Itching to give yourself some me-time away from the kids? Don’t feel guilty. Enjoy some time with your mom friends with these essential tips on how to make your moms trip unforgettable!
This post about the Essential Tips for an Unforgettable Moms Trip for the Weekend was written by travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Most people think that once you have children, you won’t have the time to go on a moms trip and even do a bit of self-care because everything has to be done with the entire family. But I realized that was wrong.
When I was pregnant with my oldest, I was encouraged by several new Moms to join PEPS Portland. It’s a support group for Seattle-area parents.
I joined, and my group bonded so strongly that we still see each other regularly three years later. They are the people I share my parenting highs and lows with first, and they have continued to support me through the birth of my second child.
Revisiting Our Mom’s Trip
Last year, we decided we needed a Mom’s trip and chose one of the most incredible Pacific Northwest getaways. We drove to Central Washington and had a blast!
So this year, for our Moms’ trip, we decided to cross the border and head to Portland, Oregon.
Most of us had been there before, and we knew it was a laid-back city with lots of good food and quirky fun. It’s a 3-hour drive from Seattle, a comfortable distance from our families.
Like some of us before, most women in my group took Friday off from work. They could head to Portland in time for lunch, eat at Pok Pok Thai restaurant, and then check into the Sentinel Hotel.
We picked this hotel because one of the Moms in our group is 8 months pregnant, and not only was it centrally located in Portland, but it also featured a restaurant and a Starbucks (in case we didn’t leave the property.)
Shopping and Pampering
They had a lazy morning of sleeping in and then headed to breakfast. I joined them on Saturday at 1 p.m. They were just finishing their naps (a must for a Mom’s weekend getaway), and we decided to shop.
Nordstrom was just a few blocks away, so we did some shoe shopping. Then, we headed a few more blocks to Nordstrom Rack for more shoe shopping! I was so impressed that I didn’t head directly to the children’s department and shop for myself. This hasn’t happened in years!
We had 3:30 pm reservations at Comma for pedicures. This place is seriously amazing. Not only were we able to get wine and mimosas, but they also offered chair massages and delivered cupcakes to us while we got our pedicures! The staff were so friendly, and we were able to truly relax. In fact, they had some large chairs available for napping while waiting for everyone to finish up. Next time I’m in Portland, I’m definitely making an appointment here!
At this point, I needed to pump. Thankfully, my room at Sentinel was ready, so we headed back to the hotel, just half a block down the street. I was really impressed with how spacious the room was. I loved the whole vibe of the hotel, and it was perfect for our Mom’s weekend.
Coffee and Books
After I finished, I met everyone at Starbucks downstairs. It was supposed to be a Starbucks Reserve that offered wine and nibbles, but they told us they no longer were doing that. That was a bummer. But we got some caffeine and headed to Powell’s Books, just a few blocks away.
Good Food for the Good Times
Mediterranean Exploration
We tried to go to Mediterranean Exploration, but it was a 2-hour wait (they didn’t accept reservations.) We were too hungry to wait, so we tried a few other places, but they also had long wait times. I forgot that Portland restaurants don’t usually accept restaurants. I think it’s part of their hipster vibe. We ended up at Hamlet, a bar specializing in pork products and cocktails. Our drinks were amazing, and the small plates were surprisingly good. My favorite item was their butter. It tasted homemade with a bit of salt. The staff wasn’t the friendliest, but the snacks and drinks were great. Unfortunately, this bar was permanently closed years ago.
Zaatar
Blue Star Donuts
Pine State Biscuits
To More Moms Trips!
Read more: 10 Exciting Things to Do in Costa Mesa CA, for a Mom Getaway
6 Ways to Create Your Ultimate Moms Weekend
- Pick a hotel that offers late checkout. That way, you can take your time getting ready in the morning and just relax in bed.
- Do an activity you love. For us, we all enjoy shopping. And we love it even more with the freedom of not having strollers or lugging around snacks for kids.
You can explore what’s near you, like going to Napa Valley for wine tasting, basking in infinity pools in San Diego, enjoying a sumptuous meal around great restaurants in Santa Monica, or dancing to live music in New Orleans.
If it’s your first time, you might also want to try new experiences just within your town. - Make an appointment at a salon or spa. Getting massages and nails done at Comma was definitely a highlight of our trip.
- Try new food. My friends and I are so used to mealtimes with 3-year-olds that it was so relaxing to be able to sit back and truly enjoy tasting an array of foods many of us hadn’t tried before.
- Bring earplugs. Sleep is a priority, so wear earplugs to ensure you won’t get woken up by loud neighbors or garbage trucks.
- Plan your next getaway. To ensure that it actually happens again, start talking about when/where your next weekend will be while you are relaxed, and remember how important it is to recharge.
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