a little kid.
I remember when she took me shopping to pick out new bedroom carpet and paint as I was approaching becoming a teenager. The biggest kick was that she did all of this as a secret and did not share with my dad until he came home after the purple carpet was installed in my room!
I took my mom out to eat lunch at her favorite restaurant.