Banff 
Mother’s Day is all about showing our appreciation. Thank Mom for all the wonderful things she’s done with a spring getaway.
Credit: Nathan Dumlao/ Unsplash
There are many ways to treat mom with a Mother’s Day vacation in Alberta, no matter her interests. She might prefer to get out into nature and enjoy the spring weather. Or she might prefer a day in the city with entertainment, shopping, or brunch. Take a moment to consider which of these Mother’s Day getaways in Alberta are best suited to your mom! Many of these are also great ideas for a family vacation on Mother’s Day weekend.
Glamping this May
Get the best of both vacation worlds on your Mother’s Day getaway: the luxurious side of a hotel, and the natural camping setting! Alberta has many ‘glamping’ options that open in May and which are open on Mother’s Day weekend.
- Elk Island Retreat is about 30-40 minutes east of Edmonton and provides various accommodation options. Choose between yurts, tipis, or geodomes.
- Refuge Bay offers two types of glamping on the shores of a small, peaceful lake in central Alberta. Get glamping in their tiny luxury home or a geodesic dome. Your stay includes access to a wood-fired sauna and a wood-fired hot tub.
- Alberta Parks offers comfort camping at eight different Provincial Parks. And those open for Mother’s Day weekend bookings include Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park. Many other cabins open the weekend following Mother’s Day if you’re fine with a belated celebration.
Resort Weekend
A resort weekend with your mom can take you to the Rockies, or into Alberta’s cities. And if you live near any one of these resorts, your getaway can still make you forget you’re at home with memorable experiences.
- Kananaskis Nordic Spa offers a Spa + Stay Package with two hydrotherapy sessions included per one night’s stay. Plus, mother and daughter pairs or groups can take to the endless Kananaskis trails for more fun.
- The Rimrock Resort & Hotel (Banff NP) has a spring promotion that includes 25% off your stay for two nights or more. There are also options for a special Mother’s Day Sunday brunch.
- The Hotel Arts in downtown Calgary offers a cozy city vacation experience through their heated pool, poolside bar and food service, and additional dining options.
- Spa Getaways in Alberta
Escape to an Alberta Lake Cabin or Cottage
With the weather a bit warmer over mid-May in Alberta, it can be the perfect time to treat mom to an escape. There are several cabin rentals available across the province where you can enjoy a family or bonding weekend around a campfire, beside the lake, and under the stars. You can find several unique options through:
- Air BnB Rentals in Alberta
- VRBO.com rentals in Alberta
- Cypress Hills Provincial Park comfort camping (near Elkwater Lake)
- Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park comfort camping (on Lac La Biche)
Take Mom on a Train Excursion
Two of Alberta’s Railway operators are hosting a Mother’s Day special train excursion. Both of these train rides take you and your mom or family through amazing spring scenery, all while you enjoy onboard entertainment and meals.
- The Alberta Prairie Railway Mother’s Day Special is available for May 11th bookings.
- The Aspen Crossing Mother’s Day excursion is available for dinner or brunch on May 10 & 11.
Create a Mother’s Day Yoga Retreat
There are so many ways to do this! Enhance the Rocky Mountain yoga retreat with a picnic in one of the many sites at Banff National Park.
- The Flow State Yoga Studio have classes for May 10 & 11 this year in downtown Banff.
- The Yoga Lounge in Canmore has classes available from May 10 to 11, 2025.
10 Yoga Getaways & Retreats in Alberta
Explore Alberta’s Provincial Parks
Each of Alberta’s larger cities is within driving distance of one or more Provincial Parks worth exploring. You can find a cozy hotel in one of the cities and take off for the day to explore the closest park with a hike or bike ride, or whichever type of recreation your mom prefers. And if the weather is nice, these are also perfect family picnic spots, with parking, washrooms, picnic tables, and cook stoves.
- Alberta’s northernmost cities both have excellent spring hiking opportunities via the nearby provincial parks. Fort McMurray is a short drive from Gregoire Lake Provincial Park, while Grande Prairie is a short drive from Saskatoon Island Provincial Park.
- Edmonton has two large Provincial Parks to explore south of the city: Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, and Pigeon Lake Provincial Park.
- Sylvan Lake is west of Red Deer and has the village to explore, as well as Jarvis Bay Provincial Park.
- One of the closest Provincial areas to Calgary is the Glenbow Ranch, with beautiful views of Calgary and the mountains from its trails.
Treat Mom to an Alberta Theatre Production
Alberta’s major cities each have well-known theatres and groups with full seasons. There are many other great theatres around the province in the smaller cities and towns, too. All of these locations give you several choices on different places to stay (hotels, rentals, motels, cabins, and camping), plus a scheduled live performance!
- Edmonton’s theatre scene is massive, and ramps up over the spring and summer seasons. Check here for upcoming shows on Mother’s Day.
- Calgary has a similarly busy theatre scene! Check here for upcoming shows in Calgary and ones for Mother’s Day.
- The Rosebud Theatre, named for its location in Eastern Alberta, has a spring showing of The Foreigner. Your tickets can include buffet dinner as well. The small town of Rosebud has accommodations, and Drumheller is about 25 minutes away by car.
High Tea in the Rockies
Banff National Park’s Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the ultimate escape for mom this year. The hotel is situated on a famous lake and offers gorgeous spring views and scenery to explore. Plus, the Chateau is hosting a Mother’s Day High Tea for 2025 in their Fairview Restaurant. And if you want to continue the splurging for mom, the Chateau’s Spa and Salon will have exclusive Mother’s Day offers. Details
When: May 9 to 11, 2025
Where: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Banff NP
- Where to Find the Best High Tea and Afternoon Tea Experiences in Calgary
- Where to Find the Best High Tea and Afternoon Tea Experiences in Edmonton
Explore a National Park
There are a few ways to stay within Alberta’s four accessible National Parks: cabins, hotels, motels, luxury resorts, glamping resorts, and RV or tent camping. Or, your Mother’s Day getaway could include day trips through a National Park, while staying somewhere close.
- The town of Banff has several accommodation options, while many also choose to stay overnight in Canmore, or even Calgary. Your visit to the park can include scenic drives, picnics, hikes, a bike ride, or wildlife viewing.
- Elk Island National Park is close enough to Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, and Edmonton, and all of those hotels or motels. Plus, Elk Island has camping options within the park.
- The town of Jasper has many different hotel and motel options, while many also choose to stay in Hinton. The town of Hinton is on the edge of the park boundary, and is a great place to start exploring the Rockies.
- Waterton National Park in southern Alberta has a couple of hotel options, and several cabins just outside the park boundaries. Additionally, Pincher Creek is close enough to stay in for exploring the NP.
Brunch and Shopping in the City
Treat mom to a day of dining and shopping this Mother’s Day. Alberta’s cities and Rocky Mountain towns all have a variety of brunch events occurring for Mother’s Day, and the cities offer an array of places to shop for a Mother’s Day gift.
- Edmonton has several opportunities for a sit-down brunch experience this Mother’s Day. And if you want to add shopping to the afternoon, consider somewhere near West Edmonton Mall, Southgate Mall, or Kingsway Mall.
- Red Deer’s Heritage Ranch is hosting its annual 3-course Mother’s Day brunch. Patio dining will be available, weather permitting. The ranch is a short drive from downtown Red Deer, where you can find local stores, antique shops, and more.
- Calgary has several Mother’s Day brunch experiences between the hotels, restaurants, and pubs. And where to shop in Calgary? Cross Iron Mills, South Centre Mall, and Chinook Mall are all great options with tons of variety.
- Places For Antique Shopping Road Trips Across Alberta
