Looking for a fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? Step outside the box with activities that go beyond the ordinary brunch and barbecue. This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 12, and Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16. Here are some unique ideas guaranteed to make mom and dad feel extra special.
VISIT A HIGH-TECH DRIVING RANGE
You could take mom or dad golfing at your local golf course or experience hitting a ball from new heights at Topgolf, located in Albuquerque and El Paso. El Paso Topgolf venue is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Reservations are encouraged but not required and can be made online.
With three floors of golfing, guests get assigned a climate-controlled bay and can choose from more than a dozen games suitable for both golfing pros and newbies. Along with enjoying a little competitive golf, your family can order drinks and food from your bay. The venue also has a bar, restaurant, and a rooftop terrace with firepits.
Info: topgolf.com/us/el-paso
GO ROCK CLIMBING AND BOULDERING
For those with athletic parents, rock climbing and bouldering can be a great way to spend quality time together while challenging the mind and body. Cave Climbing Co. in El Paso offers an indoor climbing wall with padded flooring. No ropes are necessary and climbing shoes can be rented for $3. Private lessons and instruction are also available.
“Here at Cave Climbing, we provide the perfect opportunity for families to get introduced to rock climbing in a safe and fun environment,” says owner Andrew Baxter. The Cave is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Visitors can get a day pass for $12 and spend Mother’s Day or Father’s Day at the gym or get a 10-punch pass for $100 to give as a gift.
Info: caveclimbingco.com
TAKE A COOKING CLASS
Whether your parents are experts in the kitchen or stick to the basics, taking a cooking class together can be a fun way to bond and create lasting memories.
Celebrating the foods of New Mexico for more than 32 years, Santa Fe School of Cooking offers hands-on, demonstration, and specialty classes, plus restaurant walking tours and even a culinary boot camp. The school also offers virtual cooking classes for those who prefer to experience them from the comfort of home.
All the classes allow participants to watch and learn how to make specialty dishes, many with a New Mexico flair, and get ideas for new recipes. If mom and dad are more into eating than cooking, schedule a restaurant tour and meet the key players in Santa Fe’s renowned culinary industry.
Be sure to register for classes and tours well in advance. While there may not be classes available on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, scheduling a cooking class makes for a great gift with the option to celebrate at a later date.
Info: santafeschoolofcooking.com
PLAN A HIKE AND PICNIC
An easy way to celebrate mom and dad is to plan a picnic and hike. One option is to visit La Cueva Picnic Area, located in the Dripping Springs Natural Area in Las Cruces. With shaded picnic tables, grills, restrooms, drinking water, and access to several trails, it’s a great place to park, prepare food, and go for a hike.
One of the more popular nearby trails is the La Cueva Rocks Trail, a 0.8-mile out-and-back path that leads to an archaeological cave, once home to Giovanni Maria Agostini, known as El Ermitano, the Hermit. You can extend the hike by continuing past the cave and making a short loop. There is a $5-per-vehicle fee for the picnic area.
Info: blm.gov/visit/la-cueva
LONG-DISTANCE GIFTING
You may not be able to celebrate in person with parents who live afar, but there are still plenty of special ways you can show them you care. Here are some shop local ideas!
• Legacy Pecans is a family-owned business in Mesilla that dates back to 1955. The online store offers everything from pecan brittle and roasted salted pecans to pecan coffee and virgin pecan oil. You can also purchase tins and gift boxes with a variety of pecan treats and snacks — perfect for shipping directly to your parents.
Info: legacypecans.com
• Is your mom or dad a bird watcher? Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, with a store in Las Cruces, gives you the option to shop in store or online. Here, you can find bird food, bird feeders, hobby products, bird baths and houses, gifts, and books.
Info: order.wbu.com/lascruces
• Organ Mountain Outfitters has locations in Las Cruces and Albuquerque as well as an online shop. Send your parents some Organ Mountain swag while supporting a good cause. The store has teamed up with Casa de Peregrinos (Las Cruces), Roadrunner Foodbank (Albuquerque), and Feeding America (national). A portion of every purchase goes toward these organizations to provide meals to those in need.
Info: organmountainoutfitters.com
• Give your parents a taste of locally made wine by shipping them a bottle from Rio Grande Winery in Las Cruces. The winery also offers a special gift package that includes jars of red and green chile — very New Mexico!
Info: riograndewinery.com
• Choose from a selection of specialty pistachios, wines, gourmet foods, and more when you shop Heart of the Desert’s online store. Heart of the Desert has a long history in New Mexico and locations in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, Mesilla, and Ruidoso.
Info: heartofthedesert.com
Story and photography by Alexia Severson
Additional photos courtesy
Originally published in Neighbors magazine
Posted by LasCruces.com
