Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” What are your plans to make your mom feel special this Mother’s Day? We have some ideas to help you out right here in Grayson County!
There are plenty of opportunities here in the mountains to follow the traditional route: flowers, dinner, a gift. Perhaps you’d like to send a dozen roses or a lovely bouquet. There’s always Grayson Florist. One of the most creative around, they’ll outdo themselves on fresh flowers artfully arranged.
Down home country cooking is a local favorite. Moms love it especially when they don’t have to cook it! Corner Market and Café has a special menu for Mother’s Day with meatloaf and two sides. They almost always have home-baked desserts, and the food is always fresh and delicious. After lunch, ride up to Grayson Highlands State Park to enjoy the ponies and the beautiful 360 degree views!
The one thing moms prefer most is the gift of your time. Grayson County is the go-to destination for spending quality time with mom. Take a walk over to Sweet Lily’s Ice Cream and Such (housed in an authentic caboose) for a “BIG DAM SUNDAE”: chocolate ice cream, nuts, brownies, waffle cones, pineapple, caramel, chocolate, blueberry, whipped cream, and a cherry. Be sure and tell her that calories don’t count on Mother’s Day! Spending Mother’s Day on the New River — your mom will love it!
Another terrific idea for spending time with mom is to take her on a guided horseback riding tour with Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures. Rather than buy your mom flowers, Doug Cregger will show them to her — by the THOUSANDS. Soon the wild azaleas will be in bloom, and not long after that the rhododendron. Doug has horses for the novice rider as well as the most experienced. He will show her places in and around Pine Mountain that few get to experience. There is no prettier way to see the wilderness than on horseback. Schedule a ride soon, and go with her!
Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures, Doug Cregger 276-783-4136
An active mom would most certainly appreciate a bike ride on the Creeper Trail. Creeper Trail Bike Rental has you covered. They are a full service bike rental service located in beautiful Whitetop, Virginia. Here’s a little secret. If you start the trail in Whitetop (the end of the Creeper Trail) and ride to Damascus it’s all downhill! Shhhh! In Damascus there are all kinds of quaint little restaurants to treat mom to lunch, and the shuttle will bring you back to Whitetop. Not everyone will think of something this unique for Mother’s Day!
The artistic mom would love a painting lesson from Grayson County’s newest business ,The Art Roost. They offer all kinds of services from art lessons in all types of mediums to workshops, to paint parties. Every week there is some type of event: barn quilts, rustic paintings, door art. There’s no telling what they’ll be teaching next! Once again, moms love spending time with you; treat her to an event and attend with her. It will be an experience neither of you will forget. Oh, and you don’t have to be artistic. They’ll teach you!
There are plenty of places to buy unique gifts for your mother from our area artisans. The Treasury Gift Shop located in the historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence sells all kinds of handmade products. Buy your mom a quilt or wall hanging made by the master quilter Laura Bryant. The shop recently began carrying Mule Hell Trading Company products. Come in and get a basket of soap, candles, and lotions for your mom. She’ll love it. Mule Hell’s business has quadrupled recently, and there’s a good reason. Their products are the absolute best. Pick up some wine glasses etched with the 1908 Courthouse for only $2! Add
a nice bottle of wine, and you have a wonderful Mother’s Day gift. A wonderful library of local books, both historical and fiction are housed at The Treasury. There are lots of other treasures made by local artisans carried by the gift shop. While you’re in The Treasury pick up matching Grayson County T-Shirts for you and mom! Who doesn’t like it when the family matches?
The best farmers’ market in Southwest Virginia is located right here in Independence at the corner of highway 58 and route 21. Many vendors offer local produce, flowers, plants, vegetables, jellies and jams, herbs, eggs, arts and crafts. Every Friday morning beginning around Mother’s Day until the middle of October, farmers from all over our region bring their goods. Everyone enjoys the good food and fellowship at the Independence Farmers’ Market. They sponsor cooking demonstrations, kids activities, and an array of festivals. You can buy your mom a gift certificate to the Independence Farmers’ Market by going to the market; it’s grand opening is this Friday at 9:00 AM, or you can order one on-line. This way your mom can choose what she wants while she enjoys the market.
We hope we have you thinking of unique ways to celebrate Mother’s Day here in Grayson County. This is only a sampling of what we have to offer. Think of a way to show your mom how much you love her this Mother’s Day!
