Mother’s Day can sneak up on you. One minute it’s still gray and drizzly, and the next thing you know, it’s time for spring and you’re scrambling to plan something that actually feels special. If you’re itching to ditch the usual brunch reservations and do something memorable this year, Mount Baker is the ticket.
Wake Up and Smell the Syrup
Start the day in Bellingham or Glacier, both of which are solid home bases. If you’re staying in one of our Glacier cabin rentals, you can snag a window seat at Wake ‘n Bakery which, while it doesn’t serve waffles, still serves an excellent selection of drinks and pastries. Or, if you’re staying in one of our Bellingham homes, look no further than Sweet As Waffles, a cute and locally owned waffle shop in the center of the city with every type of delicious waffle you could imagine at your fingertips.
The Loud Beauty
Once the coffee kicks in, head out on one of Mount Baker’s spring-friendly trails. You could keep it simple with Nooksack Falls, which is just a short walk from its parking lot, but the roar of the water and the dizzying vertical drop are enough to stop a conversation mid-sentence. You don’t realize how much noise you carry with you until it all disappears into the sound of water pounding on rock.
The Quiet Beauty
And if mom is feeling a little more adventurous, May is wildflower season on the mountain. Glacier Lilies, Trillium, and Indian Paintbrush splash color across the meadows. Horseshoe Bend Trail winds along the North Fork of the Nooksack River, and makes for a gentle 2.4-mile path through mossy trees, rushing water, and damp earth. It’s shaded, serene, and easy enough for all ages.
Wrap It Up with Wine
Wind down the day with a stop at Samson Estates Winery in Everson or Vartanyan Estate Winery just outside Bellingham. Both have the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to linger, and the kind of wine that lets you. If beer’s more your speed, North Fork Brewery along Mount Baker Highway pours a mean IPA and serves delicious pizza to go along with it.
It’s Not Just a Gift, It’s a Memory
You could buy a card. You could order a bouquet. But if you really want to give your mom something this Mother’s Day, take her somewhere that feels like a break from the usual.
Mount Baker’s not flashy. But it’s generous in all the right ways.
Just like her.