Chicago thrives as an international hub of commerce and the arts, bustling with its cultural and musical heritage. In such a diverse urban landscape, there is no shortage of opportunities to celebrate special occasions like Mother’s Day. Here are eight places to visit or activities to enjoy with your Mom or leading lady in the Windy City this May 14th.

Things to do on Mother’s Day in Chicago

1. Architecture Boat Tour

Rated as the top tour in the city of Chicago, the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise is a 90-minute excursion aboard a luxurious Chicago’s First Lady boat. Observe over 50 buildings from the city’s scenic architectural landscape as the boat sails along the Chicago River shoreline. For Mother’s Day, we recommend you try the Twilight River Cruise to admire the city’s skyline as the sun sets.  

When: May 14, starting at 9:30am
Where: N. Michigan Ave and Wacker Drive

2. Dine at the Signature Room

With its history of culinary excellence and incredible view of the city, The Signature Room is the perfect place to enjoy an upscale meal. This Mother’s Day, the menu features a celebratory meal, which includes a fresh seafood buffet and all-you-can-eat amount of a la carte selections, such as Belgian waffles with peach and vanilla compote, eggs benedict, and seared lamb chops. To top it off, they offer a dessert buffet complete with a sundae bar, where you can craft your ice cream exactly to your tastes. 

When: May 14, 10:00am-6:30pm
Where: John Hancock Center, 875 N Michigan Ave

3. Restoration Hardware’s 3 Arts Club Café

This trendy retreat inside Restoration Hardware works as a coffeehouse, wine bar, and restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine. Known for its artsy Victorian-style décor, classy ambience, and incredible food, the 3 Arts Club Café is the perfect haunt to grab brunch on Mother’s Day. The eatery is very popular, so it’s recommended you get there ahead of schedule to avoid a long wait period to be served.

When: May 14, starting at 11:00am
Where: 1300 N Dearborn Pkwy

4. Fraudway: An Improvised Musical at iO

For something a little offbeat, you can treat Mom to a night full of laughs and to go to a comedy show at iO on Mother’s Day. The most notable performance, is Fraudway: An Improvised Musical, a show in The Mission Theater famous for its element of audience participation. All shows take place during the evening.

When: May 14, 8:00pm
Where: The Mission Theater, 1501 N Kingsbury St

5. Chicago History Museum

The museum has a number of permanent exhibits that portray through various perspectives and themes what make up Chicago’s history. If you’re looking for something dynamic to do on Mother’s Day, you’re in luck. ChicaGO24, a series of outdoors walking tours, will take place over Mother’s Day weekend. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about Chicago’s culture in an interactive way.

When: May 13-14
Where: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St (or other locations, depending on the tour)

6. The Green Mill

We couldn’t make a list about things to do in Chicago without featuring a jazz event. In particular, we opted for The Green Mill, which is one of the bedrocks of jazz in Chicago. The oldest continuously run jazz club in the United States, the Green Mill is also notorious for its quirky service, not serving food and only accepting cash. On Mother’s Day, they will host an Uptown Poetry Slam, followed by Soul Jazz Night, with the Joel Patterson Trio and featuring Chris Foreman.

When: May 14, starting at 7pm
Where: Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway Ave

7. Garfield Park Conservatory

For a more ecological program on Mother’s Day, nothing beats a trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory. Situated on Chicago’s west side, the Garfield Park Conservatory boasts a wide variety of natural life and breathtaking views within its facility. The Conservatory has dedicated rooms for different flora, showcasing a wide variety of palm trees, an abundance of ferns, a rich collection of cacti and succulents, among others. Best of all? The facilities are open to the public free of charge.

When: May 14, starting at 9am
Where: Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.

8. Day at the Spa

Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion for pampering. The Spa at the Four Seasons has an outstanding reputation for being the perfect place to relax. Their services include massages, facials, body, and hand and foot treatments. Service packages are available for special occasions. For Mother’s Day, we recommend the Rejuvenator package, which includes a Four Seasons Signature Massage, a Radiant Facial, a Classic Manicure, and a Mini Pedicure.

When: May 14
Where: 120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611

Whether you seek a calm and relaxing activity or an upbeat event, Chicago has got it all. In featuring our top picks for what to do on Mother’s Day this year, we help you celebrate the special occasion the way you want to.