An Introduction to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital city, is fast becoming the go-to destination in the Middle East.  It’s the richest of the all the Emirates, with enough oil to last another 50 years, but with clever forward planning the city is rapidly turning into a tourist haven gearing up to out-Dubai Dubai.

And it’s all the brainchild of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – the revered spiritual “father” and first ruler of the United Arab Emirates – who began the recreation of the emirate with mass investment in financial services, innovative new architecture, huge museums and galleries, and vast shopping centers like Marina Mall, all in direct competition with Dubai, which is just 90 minutes up the road. Indeed the present ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Zayed’s son Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, bailed out Dubai to the tune of billions of dollars in the global financial crash of 2009

An introduction to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has transformed from sleepy backwater state to an international financial and tourism hub, and the Corniche is the common thread that pulls the city together, promenading for miles along the Arabian Gulf shoreline and demarcated by the port at the east end and the opulent – and mighty expensive – Emirates Palace Hotel to the west. It is lined with shady parks and cooling fountains; strolling along it is the perfect way to appreciate the architecture of contemporary Abu Dhabi.

Hop-on hop-off buses in Abu Dhabi wend their way along the Corniche, allowing passengers off at the various attractions. At night the place comes alive with sparkling lights from the skyscrapers reflected in calm waters of the Gulf. The whole city seems to gather on the Corniche on Thursday and Friday evenings, admiring the cityscape, greeting friends, and drinking coffee in the wayside cafés.

Record-breaking attractions

Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque

Abu Dhabi’s greatest visitor attraction is the snowy-white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was built in homage to Sheikh Zayed (who died in 2004) and arguably the most beautiful building in Abu Dhabi as well as the biggest mosque in the UAE. It opened in 2007 and can accommodate 41,000 people in the elaborate central prayer hall and courtyard. Thousands of people were involved in the construction of its 82 onion-shaped, gilt-topped domes, minarets, and gold-embossed marble columns. The perfectly symmetrical interior is adorned with semi-precious stones, crystals, and mosaics influenced in design by the Moorish Mezquita in Cordoba and the Taj Mahal in India.

The chandelier in the central prayer hall is another record breaker – it’s the largest in the world, at 39 feet (10 m) across and 49 feet (15 m) tall, sparkles with hundreds of thousands of Swarovski crystals, and weighing in at over 10 tons (nine tonnes). The flooring is of ornate marble and mosaic patterns – and yet another record – the world’s largest carpet is found in the central prayer hall. It was designed and hand-knotted in Iran before being sown together here. When taking a guided tour of the mosque, remember to dress appropriately; leave your shoes outside, cover up with long trousers and ankle-length skirts. No bare shoulders and women are expected wear headscarves.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous

Yas Marina Circuit. Photo credit: Jitesh Jagadish via Flickr.

With Abu Dhabi’s race to attract ever-more visitors, it’s fast becoming the stomping ground of the Middle East’s playboy rich; they head straight to super-developed Yas Island, home to the planet’s first Ferrari theme park. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has a Ferrari-red hub and features adrenaline-fueled roller-coaster rides, a mock-tour of the factory at Maranello, and simulator rides in your favorite Ferrari model.

The newly created Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held close by at Yas Marina Circuit; this is the place for trying out drag racing or test-driving an F1 racing car. The Grand Prix track passes right through the extraordinary Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi Hotel, which glitters at night under its carapace of purple LED lights. Several other luxury hotels have a presence here, including the Rotana and Plaza groups, and there’s also a links golf course on which to tee off against a backdrop of the sparkling Arabian Gulf. Big-name concerts are held at Yas Arena and Flash Forum while kids love Waterworld, and there is some respite from all this frenetic activity at Yas Gateway Park, with its beautifully manicured lawns and BBQ areas.

Just meters offshore from Abu Dhabi city, the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island is slowly metamorphosing into an extraordinary futuristic cultural hub; again it’s the innovative vision of Sheikh Zayed. Here there are malls, theaters, golf links, a beach, swanky apartments, a university, restaurants … And if that’s not enough, the real star of this man-made miracle is the collection of public buildings, brought together to showcase art and the arts in a spectacular fashion that only the UAE could pull off. A roster of international architects have come together to create a Louvre (Jean Nouvel’s eerie white dome), a Guggenheim (suitably fragmented cubes and pipes by Frank Gehry), a Performing Arts Centre (organic, flowing lines by Zaha Hadid), the Zen-like Maritime Museum (Tadao Ando, austere), and the fantastical Zayed National Museum (Lord Norman Foster; towers built to resemble falcon wings). It’s hoped that these iconic buildings and their priceless collections will attract visitors by the horde into Abu Dhabi. The current expected date for completion of this Herculean project is 2015 for the Louvre, 2016 for the Zayed National Museum, and 2017 for the Guggenheim.

Old Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Heritage Village. Photo credit: Binder.donedat via Flickr.

And where can you catch what little is left of the old Abu Dhabi? Shamelessly twee but very informative, the Heritage Village is geared towards overseas visitors, representing a slice of life in the UAE before black gold was struck. Traditional Bedouin lifestyles are illustrated in a recreated oasis village; it serves well to remind us that a mere 50 years ago this vast megalopolis was a settlement largely made up of barasti (palm frond) houses with traditional wind towers providing primitive air conditioning. The little museum in the restored fort has displays of Bedouin jewellery, bronze cooking pots, and fading photographs of old Abu Dhabi. Elsewhere in the complex, craftsmen blow glass and weave traditional fabrics, there’s a small souk with a great spice shop, a mosque, a Bedouin encampment with goats’ hair tents, and a working falaj irrigation system.

Built in 1793, the Al Hosn Fort (White Fort) is the oldest building in Abu Dhabi, and one of the first not to be made out of palm fronds. It was the official residence of the ruling Al Nahyan family when they first moved from Liwa in the Empty Quarter to Abu Dhabi. There are no guides but visitors can wander the walls and climb the tower at will; viewing is best in the cooler late afternoon. The beautifully designed, Islamic-influenced Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation is next door, hosting concerts, movies, and workshops in a series of wonderfully photogenic courtyards and gardens. There’s a scattering of model dhows and musical instruments to see, a store selling traditional crafts, and a model of Abu Dhabi dating from 1959, when this 21st-century Gotham City city was little more than a simple fishing port.

An Introduction to Abu Dhabi

Whale Watching and Cocktails on Maui’s Teralani Sunset Cruise

Getting ready to set sail.

When I signed up for the Teralani Sunset Maui Cocktail Sail on my trip to Maui, I was mostly after drinks, snacks, and some nice photographs of the sun sinking behind the volcanic islands. I hadn’t expected the National Geographic-style whale adventure my evening would become.

As the West Maui mountains gradually receded, crew member Liz gave us the run down on the ship’s parts: the all-important bathrooms, bar, and general guidelines for boat safety on the Teralani Sunset Cruise. Then she said we’d also be searching for whales.

Off to go searching for whales.

I didn’t get my hopes up however. I knew I’d arrived for my trip to Maui at the tail end of the whale season, when most migrating humpbacks have already started their journey back to Alaskan waters. I specifically skipped an all-out whale-watching tour, thinking it would be a bust. But barely into my first drink, Teralani’s whale expert Mark announced the presence of humpbacks near a boat a few hundred yards away.

Whales emerging near the boat.

In the distance, occasional puffs of water, forceful jets of exhalation, sprung from the sea. The deck was instantly crowded with teetering tour goers hoping to catch a glimpse of the action, camera in one hand, drink in the other.

We approached slowly before Captain Pam idled the ship’s engines to stop our forward progress. Mark stood on the deck behind us, telling us that legal restrictions meant we could not approach within 100 yards of the whales. As we bobbed up and down in the water watching the puffs and the occasional dorsal fin, he narrated lots of whale facts, telling us that the whales we were seeing were a female and calf pair, about to make the trip to Alaska. The females come to Hawaii to give birth, fattening their calves up on rich milk and strengthening them for the long trip north through lots of playing.

As Mark described it, the intensely caloric feedings are “like giving a five-year-old a Red Bull.” The calf is so energized they hurl themselves to and fro.

Whales jumping out of the water!

And that’s when I mostly stopped listening, because the whales began leaping and somersaulting, twirling in mid-air before dramatically smacking a dorsal fin on the water’s surface. For a split second, the entire female whale would be visible, the bumpy blue-black skin in sharp relief against the evening sky, trails of water flung from her body. Then calf would follow, imitating its mother in perfect sequence, as if they were performing a well-rehearsed dance routine.

The next two hours were a blur of whale jumping. At one point, the curious whales swam towards our boat, their bodies distorted by the cerulean water. One even exhaled right onto the crowd of people clinging to the front of the boat. We had a few brief breaks in between sightings to grab a drink or an appetizer, but for the most part it was constant whale action. I’m not sure I even noticed the sunset.

Whale Watching and Cocktails on Maui’s Teralani Sunset Cruise

5 Best Photography Spots in Jodhpur, India

In Rajasthan, where colors rule and the sun shines golden, the odds are that you’ll return from your travels armed with stunning photographs of camels silhouetted against the sunset, rolling sand dunes, and turban-clad, mustachioed men – the usual suspects, so to speak.  Jodhpur , however, offers plenty of chances to get creative and add some cool back stories to your pictures.

Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan sits on the edge of the Thar Desert and promises visitors the opportunity to experience a city with a 500-year old history, to witness true royal opulence and to be overwhelmed by the magnificent architecture outlining the skyline.

Rather than documenting only the majesty of the Mehrangarh Fort or the luxury of the Umaid Bhawan Palace, here are five ways to take some fun photographs around the desert city:

Mehrangarh Fort: Rise like the Dark Knight

Mehrangarh fort. Photo courtesy of athomson via Flickr.

Rudyard Kipling called it the “work of giants” – built of red sandstone and rising a 122 meters above the city, the formidable Mehrangarh Fort defines Jodhpur’s skyline and is one of the best photography spots in Jodhpur.

The 15^th century fort houses within its ramparts mini-palaces like the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ and ‘Moti Mahal’, translating literally to the ‘Hall of Mirrors’ and the ‘Palace of Pears’. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like. Galleries within the fort showcase remnants of the 20^th century regal era – everything from weapons to palanquins are on display.

Mehrangarh is one of the best-maintained forts in all of Rajasthan and a true testament to the Rathore fortitude, but recently, it’s gone down in the books of cinema history for a rather unanticipated reason. Batman fiends might recollect that the forbidding landscape and the fort provided the backdrop to Christian Bale’s epic prison-escape scene in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Batman, after scaling walls and breaking bones, escapes a notorious underground prison to emerge in the arid countryside at the base of the Mehrangarh Fort. And now, you too can strike a nonchalant pose in the same setting. To truly replicate the scene though, remember to look effortlessly dismissive about the matter– wall-scaling and prison break-outs are just a regular day’s work after all.

How To:

Visit in the early hours of the day, before the unforgiving afternoon sun really starts beating down. Stop by for a quick bite at the breezy Café Mehran, a restaurant in hues of white and blue built in to a section of the fort. An informative audio tour is available at the gate and will offer bits of interesting information – like how the fort was never once taken in siege during battle. The fort is open 7 days a week, from 9AM to 5PM. Entry tickets cost Rs.300 and include an audio guide and a map of the fort. Go before May, when the summer really sets in.

The Blue City: Do it like a local

Jodhpur, The Blue City. Photo courtesy of eviltomthai via Flickr.

The oldest parts of Jodhpur stretch out at the foot of the Mehrangarh Fort like an expansive carpet of stubby blue buildings melding into the horizon.

The blue houses of Jodhpur’s Brahmapuri area have earned the town the moniker ‘the Blue City’. The reason for the color isn’t definitive: some believe it had to do with upper caste Brahmins painting their houses blue, while others believe the paint cools the interiors and keeps mosquitoes away.

The Mehrangarh fort’s high parapets undoubtedly proffer the best views of the blue city, but a street tour of the indigo façade-lined narrow lanes offers a glimpse into traditional Rajasthani lifestyles.

In stark contrast to the parched hues of the Thar Desert, the blue frontages lining the by-lanes breathe fresh life into the city – and your photographs. While the bright houses and street life make great shots, this is a chance to show off the blues in your wardrobe and take some fun photos.

Blend in with the local architecture in your denims and best blues, but don’t be surprised if you find your path blocked by a clamoring child or a stubborn cow. That’s right, these are the mean streets of Jodhpur.

How To:

Take an autorickshaw from outside the fort gates once you’re done exploring Mehrangarh and ask your driver for a tour of this part of town. This shouldn’t cost you more than Rs.200 and you can get some great shots while maneuvering the alleyways. Go before the sun sets.

Umaid Bhawan: Hot wheels in the house

Umaid Bhawan Palace. Photo courtesy of amanderson2 via Flickr.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace – one of the largest private residences in the world – is home to Maharaja Gaj Singh II and the royal family of Jodhpur. Situated atop Chittar Hill at the highest point of the city, the opulent 347-room sandstone palace is divided into three sections: the royal residence, a museum, and the heritage Taj Hotel.

Built in a style inspired by 1930’s art deco, the construction of the palace began in 1929 and took fifteen years to complete. Of the palace’s three wings, only the museum is open to the public – the hotel is exclusive to guests and diners while the private residence is, naturally, private.

The museum houses a small collection of family heirlooms – black and white photographs, antique Victorian timepieces, and 19^th century weapons. If stuffed leopards, hunting trophies and model airplanes are your thing, this is the place to be.

An often missed feature is the outdoor display of gleaming vintage automobiles in their glass-fronted enclosures. The palace garage has slots for up to twenty cars and houses a fleet of brightly colored Rolls Royce models that occasionally make their way out to vintage car rallies. Occupying pride of place, however, is what is considered the most valuable car in the world – the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

Opportunities to get photographed with rad wheels like these don’t come around too often.

How To:

The museum is mostly indoors, so it is possible to visit in the late morning or afternoon. The Umaid Bhawan Place is open 7 days a week, from 9AM to 5PM. Entry tickets cost Rs.50. Guided tours of the museum are available.

Clock Tower Market: Bargain, bargain, bargain

Jodhpur Market and Clock Tower. Photo courtesy of DSLEWIS via Flickr.

The burnished clock tower is the iconic centerpiece of Jodhpur’s old city, and spreading around it in arterial lanes is the chaotic Sadar Market.

It is in this neighborhood that you will find traditional havelis, or mansions, standing next to an army of street vendors selling leather, spices, fabrics and souvenirs. The market is a swarming mass of rickshaws, scooters, cattle and people. This is where all the action is at.

If the flavorful Rajasthani cuisine has begun to grow on you, this is the place to get your spice fix. Stock up on laal maas masala, tandoori masala and curry powders at M.V Spices or Maharani Spices. You’ll find leather shops selling satchels and cowboy hats, fabric shops selling local bandhej and bright tie-dye prints, jewelry stores and so much more on these lanes.

Jodhpurs are the region’s number one export to the field of fashion, and here’s where you’ll find these hard-to-wear-but-impossible-to-remove riding pants. If you do manage to try them on without losing all dignity, take a picture. It’s a feat worth remembering.

Street-shopping is never complete with a good haggle, and just like in every Indian street market, it’s important to bargain for your curio of choice in Sadar Market. Test your negotiating prowess against some of India’s most persuasive shop owners and document your haggles – it counts for major bragging rights back home.

How To:

Go in the evening when the sun isn’t blazing down on you. It’s hot and it’s crowded, so carry a water bottle, navigate the lanes carefully and keep these safety tips for India in mind.

Local Cuisine: Spice all around

Market in Jodhpur. Photo courtesy of santosh.wadghule via Flickr.

Eating a spice-laden explosion of a traditional meal while visiting Rajasthan is de rigueur. After all the shopping and exploration, replenish at a rooftop restaurant, or be adventurous and indulge in some street snacks.

The fiery specialty of the region, Laal Maas, is meat cooked in a curry of red chillis and yoghurt. Hot, spicy and delicious, the flaming red dish is best accompanied with a cooling green salad. On the Rocks – a lovely garden restaurant – is good for both Indian and Continental food, and particularly known for their Laal Maas.

Some traditional havelis in the Clock Tower area have now converted to hotels, and many of these house rooftop restaurants with amazing fort views. Indique – the in-house restaurant of the Pal Haveli Hotel – overlooks the Gulab Sagar Lake and the Mehrangarh fort, and is especially magical at night when the city is lit up.

Like much else in Rajasthan, the food is colorful, overwhelming and worth photographing. Don’t forget to sample fried street snacks like Mirchi Vada at the Clock Tower Market. Wash it down afterwards with a cooling Lassi, a drink made with blended yoghurt.  Whether its colorful curries or steaming street snacks you’re eating, you’ll want photographs of the food you eat in India to remember these flavors.

How To:

Most popular hotels in Jodhpur have al fresco dining, either rooftop or garden, ideal for dinner. Street stalls in the Clock Tower market offering fried snacks like Mirchi Vadas and Kachoris are best visited during the daytime or early evening.

5 Best Photography Spots in Jodhpur, India

12 Great Travel Gifts to Show Mom You Care on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching – it’s May 12 this year — and for those who haven’t yet planned something special there is still time. Instead of simply getting a gift or taking mom to dinner, think about treating her to a special experience you both can enjoy together.

Here are our top picks for things to do with mom on Mother’s Day.

1. See a show

Phantom of the Opera Show in NYC

One great way to bond with mom this Mother’s Day is to take her to see a show. Not only does this allow for a memorable experience, but also for mom to forget her problems for an hour and enjoy the magic of the theater. To make the experience truly special, think about taking her to a city known for its impressive productions.

For example, taking mom to see a Broadway show in New York City will allow her to cross the iconic experience off her bucket list. There is an array of family-friendly shows playing, for example, Mamma Mia! is a feel-good play taking place in Greece with 23 ABBA hits woven into the storyline, while Rock of Ages allows mom to sing along with fun 80s hair bands. A few of the many other shows to choose from include Newsies, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Lion King, Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera.

Las Vegas and Chicago, among other cities, also have excellent theatre scenes with lots of great shows to choose from.

2. Indulge in good wine

Wine tasting in Sonoma

This Mother’s Day, don’t just take mom out for dinner and a glass of wine. Instead, take her wine tasting in one of the world’s top wine regions.

One notable wine destination is Australia, which is home to an array of wine regions, some of which include the Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, Margaret River and Swan Valley. Each of these valleys is unique in the grapes they are known for, with many wineries and cellar doors offering experiences beyond wine tastings like chocolate and cheese pairing, making your own blend and olive oil tasting. Additionally, many tours include excursion enhancements, like balloon rides, food tastings, horseback riding, animal encounters, national park visits and more.

Another iconic wine destination is France. Wine tasting in France will introduce mom to some of the country’s most beautiful, grape-filled areas like the Champagne, Loire Valley, Provence, Rhone Valley, and the world-famous Bordeaux Vineyards. Don’t leave without enjoying a structured pairing in a local wine-cellar or a charcuterie-inspired meal in a vineyard.

And for those who don’t want to travel too far, you can find some of the world’s best wines in California. Sonoma Valley is known for being the birthplace of California’s wine industry, while Napa Valley is known for their large mix of traditional and lesser-known varietals. Deciding how you want to see these wine regions is also fun, as you can cycle, walk, canoe, drive or ride in a stylish limo, comfortable coach, wine train or horse and carriage.

3. Treat her to a day of shopping

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy.

Instead of trying to choose a gift that mom may or may not like, why not let her pick out her own Mother’s Day present? Treating mom to a day of shopping not only relieves the stress of buying the perfect gift, but also allows her to forget about work and life’s stresses and truly enjoy herself. Bonus: You can get some new items for yourself, as well.

One destination well-known for its diverse shopping offerings is New York City. For instance, Union Square is full of vendors selling artisanal goods along the southwestern corner and is also home to the city’s most iconic bookstore, The Strand, home to 18 miles of books. SoHo is where you’ll find high-quality yet affordable brands like H&M, Bebe and Guess, while Fifth Avenue is littered with luxury shopping as its home to Harry Winston, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Fendi, Gucci and more.

Shopping in Las Vegas can include the royal treatment of getting chauffeured around in a limo, shopping at the outlets, enjoying a gourmet lunch at an authentic Asian restaurant and ending the day with a relaxing massage.

And for a real treat, pamper mom with a day of shopping in Italy in Rome, Florence, Bologna or Milan, which is considered a world fashion capital.

4. Bring her favorite characters to life

Harry Potter Studio Tour in London

If mom is a TV or film buff, consider bringing her favorite characters to life by taking her on a tour of some iconic on-screen spots. It’s one thing seeing a city while watching television, it’s another to actually see the landmarks and buildings where your favorite scenes take place. If mom is a fan of the British period drama Downton Abbey, take a ‘Downton Abbey’ film locations tour with a private chauffeur from London to explore the grounds and gardens of Highclere Castle — the real Downtown Abbey — and the Oxfordshire village of Bampton which is the real Downton village. From London you can also experience a Harry Potter Tour, going behind the scenes at Warner Bros. Studio and visiting locations like the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and the Diagon Alley as well as Platform 9¾ where the fictional Hogwarts Express train departs from.

New York City is also great destination for TV and film enthusiasts, and there are a range of tours that let you enjoy television and move sites. like a Gossip Girl Sites Tour or a Sex and the City Hotspots Tour.

Atlanta is often called the “Hollywood of the South” and it’s a great destination for touring movie and TV show locations. Some of the many movies and television shows that have been filmed in the city include Sweet Home Alabama, The Vampire Diaries, Into the Wild, The Blind Side, Due Date, Remember the Titans, The Three Stooges, The Walking Dead and Zombieland, to name a few.

In Los Angeles you’ll find the real Hollywood, the historical center of film and television. In fact, Hollywood’s screen culture is so rich the name is often synonymous with American cinema. There are an array of television and film experiences in Los Angeles for mom to enjoy, like visiting the homes of movie stars, touring sites related to Hollywood scandals, experiencing moviemaking magic at Universal Studios and seeing the filming locations for an array of movies like the house used in Nightmare on Elm Street, the apartment complex from Pretty Woman and settings from The Day After Tomorrow, Chinatown, Sunset Boulevard, Back to the Future, Terminator and more.

In the Windy City, take a Chicago Movie Tour, to see the settings of movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Transformers 3, The Dark Knight and many more.

A trip to New Zealand will not only let you and mom explore one of the world’s most unique landscapes, but also the fictional Middle Earth, made up by Lord of the Rings author J.R.R Tolkien. Just because it technically isn’t real, however, doesn’t mean it can’t be brought to life through a Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton Tour. These tours leave from Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua and Christchurch and visi hobbit holes, the working sheep farm that was transformed into the fictional village of Hobbiton, Village of Bree, Rivendell, River Anduin, Helms Deep and more.

5. Help her relax

Moms work hard, and because of this helping her to relax could be the best gift you could possibly give. While many people give trips to the spa or breakfast in bed, something more creative would be to treat her to a scenic brunch cruise.

For example, a New York Sunday Brunch Cruise includes two hours of live music and an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch with items like croissants, fruit and cheese, bagels, scrambled eggs, French toast, beef stroganoff, baked tilapia, assorted cakes and more, as well as panoramic views from the open-air deck with landmarks like the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, Winter Garden, Battery Park, Governors Island and Ellis Island.

A Boston brunch cruise on a luxury yacht takes a scenic route from Castle Island to George’s Island before heading east to Little Brewster Island and back north to Charlestown Naval Yard.  And the Chicago Brunch Cruise passes sites like Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), the John Hancock Center, the Shedd Aquarium and Aon Center and includes a glass of Champagne, live jazz and a gourmet buffet.

In New Orleans, mom doesn’t need sea legs to enjoy a delicious brunch. During a Jazz Brunch Buffet at the Court of Two Sisters Restaurant in New Orleans mom can sample fresh, seasonal dishes as well as a live jazz trio and a complimentary glass of wine. Some morning menu items include made-to-order omelets, grits and grillades, and shrimp and veggie pastas with a creamy alfredo sauce, while the afternoon menu serves up Creole jambalaya, turtle soup, oysters Bienville, duck a l’Orange, and shrimp etouffee.

6. Treat mom like the VIP she is

VIP Tour of the Vatican

Your mom is a VIP but unfortunately, she doesn’t get to feel like one on a day-to-day basis. Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show her how special she really is.

One way to do this is treating her to an exclusive access tour that will make her feel like a celebrity in a unique destination. London is one city known for its posh offerings, and mom can experience this upscale lifestyle through an Exclusive-Access Tour to The Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the View from The Shard which includes entry before the general public.

The romantic city of Paris is another great destination where mom can feel like a VIP. For example, while experiencing a VIP Palace of Versailles Small-Group Tour with Private Viewing of the Royal Quarters mom can gain entry to Versailles through a reserved entrance and see rooms normally off-limits to the public. Or see a Moulin Rouge show in style with VIP private balcony seating and a 3-course French dinner with Champagne and wine.

In Italy treat mom to a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican’s secret rooms, like the Niccoline Chapel and the Room of Gold, which are usually off-limits to the general public. Art-loving moms will especially enjoy being able to admire Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel without being pushed and pulled by a crowd.

7. Help her have fun with the whole clan

Would mom enjoy having the whole family together for Mother’s Day? Opt for a gift both several generations can enjoy by taking her to an amusement park. Share the magic of Disney at Disneyland Paris, Disneyland near Los Angeles and Walt Disney World in Orlando. Meet your favorite characters like Mickey, Minnie and Goofy, scream and shout on exciting rides, take in 3-D animation, and experience the magic of fairy castles and your imagination. Universal Studios is another excellent option for a Mother’s Day outing, allowing the family to go behind the scenes of some of their favorite television shows and films. Depending on if you’re on the east or west coast, the family can enjoy Universal Studios in Orlando or Universal Studios in Hollywood.

8. Let her choose

Since it’s mom’s special day, you may want to let her choose where she wants to go and what she wants to do. To help you and her enjoy a range of experiences at a discount this Mother’s Day, opting for special City Passes can be beneficial. With these types of passes you pay a set price to enter numerous attractions, often with added benefits. For example, museum entry might include access to a special exhibit or the pass may offer access to unlimited rides on public transportation.  Best of all, they sell them all over the world, with some popular cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Paris, Copenhagen, London, Stockholm, Madrid, Sydney and more.

9. Treat her to a trip through the palate

Italian Cooking Class

One of the best ways to explore a new destination or culture is through food. Whether you and mom stay home or decide to travel this Mother’s Day, taking part in a cooking class can be an excellent way to spend time together — as well as learn some new skills you can make use of in the future. Cities throughout Italy — like Rome, Florence, Siena and Naples — offer a range of Italian cooking classes where you and mom can learn everything from how to make authentic Neapolitan pizza to how to create your own handmade pasta. France is another country known for its palate pleasures, with fresh baked breads, buttery croissants, stinky cheeses and rich desserts. Head to Paris to enjoy a gourmet French cooking class learning how to make pastries, classic French baguettes or French macaroons.

In Spain, you and mom can become pros at whipping up delicious paellas and tapas while also getting to explore the colorful markets.

Europe isn’t the only continent where you and mom can enjoy a day enhancing your skills in the kitchen. For example, in Argentina, there is an interactive dining experience in Buenos Aires that involves learning how to make empanadas, handcraft delicious wine cocktails, sweet alfajores and mate. The experience is enhanced through Malbec wine and steak tastings. Additionally, a Rio de Janeiro Small-Group Cooking Class will allow you and mom to learn about the local Brazilian culinary scene through a fun hands-on cooking class.

If mom is more interested in Japanese dishes then South American, a Kyoto Cooking Class, Sake Tasting and Nishiki Food Market Walking Tour can be a worthwhile bonding experience. And if mom would rather stay in the United States than go abroad, opt for a cooking class in New Orleans. Known as an epicenter for culinary culture in the country, you both will learn about Louisiana-cooking from professional chefs while creating dishes like gumbo, jambalaya and pralines.

10. Give her an unforgettable view

Helicopter ride over the Statue of Liberty

While many restaurants, bars and museums offer bird’s-eye vistas, make the holiday really special with a helicopter or hot air balloon ride. New York City offers a range of helicopter tours where mom can experience everything from flying over landmarks like Times Square, Madison Square Garden and the Chrysler Building, coming face-to-face with the iconic Statue of Liberty, looking down on the five boroughs and taking in the Big Apple from above at night when the city is all lit up. Other great Mother’s Day experiences include San Francisco helicopter rides over sites like Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Marine Headlands and Sausalito, as well as Las Vegas helicopter rides over the vibrant Sin City strip or even the nearby Grand Canyon.

Hot Air Balloon rides are also a great way to take in the scenery from above as well as get your adrenaline pumping. In the United States, the beautiful vineyards and countryside of California’s Napa and Sonoma Valley’s are best enjoyed from above, especially when the experience is combined with a sparkling wine or Champagne brunch. In Turkey, a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia will allow you and mom to take in the unworldly fairy chimneys and volcanic rock spires that dot the bizarre but beautiful landscape. And from Barcelona, take mom for a scenic hot air balloon flight over Catalonia from heights up to 3,000 feet (900 meters).

11. Bring out her inner daredevil

Having new experiences with mom will not only bring you closer, but also show you both that you’re capable of more than you imagined. Moreover, mom will feel like a carefree teen again as she gets in touch with her inner daredevil. One popular bucket list adventure is skydiving. While this can be done in many locations all over the world, there are certain destinations that are better suited for the activity. For example, skydiving in New Zealand allows you and mom to jump out of a plane from up to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) at speeds of up to 125 mph (200 kph) over the adrenaline-junkie haven of Queenstown.

Skydiving from Las Vegas means you’ll free-fall at top speed from the sky before enjoying aerial views of Mount Charleston, Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Strip. Miami is another great place for sky diving as you and mom can enjoy a mix of city and beach views while flying like birds.

You may also want to treat mom to a lesser-known adventurous experience, for example, race car driving in Cancun or race car driving in Las Vegas or even a Top Gun and Air Combat Experience to learn how to fly like a fighter pilot.

And for something truly heart pounding and unforgettable, shark diving in South Africa is something you’ll be able to brag about to family members for the rest of your lives. The experience, which takes place off the shore of Gansbaai — known for its dense population of Great White Sharks — will put you and mom in an underwater cage in the open ocean within touching distance of one of the world’s most dangerous predators.

12. Treat her to a once in a lifetime trip

Island Hopping in Greece

While traveling to a new destination is always exciting, there are certain trips that are once in a lifetime experiences. This Mother’s Day, treat the most important woman in your life to a truly memorable trip with experiences and landscapes not found anywhere else.

One great example of a once in a lifetime trip is a safari in South Africa to see the Big Five — the lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros — up close, staying in luxury game lodges, seeing beautiful landscapes filled with mountains, prairies and waterfalls, bird watching, passing through charming towns and immersing yourself in a natural beauty like no other.

Taking a cruise to Antarctica is another once in a lifetime trip, especially as it is one of the more difficult places to get to. You’ll give mom the chance to step foot on a continent many never get the chance to explore. Additionally, the terrain is unlike any other, full of icebergs of all shapes and sizes, penguins, exotic birds, seals, whales and unworldly sunsets that provide a backdrop for unspoiled nature with barely anything man-made to be seen.

And if mom is more into warm-weather destinations, Greek Island hopping is a great Mother’s Day experience. Full of outstanding natural beauty, with white-sand beaches, turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, mysterious caves, 11th-century monasteries, archeological sites and whitewashed towns. Additionally, each island has its own history and offerings, and an island-hopping cruise will allow you and mom to explore these.

12 Great Travel Gifts to Show Mom You Care on Mother’s Day