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Every year, we have Mother's Day as a special day to celebrate. Sometimes I love this holiday even more than my birthday as I feel like I'm celebrating it with all of the moms in country.
(My sons playing a game at a local Mother Son Dance that they attended with me during Mother's Day weekend)

Here are some tips on how to celebrate Mother's Day in San Luis Obispo County for 2024:

1. Go to a special event. There are special Mother's Day themed events around San Luis Obispo County. You can check out each City's planned events but there are several notable ones. These include the following:
   • Mother's Day Concert is happening on Mother's Day on May 12, 2024 at Dinosaurs Cave Park Pismo Beach from 1PM - 4PM. You can see more details on the Family-Friendly Event List page. This is a free admission event.
   • Every year, Grover Beach hosts a Mother and Son Dance in May. This year, it is on May 10, 2024. See the Family-Friendly Events Page to see upcoming events in San Luis Obispo County. Grover Beach is part of San Luis Obispo County. Here's a picture of the decorated table from the Mother & Son Dance that I had attended in the past below. I've been to 3 Mother and Son Dances. See my Pros and Cons Summary on Whether You Should Go To a Mother's Day Dance or Not by clicking on this blog link.
      
   • Every year, the City of Arroyo Grande hosts a Mother's Day Tea Party at Heritage House in Arroyo Grande. This year, it is on Sun., May 12, 2024 from 1:30PM - 4PM. $40 for a couple and $15 for an additional guest in your party. Wide selection of tea, lemonade, tea sandwiches, scones and desserts will be served. Register at City of Arroyo Grande's website. Address: 201 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
   • On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024, SLO Botanical Garden is hosting their free Faerie Festival from 10AM - 3PM. Activities will be at the Children's Garden and includes nature activities and crafts, musical performances, faerie marketplace, storytelling and faceprinting. Food and beverages will be available for sale. $3 per car at the park's kiosk at El Chorro Park. Limited parking and carpools encouraged. They will have a free shuttle from Cuesta College lot. Address: 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
   • On Mother's Day, May 12, 2024, you can have a Cookie Adventure at Charles Paddock Zoo from 11AM - 2PM. This Mother's Day, treat Mom to delicious cookies and a fun family outing to the Charles Paddock Zoo. Enjoy a variety of cookies from local bakers and an opportunity to explore the Zoo and its unique inhabitants. The Cookie Adventure is included with regular Zoo Admission. See all pictures that I've taken at Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero. Address: 9100 Morro Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422
   • SLO Public Market is a very kid-friendly space and has a kid's area with toys upstairs in their main room. SLO Public Market has many restaurants that you can enjoy in a casual atmosphere. See pictures of the SLO Public Market that I took during our recent visit on Instagram.
2. Find a nice brunch spot! Many hotels and restaurants around the area offer brunch specials on Mother's Day. Usually they focus on Easter in April first but will immediately start promoting Mother's Day after that. If any of the restaurants is allowing reservations, I highly recommend doing so! Popular Mother's Day Brunch locations include:
   • Madonna Inn - Mother's Day Brunch takes place every year at Madonna Inn. It is usually a brunch buffet. 
     
     I'm a regular visitor at the Copper Cafe at Madonna Inn and we've also had two overnight staycations there in the following unique rooms: San Francisco Room and Antique Cars Room. The above pictures are my personal pictures that I took during a couple of my stays there. See all of my blog entries about my visits at the Copper Cafe and family staycations at the Madonna Inn.
   • Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria - Mother's Day Brunch takes place every year at Cambria Pines Lodge. Year round, Cambria Pines Lodge has brunch every Sunday, including Mother's Day so this is also a great place for brunch for any special Sunday. Reservations are recommended. We've had brunch here at the Cambria Pines Lodge for Mother's Day in the past. (See image of my buffet plate below on Mother's Day.) 
     
     Reservations are definitely recommended for Mother's Day. It was very packed, even with our reservation. There is a line to every buffet line station there but I really enjoyed my food. See pictures that I took of Cambria. After my brunch on Mother's Day, we went to their gardens and gift shop. See my video below of how beautiful this place is.
     
   • Lido Restaurant & Lounge in Pismo Beach/Shell Beach offers a 3 course brunch every Sunday, including Mother's Day. Lido Restaurant is located inside of The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa in Pismo Beach. It is a beautiful resort with views of the ocean and cliffs.
   • Marisol at Shell Beach usually offers a brunch menu every day but often offers a few Brunch Specials on Mother's Day between 8AM - 3PM. They have a spectacular view of the ocean.
     
     In the past, I've enjoyed a lobster pappardelle dish (pasta picture above), a blood orange blueberry cheesecake dessert (dessert picture above) and their oysters. The images above are my personal pictures that I took of my food before I devoured them! Marisol Restaurant is located inside of The Cliffs Hotel and Spa.
   • Gardens of Avila Restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa usually has a menu for Mother's Day every year but they don't announce it until very last minute. I've dined here several times. Here's a YouTube Short below that I captured of how the Gardens of Avila Restaurant and Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa property look like. It's a small restaurant but it makes it a convenient visit if you're going to soak in the hot tub there.
     
     I also came to Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa to celebrate a few other special occasions in the past. Read about our experience at the mineral springs at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa during Valentine's Day weekend.
     
3. Take her wine tasting and/or brunch at a winery! San Luis Obispo County has hundreds of wineries scattered all around the county. Two top regions to go are: Edna Valley and Paso Robles. Edna Valley takes the San Luis Obispo city name as their address and is located just 10 minutes drive from Pismo Beach. Many of the wine tasting places have a wine tasting room (indoors) and a patio area to enjoy your wine outdoors so there's a great flexibility there. See my wineries' reviews throughout SLO County and pictures of beautiful tasting rooms that I took during my visits. A few wineries in the area also typically serves a Mother's Day Brunch Special at the winery. I went to a Winemaker Dinner recently and loved the experience but it is a for sure, a once in a long while thing for us.
   
   Here is a list of wineries or tasting rooms in San Luis Obispo County that usual offers a brunch menu:
   • Tooth & Nail Winery in Paso Robles has a food menu. The winery is a castle (see a picture that I took below at Tooth & Nail Winery)! Read my blog entry about Tooth & Nail Winery and see all of my pictures that I captured at this beautiful place. Address: 3090 Anderson Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446
     
   • Rava Wines in Paso Robles has a nice food menu. We've visited here before and they have a walking trail (see a picture that I took below at Rava Wines). Reservations are recommended. Address: 6785 Creston Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446
     
4. Take a fun class together! Local cities all around San Luis Obispo usually have cool art classes you can take for a really decent price. A few wineries and breweries around the area host sip and paints. Sip and paints, or sometimes as 'sip n paints' is where you sip on wine or beer while you paint. They usually provide all of the supplies and the wine so you just pay and show up! I really like sip and paints or paint nights (as some used to call it) because you get to keep that art you made as a memory of your celebration. You can find upcoming art social events in the SLO County area.
5. Cook her a tri-tip Santa Maria style! One of many things that we're known for in this county is that we love our tri-tip grilled on a Santa Maria grill. If you really want to wow her, you can buy that expensive hunk of meat, marinate it hours ahead and slowly cook it for your momma! Or better yet, take her to a bbq restaurant that has tri-tip made this way on the menu. My top pick (and Yelp's too) is Firestone Grill. They are located in downtown San Luis Obispo. See my reviews of restaurants throughout San Luis Obispo County on the Restaurants page.

Suggested Reads:

Read about my staycations at the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

To see other pictures of restaurants that I've visited in San Luis Obispo County, go to the Restaurants Page.

See a list of free family-friendly events throughout San Luis Obispo (SLO) County for the year.

Some of my favorite gifts from my sons are Mother's Day crafts that they made in school and surprised me at home with. I really have to give the teachers a lot of credit for all of that. I also really like it when my husband encourages my kids to go to the store to buy flowers for me for Mother's Day. This always brightens up my day!

Oceano is a quieter beach town than neighboring Grover Beach and Pismo Beach but it is still part of Pismo State Beach and visitors are catching on to the this little gem in San Luis Obispo County. It is actually where the famous dunes are located but many visitors would often mistakenly think they're still in Pismo Beach, when in fact, the Oceano Dunes are located well, in Oceano, California.

There's a mix of the old and new. It's trying to change but there is a bit of hesitation. I like hanging out at beach here when I happen to be in Oceano to run an errand. However, you really have to be careful with people driving on the beach once you get out of your vehicle to walk on the sand, especially with little ones! Nonetheless, it's a gift to be able to drive or ride on the beach. It is the last beach area in California where you can pay to drive on the beach. (You can also drive on the beach from the Grover Beach entrance and into the Dunes as well.)

See My Short Video of My Drive on the Beach Entering from Grover Beach and Driving Through Oceano Below

See My Short Video of the Velella Velella, By-the-wind Sailors, When They Made Their Appearance in Oceano

However, beach aside, I really want to highlight on the places in Oceano that you can visit as a visitor. I spent a morning with my kiddos there and took some pictures of Oceano's neat places.

Oceano Depot

Oceano Depot is a community museum where you can go inside the visitor's center and get some brochures. There is a bit of a courtyard in the back where you can see some stationed collections. It's a nice place to stretch your legs a bit and learn some history. Oceano Depot Address: 1650 Front St, Oceano, CA 93445

The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville

One of the most unique things about the beach town of Oceano is there is a very professional theatre located on Front St. called The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville or just Melodrama Theatre for short. It has the traditional vibe of a theatre that reminds me of San Diego. One of the most coolest things about this place is when there is intermission, the actors themselves also run the concessions! My kids are still too antsy to sit still through a whole theatre show so my husband and I went on a date here when my mother-in-law was in town to watch the kiddos. It was a unique way to spend time with him and it's probably one of my favorite dates with my husband. Melodrama Theatre Address: 1863 Front St, Oceano, CA 93445

Elk Lodge

Whenever you drive towards Oceano Beach, you'll notice Elk Lodge. I don't think it's actually a place for the public but it's memorable. They have events there for fundraisers, but it still seems like a member-only type of place. However, the building is unique so I took a picture of the place. They seem to occasionally have public events like a Halloween event every year! Elk Lodge Address: 410 Air Park Dr. Oceano, CA 93445

Deltina Coffee Roasters

Deltina (formerly Quintessa) Coffee Roasters is a coffee shop that roast their own coffee! They have a little courtyard in the back for you to enjoy your coffee and do some reading. I ordered a latte and really enjoyed their coffee! I'll have to come back here again when I'm passing by. Deltina Coffee Roasters Address: 1945 Front St., Oceano, CA 93445

Oceano Community Center

I've taken advantage of the Parent Participation Program here and they've hosted many free community events for kids at the Oceano Community Center over the years as well. I think it's a really good place to look into for finding free events throughout the year for the kids. It's a pretty building with one main large community space for activities. Oceano Community Center Address is 1425 19th St, Oceano, CA 93445.

Reading Suggestions:

• Read about my staycation at the famous Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.
• See my other blog entries and pictures of other beaches in San Luis Obispo County.

Popular Things To Do with Kids in San Luis Obispo County

• Charles Paddock Zoo -- Read my blog review
• Hearst Castle -- Read my blog review
• The Ravine Waterpark -- Read my blog review (only open for Summer)
• Mustang Waterpark -- Read my blog review (only open for Summer)
• San Luis Obispo Children's Museum -- Read  my blog review
• Central Coast Aquarium -- Read my blog review
• San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum -- Learn more
• Paso Robles Children's Museum -- Read my blog review
• Exploration Discovery Center -- Read my blog review
• Museum of Natural History -- Learn more
• Avila Valley Barn -- Read my blog review

It was two years ago when my older son was in the Kindergarten in Training program, K.I.T. for short, that's run by the City of Arroyo Grande but I hadn't had the chance to write a review here about my thoughts of the program until now. More things in San Luis Obispo County are starting to open up, including preschools, so I thought it would be helpful for other parents out there if they are looking for a review on preschools.

When I had enrolled my son in the K.I.T. program, he was turning 5 years old and we had just moved here from the East Coast. I was hunting around for a preschool program for a few hours a day for a few days a week and found this program by the City of Arroyo Grande. It's an afternoon program for Mondays, Wednesdays & Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and it was exactly what I was looking for.

We went on a tour to make sure he liked it and I enrolled him in February. I think because he was starting after Spring semester had already started, there were hurdles already lined up for him. Not only had we just moved here from the East Coast just a month before, he was also the "new kid" for the program. Whereas, maybe some of the kids in the class have been friends from the semester(s) before, he was the stranger there in more ways than one. However, I knew that keeping him at home would cause him to feel more alienated and may cause him to have a harder time to adjust to kindergarten the following semester after that. I had to brave it, and so did he. Well, on the first day, he did great! Then, the second day, not so great. There were tears, probably from feeling like an outsider while some kids group up during play time. 

In all honesty, if it were me, I would have a hard time even if I try to not show it. Cliques start so early and being that new kid in a classroom full of unfamiliar kids who are not starting on the same foot, is scary. Although there were many bad days, to the point where I feel like they rather not have my kid there because he was crying so much, we made it to the end and he went to his K.I.T graduation! It was a lesson to learn but I was so proud of him. And now, two years later as a first grader, he doesn't remember ever going to the K.I.T. program by the City of Arroyo Grande so that confirms to me that it didn't traumatize him going there as the new kid from a different coast. Furthermore, he passed everything during his tests at kindergarten round-up, something that many school districts in SLO county have for incoming kindergarteners to test their academic level, and I attribute a lot of it to us having him go to the K.I.T. program there.

If you're interested in the City of Arroyo Grande's K.I.T. program, I'd recommend it, even if my son didn't have a perfect time. Academic-wise, he had something to show for it. 

Read my other preschool reviews for San Luis Obispo County.

Not ready for your little one go to preschool? See a list of Mommy and Me type programs in San Luis Obispo County.

In the past, the City of Arroyo Grande had planned Kids Night Out in this very same building at Elm Street Park and my kids really had a great time. See a list of Kids Night Out or Parents Night Out options in San Luis Obispo County, where you drop off the kids for a few hours and pick them up later.

I've been in a granola mood today and thought to myself, I've never made my own granola before. I don't have any plain oats at home, just the instant oatmeal packets so I started digging online to see if there are recipes that used instant oatmeal packets. After comparing a few recipes, I decided to concoct my own using the ingredients I already have on hand. I made a small batch and here's how it turned out!

(My finished granola using apple & cinnamon instant oatmeal packets, flax seeds, table syrup, olive oil and solar-dried banana)

They turned out excellent and I'm so happy! It was crunchy, sweet but not overly, and flavorful! Here's my ingredients list and instructions below. I only used 5 different ingredients for my granola!

Ingredients list:

• 4 instant apple and cinnamon flavor oatmeal packets (4 packets was equivalent to about 1.15 cup, just a smidge overflowed when I was measuring it with my 1 cup measurement)
• 1/4 cup of flax seeds
• 1/8 cup of olive oil
• 1/8 cup of table syrup (I used a packet from one of my to-go food orders that I had lying around)
• 2 pieces of solar-dried banana. The exact brand I used is: Jiraporn Solar Dried Natural Banana Flat Shape 240g (Pack of 2)

 (We made these colored eggs with emoji stickers that came in our Easter egg coloring kit.)

Instead of ham this Easter, I am cooking a whole chicken in a crock pot today. I've done it before in the past and am not sure why I haven't cook my chicken this way more often. I think it's because it takes a long time and requires a bit of planning. 

RECIPE & QUICK INSTRUCTIONS
For the whole chicken, I am seasoning with fresh garlic, 2 lemons, dried oregano, salt and pepper. I crushed a whole garlic and halved every clove. For my lemon, I cut 1 in half and another one in quarters. After cleaning my chicken and slicing to the bone around the drumsticks, I season my chicken with 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/3 teaspoon of pepper. Then, I browned the chicken in 1.5 tablespoon of olive oil, 2 halves of lemon and my garlic. After that, I transferred my chicken into the crock pot and used add 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon, 1/4 cup of water, squeezed the wedges of lemon from the other lemon I sliced and mix them while the pan is still in medium heat. Then, I transfer all that yummy liquid, the halves of lemon, to the crock pot and drizzle it all over the chicken. Now, I'm setting the timer for 3.5 hours on high heat. I have a pretty hot crock pot. I always find that I always need to cook less time than recipes I've found online by a half hour or hour, depending on the setting or else my meat gets too dry. My chicken is about 5 pounds. I got it for a really good deal at Aldi for $4.80!

Whole Chicken Crock Pot Ingredients List:

• 4 - 5 lb chicken
• 1.5 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 lemons
• 1 whole garlic
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• .5 teaspoon of salt
• 1/3 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of chicken bullion granules

Now, during the first hour, you may be tempted to add more liquids but don't! Within the second hour, you'll see the juices from the chicken come out as you know many of the chickens in the market nowadays have added water too.

I'm going to be serving this chicken with a side of steamed asparagus and whole boiled sweet potatoes. It's going to be healthy and hearty.

Happy Easter, everyone.

See family-friendly things to do in San Luis Obispo County.