Mother’s Day | Greater Seattle on the Cheap

Mothers ride Snoqualmie Valley Railroad free with a paying child

Mothers ride free with a paying child of any age on Mother’s Day Weekend! See Mother’s Day schedule.

The Snoqualmie Valley Railroad is located at the Northwest Railroad Museum. Purchase railroad tickets at the original Snoqualmie Depot 1890 ticket window. Wander through the depot exhibits about railroad history and the Victorian railroad experience. The Snoqualmie Depot is open to the public 7 days a week year ’round (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day). There is no admission charge. The Museum is open 10am to 5 pm.

The Northwest Railway Museum is a Washington non-profit corporation and is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation. The Museum operates the Interpretive Railway Program called the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. This five mile common carrier railroad allows museum visitors to experience a train excursion aboard antique railroad coaches through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley. Trains operate on Saturdays and Sundays from April through October. In 2010, trains also run on Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The Museum was founded in 1957 as the Puget Sound Railway Historical Association. In September 1999 the name was formally changed to The Northwest Railway Museum. It is the largest and most comprehensive railway museum in Washington State and is visited by over 80,000 people each year.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the annual Pike Place Market Flower Festival

Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Annual Flower Festival at Pike Place Market. Farmers inside the Arcade and under the tents along the cobblestones of Pike Place in the market will offer beautiful bouquets to brighten any mom’s weekend. On the craftstables, look for many floral-themed, handcrafted gifts–from glass art to yard art–made locally by Market craftspeople. You can also create your own card for mom at a free card making tent on the street.

Free Bellevue Botanical Garden Mother’s Day social from 1-4pm

Be sure to attend the Bellevue Botanical Garden Mother’s Day social from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Mother’s Day at the Garden is always a wondrous day. It is a time to honor our mothers, enjoy the beauty of our gardens, and share refreshments with friends and family. This event is free and open to all. Donations are always welcome.

Free family activities at Washington Park Arboretum from 1-4pm on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day from 1-4pm is always a special time at the Washington Park Arborteum. Kids and families can enjoy fun, plant-themed activities and a walk along Azalea Way, with beautiful azalea bushes and cherry trees in full bloom. There is a free, guided walk from 1 – 2:30pm led by guides who take visitors on a tour of some of the amazing trees and shrubs blossoming in the park this month!

Location for the Mother’s Day event is at the Graham Visitor Center, 2300 Arboretum Drive E, Seattle, 98112. (Google map). Admission and parking are free. For directions and maps click here.

Best gifts for her: a special book for girl friends and mom

A book of heartfelt essays from award-winning authors and columnists tell stories of love, betrayal, loss, and letting go. Fits, Starts & Matters of the Heart: 28 True Stories of Love, Loss & Everything in Between is a compelling collection of stories about the joy and angst at the root of all relationships.

A woman recalls her decision to lose her virginity at 17 – and the emotional roller coaster that ensues when her parents discover a secret stash of prophylactics.
A mother comes to terms with her adopted daughter’s quest to find her birth mom.
A black Labrador wreaks havoc on one woman’s idyllic relationship with her boyfriend- until she, too, falls in love with the beautiful canine.
A pregnant woman discovers her husband’s affair – and realizes that the baby she’s carrying is her ticket to rebirth.
A daughter learns that the way into her father’s heart is through her hair.

Through stories of family and friends, lovers and exes, even pets and rock stars, these writers demonstrate the enduring power of relationships to drive, haunt, empower, and enrich us.

Create a ‘Spa Day’ basket for Mother’s Day with these products $10 and under

SELF Magazine’s Healthy Beauty Awards 2012 listed these as best products, and all are $10 and under. Create a “Spa Day’ basket for your Mom and encourage her to spend a little time on herself!

Cleansing
Best Cleansing Wipes: Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes With White Tea Extract, $6
Best Hydrating Cleanser: Clean & Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Hydrating Facial Cleanser, $6
Best Acne Spot Treatment: Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Spot Stick, $10
Best Acne-Fighting Concealer: Almay Clear Complexion Concealer + Treatment Gel, $10
Best Body Wash: Caress Endless Kiss Silkening Body Wash, $4
Best Bar Soap: Olay Soothing Cucumber Body Bar With Massaging Design, $4
Best Foot Scrub: Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Foot Scrub, $6

Lotions
Best Repairing Body Lotion: Eucerin Professional Repair Lotion, $8
Best Hand Cream: Earth Therapeutics Intensive Hand Repair, $8
Best Gradual-Glow Lotion With SPF: Jergens Natural Glow & Protect, $9

Lips
Best Long-Wear Lip Gloss: Rimmel London Stay Glossy 6-Hour Lipgloss, $5
Best Lip Gloss: Ulta Beauty Brilliant Color Lip Gloss, $8

Eyes
Best Eyeshadow: Revlon Luxurious Color Diamond Lust Eye Shadow, $5
Best Eye Pencil: NYX Cosmetics Slide on Pencil, $8
Best Volumizing Mascara: Maybelline New York Volum’ Express One by One Mascara, $8
Best Long-Wear Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast 24HR Mascara, $9
Best Highlighter: Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Shimmering Highlighter, $10

Hair
Best All-Around Shampoo: Güd Pearanormal Activity Natural Nourishing Shampoo, $7
Best Dry Shampoo: Tresemmé Fresh Start Smoothing Dry Shampoo, $5
Best All-Around Conditioner: Güd Pearanormal Activity Natural Softening Conditioner, $7
Best Hair Oil: Alaffia Shea Butter & Rosemary Shining Curl Oil for Wavy to Curly Hair, $9
Best Repair Cream for Split Ends: Pantene Pro-V Normal-Thick Split End Repair Crème, $6
Best Hair Serum: Dove Style+Care Frizz-Free Shine Cream-Serum, $4
Best Hairspray with UV Protection: Garnier Fructis Style UV Color Shield Anti-Humidity Hairspray, $4

Nails
Best Shatter Nail Polish: Shatter by OPI, $9
Best Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Color + Care, $6
Best Top Coat: Essie No Chips Ahead Chip Free Top Coat, $8

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the annual Kirkland Artists Studio Tour

The annual Kirkland Artists Studio Tour (KAST) occurs every year on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The free self-guided tour includes dozens of local artists showing in unique home studios throughout Kirkland. Explore the scenic neighborhoods of Kirkland on the beautiful shores of Lake Washington. Tour visitors are invited into a variety of different studios, representing dozens of local artists. Browse among new works; watch art making demonstrations; and purchase art directly from the artists themselves.

To pick up a brochure which includes a map of the KAST 2012 Studios and Artists, please visit the Kirkland Arts Center, 620 Market Street, Kirkland WA 98033 (Google map). Smart phone users can directly access our KAST 2012 Google Map for help in navigating the tour.

KAST began in 2004 when a small band of artists decided it was time Kirkland had its own artist studio tour. The artists open their studios once a year on Mothers Day weekend to give the public a rare opportunity to see artists create in their studios. Kirkland Arts Center took on the management of the tour in 2008 as part of new programming initiatives designed to support the arts within the local community.

Free (or nearly so) and fun things to share with Mom this weekend

Here is a list of meaningful gift ideas, free fun, and fun places to go where you can spend quality time with Mom on her special day.

Gift Ideas

Saturday

Sunday

Sign up to get free admission to Bellevue Botanical Gardens on Nation Public Gardens Day

Bellevue Botanical Gardens celebrates Public Gardens Day on Friday, May 11, 2012, in keeping with National Public Gardens Day. National Public Gardens Day is an annual celebration of public gardens across America, to raise awareness of the important role botanical gardens play in promoting education and environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, and green spaces. Like many public gardens around the nation, Bellevue Botanical Garden will celebrate with fun activities throughout the Mother’s Day weekend. Why not make it a family trip and take Mom to Bellevue Botanical Gardens as a surprise? It’s a whole new way to give the gift of flowers, and it’s a FREE gift, too, if you take advantage of a promotion by Better Homes and Gardens magazine and the American Public Gardens Association. Get National Public Gardens Day FREE admission on May 11 when you sign up online, select the garden you’d like to visit, and indicate how many people you want to take with you. You can get FREE admission for up to ten people.

Free daily bicycle rides with Cascade Bicycle Club throughout Washington state

Join Cascade Bicycle Club on any of their free daily bicycle rides, offered every day of the year–more than 1,300 rides annually. Rides range from leisurely 10-mile jaunts to strenuous endurance events to multi-day rides and take place throughout the Puget Sound region. Members and non-members are welcome to attend rides.

Check the Cascade Free Daily Ride Calendar. Unless indicated, it is not necessary to RSVP to participate in a ride. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes early to hear the ride briefing. All riders must sign a waiver form. Riders should carry necessary equipment to fix a flat (tube, patchkit, pump). For more information, read about daily rides and ride classifications on their website.

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