Mother's Day Road Trip
Mother’s Day is May 12, and while my mother and I won’t be able to celebrate the occasion together, I think we’ll still be glowing with precious memories of last week’s Mother-Daughter road trip. Mom isn’t driving anymore, so I knew taking her anywhere beyond her neighborhood would be a gift to cherish. Adding gorgeous scenery, rolling hills, roads lined with spring flowers, towering oak trees, stopovers in small historic towns along the way, and three nights in a lovely hotel would make this an unforgettable getaway for both of us.
The trip began when I drove from our Dallas home to Mom’s near Houston. I arrived mid-afternoon with a suitcase, a canvas bag loaded with shoes (a girl needs shoes for every outfit), a sack filled with snacks for the week, and a cooler holding our first night’s dinner, a selection of cheeses and sliced veggies for a charcuterie board, and bottles of Pinot Grigio. The next morning, I loaded my things, Mom’s suitcase, and yet another canvas bag of shoes into the back of the car and off we went!
Our destination was Tyler, Texas which is known as the Rose Capital of America. After stopping and shopping in historic towns along the way and finally checking into our hotel, we headed out to dinner to kick off Mom’s early birthday celebration over frozen margaritas, grilled shrimp, a juicy steak, and frites.
Without a doubt, one of the highlights of our 3-night getaway was the Tyler Rose Garden. Its 14 acres features thousands of rose bushes, more than 300 rose varieties, fountains, secluded, shady spots for relaxing or enjoying a picnic, arbors, a gazebo, a wooden bridge, and paved walkways which are fully accessible. The garden is so large, Mom and I split our visit into two days and were joined on Day Two by my husband Randy and our older son Timothy, who drove out from Dallas.
While this was a birthday trip for my Mom, it could have easily made a wonderful Mother’s Day gift. I can’t say enough good things about giving mothers the gift of time and exploring new places together, whether it’s an overnight getaway or a day devoted to mom for lunch at a new restaurant, shopping, a museum visit, or stroll through a nearby arboretum. Last week, Mom and I both received a precious gift we’ll always remember.
Happy Mother’s Day!