Looking for ideas for mother daughter getaways for Mother’s Day or any other occasion? Taking a mother daughter vacation can be a lot of fun and is a great way to make special memories together that will last a lifetime…but it can sometimes be difficult to decide where to go.
So if you’re considering mother daughter weekend getaways in the US and want to know some of the best places to visit, then this list will help you find the perfect vacation spot plus some awesome activities to do together while you’re there. Whether you like city breaks or adventures in the great outdoors, these 12 places offer a variety of options to help you choose the ideal getaway and enjoy spending some quality time together with your mother or daughter!
1. New York, New York
As far as mother daughter getaways go, New York City is a pretty epic place to spend a weekend! There are plenty of exciting activities for mothers and daughters to enjoy in this city.
Attending a Broadway show such as Wicked or The Phantom of the Opera or any other of the amazing shows on offer is the perfect mother daughter activity while spending a weekend here. It’s also the perfect opportunity to explore some of the amazing art in NYC by visiting some of the iconic museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim.
Of course, no trip to New York would be complete without visiting Central Park (you could even rent bikes or take a horse-drawn carriage ride). And you won’t want to miss one of the epic views of the city skyline from the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, or from the classic Empire State Building, or perhaps even from the iconic Top of the Rock observation deck.
But no matter what you decide to do in the city that never sleeps, it’s guaranteed that this will be one of the best mother daughter trips of your life!
2. San Diego, California
If you’re looking for mother daughter vacation ideas, San Diego should top your list! There are so many diverse things to do in San Diego that it is the perfect trip for mother and daughter pairs of all types.
San Diego is a city filled with bucket list adventures, but mothers and daughters may enjoy strolling through Old Town San Diego, visiting the beautiful Balboa Park and associated museums, or shopping in luxury at San Diego’s Fashion Valley Mall.
Other fun activities include going on a whale watching cruise or seeing the seals at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla. For adventurous mothers and daughters, there are also plenty of beautiful hikes near the city or you could take an incredible kayaking tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves!
For those looking for a touch of luxury, staying at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado is the obvious choice. And while there are a ton of delicious food options readily available, you won’t want to miss the waterfront dining at C Level and Island Prime!
3. Charleston, South Carolina
Mother daughter weekend getaways don’t get much better than a trip to Charleston! This city is filled with adorable architecture and southern charm.
There are lots of things to do in Charleston, but some excellent mother daughter trip ideas include strolling along the iconic Rainbow Row, taking a carriage ride through the city, and spending the day browsing the goods at the historic Charleston City Market.
Don’t forget to eat your fill of delicious foods (including hush puppies and she crab soup), and if you’re looking for a unique and lovely place to stay then you should definitely consider the John Rutledge House Inn (I loved my stay here when on a grandmother-mother-daughter trip to Charleston!)
4. Denver, Colorado
Mother daughter vacations don’t get much better than a trip to Denver—this city offers memorable (and Instagrammable) moments at every turn!
On your mother daughter trip, you’ll definitely want to stop by Larimer Square and explore all the boutique shops or sit and enjoy the view of the street from one of the nearby restaurant patios. This street is well-known for its boutiques as well as for its twinkling lights that help assure its place as one of the prettiest streets in the city.
But if you’re looking for an experience to remember for a lifetime, you’ll want to reserve a table for high tea at the Brown Palace. This delicious and opulent experience is the perfect way to spend time with your mother or daughter and soak up a little bit of luxury!
However, if you love music then there’s one more experience you won’t want to miss: going to a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. This amphitheater is a little ways out of the city, but the short drive is definitely worth it to experience a concert in this unique outdoor setting. The rocks that give Red Rocks its name help create the perfect acoustic surroundings, and are impressive to see up close as well.
With all of these intriguing and exciting activities, a trip to Denver will definitely be one of the best mother daughter vacations ever!
5. San Luis Obispo, California
When looking for mom daughter trip ideas, the central coast of California is an excellent place to consider. Specifically, San Luis Obispo (SLO) makes the perfect place for a mother daughter getaway.
There are lots of things to do in SLO, from browsing the wares at the weekly Thursday Farmers’ Market to exploring the local history at the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.
But beyond the city, San Luis Obispo is a particularly perfect place for mothers and daughters who enjoy being active and appreciate the outdoors. There are lots of beautiful hikes, including the well-known Bishop Peak hike that offers some of the best views over San Luis Obispo…or a trip to Montaña de Oro and the tide pools offers another incredible outdoor excursion.
For those who prefer a more traditional sandy beach, both Avila Beach and Pismo Beach are nearby towns that offer up the quintessential California beach experience—from beachside souvenir shops to picturesque piers to delicious seafood.
And if you’re looking for a unique place to stay, the Madonna Inn is the ultimate adventure in luxury and unique hotels. Bright pink is the iconic Madonna Inn color and is threaded through everything from the hotel lobby to the hot pink tennis courts! Mother daughter trips don’t get much better than this!
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is another of my favorite mother daughter trips for a weekend getaway. There’s history, culture, beautiful architecture, and the most delicious food—what else could you possibly want?
Staying in the heart of the French Quarter at a hotel like the Place d’Armes is an excellent way to get your mother daughter trip off to a good start. I loved staying in this hotel as it overlooks Jackson Square and means you are right on the doorstep of everything the French Quarter has to offer.
As far as food goes, for one evening you might enjoy eating at a fancy (and delicious) restaurant like the Commander’s Palace, but for other meals you will definitely want to make sure you try other delicious New Orleans offerings including gumbo and a muffuletta sandwich.
There are also a few essential things you should do while in New Orleans, including wandering through the French Quarter (on your own or with a storytelling guide). You might also enjoy taking a jazz cruise aboard a steamboat, going on a voodoo and cemetery tour, or even taking a a Cajun and Creole cooking class as a mother daughter pair. Or, if you’re feeling even more adventurous then you won’t want to miss going on a swamp tour of the bayou!
So whether you’re looking for adventure and culture or simply want a cute city to relax in and enjoy being with your mother or daughter, New Orleans won’t disappoint you on your next mother daughter trip!
7. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Looking for fun mother daughter trips for lovers of the outdoors? Lake Tahoe is the place to go!
Some of the top attractions in Lake Tahoe include seeing the gorgeous Emerald Bay and going hiking around the lake or kayaking and paddle boarding on the lake! If it’s your first time paddle boarding, you can take a paddle boarding tour to have some guidance as you go…or you can simply rent a paddleboard and go out exploring on your own.
But no matter how you choose to spend your time at Lake Tahoe, the gorgeous surroundings are sure to make your mother daughter trip here a refreshing time for both of you!
8. Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a really cool city and offers up some excellent activities for any mother daughter trip!
Of course, there’s the iconic Space Needle which you will surely want to visit. The best part is the incredible glass floor observation deck where you can walk on glass and see all the way 500 feet down to the ground!
Nearby, you’ll also find the breathtaking Chihuly Garden with some incredible glass sculptures that you’ll surely want to see, and any trip to Seattle wouldn’t be complete without taking a harbor tour for excellent views of the city skyline. While these activities can be a bit expensive, all three (the Space Needle, Chihuly, and a harbor tour) are included with the Seattle CityPASS…so if you plan to visit all three attractions it is cheaper to do it with the pass than by buying admission to each individually.
Pike Place Market is another place you won’t want to miss while in Seattle. It’s an iconic institution and the perfect place to wander and explore the stores, or go on a food tour to discover some of the best foods on offer in the market. But no matter what you choose to do or how you choose to explore, Seattle is the perfect place to enjoy a mother daughter getaway in a big city!
9. Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island is a wonderful destination for mothers and daughters who want a taste of island life in California. Although Catalina is just a short jaunt by boat from Long Beach, you’ll feel immersed in the vacation life as soon as you arrive!
This is the perfect place for those looking for a relaxing getaway that includes shopping and eating lots of delicious food. But there are also some fun adventures to be had, including swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and biking.
It’s also fun to go out in a glass bottom boat to see all the incredible sea life teeming in the crystal clear water! And one thing is clear—life doesn’t get much better than the island life you’ll experience here!
10. Niagara Falls, New York
Looking for a mother daughter vacation that is the experience of a lifetime? Look no further than Niagara Falls in New York!
The falls are truly like nothing else you’ve seen or experienced before, and if you want to get up close with this amazing display then you may enjoy taking a Maid of the Mist boat tour to actually get to feel the spray from the powerful falls. Another fun activity is to take a walk behind the falls through the Cave of the Winds, but you may also enjoy exploring Goat Island—the small island that sits between the American and Canadian sides of the falls.
If you’re more adventurous and want an even more exciting experience to share with your mother or daughter, then there are a few options you might consider including taking a cable car ride over the Niagara Gorge or going on a jet-boat tour of the Niagara River. These activities are sure to get anyone’s heart pumping fast with adrenaline!
If you choose Niagara for your mother daughter adventure, then note that you may wish to bring your passports along with you in case you end up crossing into Canada. While you could theoretically just enjoy the falls from the New York side, some of the activities in the area will cross over to the Canadian side so it is best to be prepared just in case. But whether you stay in New York or cross into Canada, a Niagara Falls experience will be the mother daughter vacation you’ll never forget!
11. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a mother daughter getaway in the U.S., but it is a lovely choice just the same! Especially for those looking for a mix of good food and outdoors adventures.
If you’re looking for some fascinating outdoor places to explore, Santa Fe is fairly close to some unusual and unique places. Bandelier National Monument is one such place where you can learn about Ancestral Puebloans and their homes (often called cliff dwellings). You can even climb up into some of the preserved homes to see inside!
Another unique place to visit is Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, where you’ll find some of the most unique scenery. The giant rocks have been shaped into conical, tent-like structures by the elements, which is a sight you won’t find anywhere else! This is the perfect place to go hiking when it’s not too hot.
And for those looking for amazing New Mexican food, Santa Fe has plenty to offer. The Shed and its sister restaurant La Choza are out-of-this-world choices (and are places I always recommend travelers stop on a road trip from California to Texas). Their red and green chile they use on enchiladas, burritos, and more are both delicious!
So no matter whether you’re primarily interested in the outdoors or in the New Mexican food, Santa Fe will surprise and delight you at every turn. You won’t regret choosing this delightful city for your mother daughter trip!
12. Maui, Hawaii
Last but not least, what could be a better mother daughter vacation than a trip to literal paradise? Maui is clearly an excellent choice for your next mom and daughter trip!
If the words “paradise” and “Hawaii” didn’t already convince you, just think about all the cool things you could do. For instance, you could go snorkeling in the waters of Molokini and Turtle Town or go on a sunset dinner cruise. You could also enjoy activities such as experiencing a luau, going whale watching, or even taking surf lessons with your mom or daughter!
But of course, when you’re in paradise you also won’t want to forget to slow down and lounge on the beach, or enjoy a drive on the Road to Hana. But whether you choose a more active or relaxing stay in paradise, Maui will certainly be one of the best mother daughter weekend getaways you’ll ever take!
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