Make it memorable for Mom on her day


For AccessAtlanta
Published on: 05/08/2008

MOTHERS RUN THE GAMUT from fun and feisty to meek and mild. No matter the make and model, she's still your mom and deserves props on Mother's Day. But what to do? AccessAtlanta has a field guide of activities both you and the matriarch can enjoy together on a holiday only a mother can love.

Alison Church/Special
Take Mom to view the marine life and to have brunch May 11 at the Georgia Aquarium's Oceans Ballroom at the Around the World Buffet.
 
Jean Shifrin/Staff
The Greater Atlanta Rose Show May 10-11 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a fragrant destination for mothers who love flowers.
 
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FOR HEALTH-CONSCIOUS MOM

Take Mom to breakfast at LottaFrutta in the Old Fourth Ward and let her choose from five fresh-cut fruit cups like the Dolce Vita, a melding of apple, banana, kiwi, mango, melon, orange, pineapple and watermelon. It all gathers in a batch of creamy vanilla yogurt with a dab of honey and a granola lining. Sandwiches and other treats are available, too.

After the light meal, take a leisurely walk with Mom around Piedmont Park in Midtown to help loosen up her joints. A total of four circuit trails offer various views and challenges, ranging from the Active Oval, which circles the park's ball fields and offers a moderate grade, to the Park Loop, which is a little less than two miles long. Trail maps are available online.

LottaFrutta, 590-A Auburn Ave., Atlanta. 404-588-0857, www.lottafrutta.com. Opens daily at 7 p.m.

Piedmont Park, 400 Park Drive N.E., Atlanta, 404-875-7275, www.piedmontpark.org.

FOR FLOWER-LOVING MOM

You and Mom can grab a cup of java to go from Kavarna, a coffeehouse and tavern in Oakhurst, then walk down to the Oakhurst Community Garden for a tour. If you have little ones in the family, take them to the garden pond, home to a gaggle of frogs. Other animal inhabitants include chickens, turtles and tended bees. A seven-circuit labyrinth lined with bricks can be used for meditation. Then buy Mom a plant — she can choose from perennials and vegetables, $1-$8 each.

Drive into downtown Decatur for some greens at Tossed, where Mom can dive into one of the restaurant's specialty salads like the Summer, a bundle of baby field greens with strawberries, roasted corn, grape tomatoes and plantain chips topped with a strawberry balsamic vinaigrette. Crepes and sandwiches are available, too.

Then head over to Midtown for an afternoon at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where Mom can enjoy the Greater Atlanta Rose Show (1-6 p.m. May 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 11).

Kavarna, 707 E. Lake Drive, Decatur. 404-371-1113.

Oakhurst Community Garden, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur. 678-642-4977, www.oakhurstgarden.org. Open sunrise-sunset. Free.

Tossed, 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-378-1400, www.tossed.com.

Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta, 404-876-5859, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org. $9-$12. Kids 2 and younger are free. Tuesdays-Sundays 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

FOR THE SEAFARING MOM

Does Mom have a fish fixation? Start her Mother's Day celebration on May 10 with the Basic Fly Fishing Clinic at Panola Mountain State Park. The two-hour course covers everything from casting to safety tips. Time permitting, guests can stay and fish.

The next day, treat Mom to brunch at the Georgia Aquarium. Tastes from Alaska, Italy, Napa Valley, New Orleans and local farms make up the Around the World Buffet. The meal takes place in the Oceans Ballroom and includes admission to the aquarium.

Panola Mountain State Park, 2600 Ga. 155 S.W., Stockbridge. 770-389-7801, www.gastateparks.org/info/panolamt. Basic Fly Fishing Clinic, 9:45 a.m. May 10. $7-10; $3 parking.

Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St., Atlanta. 404-581-4000, www.georgiaaquarium.org. Mother's Day brunch 9:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. May 11. $77.50; $44.25 for ages 3-12; ages 2 and younger free. Reservations required.

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