Our Favorite Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

Mothers Day Brunch

Miss Delta
Enjoy a little southern comfort food from this cool joint. Brunch and dinner include beloved dishes like biscuits and gravy, a southern stack featuring a buttermilk biscuit with fried chicken, chicken fried chicken and chicken fried steak, catfish, meatloaf…and don’t forget a side of fried pickles. There’s even a kid’s menu for young ones who like to keep it simple. They’ll appreciate the grilled cheese and cheese burger.

3950 N Mississippi Ave
Online: missdeltapdx.net

Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar
Take mom out for a fancy three course plated meal. This next-level meal includes dishes like Prawn Cocktail 
Toasted Pecan Caesar Salad, Caprese Salad, Roasted Prime Rib, Wild Alaskan Salmon, and House-Fried Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes. Mom will love the mimosas. And the waterfront location will give her a view that takes her breath away. For a garunteed table, make reservations ahead of time.

801 Waterfront Way Suite 103
Vancouver, WA
Online: twigsbistro.com/vancouver#vancouver-info 

Fogo de Chao
Dine in or order a to-go Mother's Day brunch for mom from this hot spot. There dine-in special meal includes lobster, shrimp, filet mignon and more. The Mother’s Day To-Go Package includes two choices of fire-roasted meats, delicious sides, and dessert. Ready to serve and generously serves six. Order by May 8 to pick up on Mother's day.

930 SW Sixth Ave
Portland, OR 
Online: fogodechao.com/

Mother's Day Hikes

Get mom out in nature with one of this beautiful spring hikes.

Wapato Greenway, Sauvie Island
One of Portland’s favorite playgrounds is Sauvie’s Island, full of berry picking and beach-going in summer and pumpkin patches in fall. Early spring might be too soon for berries, but you’ll find a great hike at Wapato Greenway, which features a wetland lake, meadows, grassland, and oak trees. Kids will love hunting for snakes (harmless garter varieties!), frogs, ducks, and more on the trails. The loop around the pond is 2.2 miles total and is great for kids.

18846 N.W. Sauvie Island Road
Portland, OR
Online: oregonhikers.org

Powell Butte
Hike around a giant extinct volcano at this park in the city limits! Powell Butte is a beautiful place for a hike, with wooded paths, meadows, and perfect views of surrounding peaks on clear days. Starting at the small visitor center kiosk it’s an easy trek to the top on the paved path. There you’ll find a viewing platform pointing out the nine different mountains encircling you, including Mount Jefferson, Adams, St. Helens, and even Rainier. From there, you can follow the hiking trails around the back of the park into the forests or turn around and wind through the grassy meadows instead. The summit is a 0.7 mile hike, and the whole loop is about 2.9 miles. Spring sees wildflowers galore on the hills, and with them comes the buzz of bees and flutter of butterflies.

Powell Butte Nature Park
16160 Powell Blvd.
Portland, OR
Online: portlandoregon.gov

Hoyt Arboretum Trails
Try to count how many different trees you can find in Hoyt Arboretum, we dare you! With 2300 species and over 12 miles of trails, it’s quite the challenge. Whether you can count that high or not, you’ll find plenty of easy hikes on the hills near the Oregon Zoo and Children’s Museum. There’s something for every time of year-- in spring, find the 0.3 mile Magnolia Trail between Wildwood and Oak Trails for a great view of the flowering trees. There’s also cherry blossoms, dogwood flowers, and Japanese snow-bells. Don’t forget to look down for early trilliums!

Start your visit in the parking lot (it’s a pay lot, avoid the hunt and cost by taking the Max or even biking), then head to the trails. The visitor's center is closed while Shelter in Place rules are enacted.

Hoyt Arboretum Visitor’s Center
4000 SW Fairview Blvd.
Portland, OR
Online: hoytarboretum.org

Find more hikes here.

Mother's Day Picnic

Take mom out for a picnic breakfast, lunch or dinner. Portland has an abundance of gorgeous green spaces perfect for celebrating mom. Try one of these.

Forest Park
One of the largest urban forests in the U.S., Forest Park has over 5,200 acres for you picnic in. Mom and the little ones can stretch their legs. Head up the hill on Firelane #13. It’s a bit of a trek (~2 miles), but worth it to enjoy a beautiful vista of the Willamette River from your own private, hilltop picnic table. If you have older kids who think they are over "the picnic thing", challenge them to eat their lunch among the ghosts in the spooky Witch’s Castle. Or, take your wicker basket up to the Pittock Mansion and go on a trek back in time. Built in 1914, it sits on a rise with an incredible view of the city. You can spread your blanket on their broad lawn anytime. Free admission, and kid friendly!

Where: NW 29^th Ave. & Upshur St. to Newberry Rd.
Pricing: Park – Free
Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m
Online: forestparkconservancy.org, pittockmansion.org

Washington Park
Portland is a wealthy city when it comes to parks, so there are plenty to choose from for your al fresco dining pleasure. Parks and Rec even has a handy park finder tool on their website. But, no matter how many little boxes you check, you won’t find a park with more options than Washington Park; even when it comes to picnic spots! Tucked between Hwy 26 and West Burnside, Washington Park offers enough interesting picnic spots to keep you “eating out” all summer. If your kids want to get close to wild animals, check out the Oregon Zoo. Settle down in the shade at Hoyt Arboretum for a peaceful meal, while your kids frolic amongst the Dawn Redwoods. Or, go ahead and smell the roses at the International Rose Test Garden.

Where: 4001 Southwest Canyon Rd..
Online: explorewashingtonpark.org.

Rocky Butte Park
This local treasure is considered a bit of a hidden gem and offers beautiful views of the city. Located along Interstate 205, Rocky butte can be scaled by car on a road winds its way about a mile uphill. Joseph Wood Hill Park is located at the very top. This park, is a perfect place to perch and enjoy bites while taking in the sites but getting to it is half the fun as the ride offers beautiful views and a trip through a historic tunnel that will thrill the younger set.

Once you arrive at the top, the park is made up of 2.38 acres of flat park area that is home to rock walls and beautiful historic lamp posts. The western side of the park provides views to downtown Portland, and  on a clear day you can see St. Johns Bridge and the West Hills. On the Northwest side, you and your little picnickers can see Portland International Airport and enjoy the air show as the planes take off and land right in front of you. And to the East, you can see the stunning Cascade Mountain Range.

This sweet spot gives you the option of a different dining experience every time you visit. Try to visit on a clear day for best views, because there is plenty to view as far as the eye can see, while you eat.

Where: NE Rocky Butte Rd
Pricing: Park – Free.
Hours: Park – 5 a.m.-midnight Zoo
Online: portlandoregon.gov.

For more picnic spots that are perfect for Mother's Day, check out this roundup.