And while the dour economy may be why only 15 percent of the more than 2,400 respondents in a recent TripAdvisor survey said they’ll travel more than 100 miles to see mom this year, the other 85 percent might change their minds when they read about the many cheap and offbeat offers scheduled for Mother’s Day, May 10th.
For example, participating TCBY shops are offering moms a free cup or cone on Mother’s Day and T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants will give mom a free dessert if you buy her an entrée. Here are some other spots around the country offering free, fun stuff for mom. ";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 1
Glendale, Ariz./ Atlanta, Ga.
The town of Glendale, Arizona celebrates Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 9 with a fun event in the historic downtown area with freebies for moms ranging from seed packets, goodie bags, caricatures, entertainment, merchant giveaways and free flowers that moms can arrange in a bouquet at a flower station at the end of the day.
Speaking of flowers, the Atlanta Botanical Garden Rose Show takes place Mother’s Day weekend. When the show ends, around 5 p.m. on Sunday (Mother’s Day), the roses are given away to visitors who just happen to be in the garden.";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 2
San Francisco Bay Area
In the Bay Area, Sunday May 10th is not only Mother’s Day; it’s also the 30th anniversary of Koret Museum Days.
Kansas City Zoo: Mother's Day Ice Cream Sunday
On Mother’s Day, many zoos around the country, including the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I., Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Aquarium in Ohio, will offer free admission to moms when a child’s admission ticket is purchased.
At the Kansas City Zoo in Missouri, moms not only get free admission, they get free ice cream too.";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 4
Orlando: Mother’s Day Pie Brigade
At Orlando’s Nickelodeon Family Suites hotel, where mass sliming and pie throwing are everyday events, the Mother’s Day Pie Brigade event gives moms the opportunity to throw specially-prepared Mother’s Day pies at their kids.
Pie-throwers must be guests of the hotel, but it’s free and, no doubt, highly entertaining to stop by and watch the pies fly. ";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 5
Sonora, Calif.: Mother Lode Round-Up
In California’s Gold Rush Country, Mother’s Day is celebrated all weekend long at the annual Mother Lode Round-Up. Held in Sonora, the event includes a steak barbecue, a pageant, and rodeos for both kids and adults.
On Saturday, May 9th, California’s second largest parade (after the Rose Bowl) takes place with more than 500 rolling, walking, marching and trotting participants, including this year’s Mother of the Year, who gets to ride in a special parade float.";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 6
Jacksonville, Fla.: Flowers and music
On Mother’s Day, volunteers at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) will be presenting each arriving mom with a long-stemmed white carnation.
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is offering moms a downloadable coupon for free admission. And everyone in town is invited to the free Pops at the Beach Concert, \"Celebrating Great Women,\" presented by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. ";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 7
Bristol/Southington, Conn.
Lake Compounce Theme Park in Bristol/Southington, Conn., opens for its 164th season on Mother’s Day weekend.
To celebrate, admission to the park is buy-one, get-one-free all weekend. So kids and their moms can scream together on the Zoomerang, the Wave Swinger and Thunder N’ Lightening rides all day long.
If mom gets thirsty don’t worry: everyone at the park gets free soda all day, everyday. ";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 8
Philadelphia: Free themed mini-golf
A round of miniature golf is free for moms on Mother’s Day at Franklin Square, where an 18-hole Philadelphia-themed course includes the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the LOVE statue, the Chinatown Friendship Gate, the “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and, of course, the cracked Liberty Bell.
Mom’s ticket is free with purchase of a child’s ticket ($6). ";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 9
New Hampshire: Canopy tour
On Mother’s Day in New Hampshire, moms get free admission for rides and entertainment, and free lunch, at Salem’s Canobie Lake Park with the purchase of a child’s admission ticket.
And, in another two-for-one offer, brave moms get to ride for free on the elaborate system of zip-lines, suspension bridges and hiking trails that make up the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour at the Mt. Washington Resort. (Reservations required.)";
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TRAVEL_MothersDay_WMT_090505[i-1].body = "No. 10
Caņon City, Colo.: Royal Gorge Bridge
Admission is free for moms on Mother’s Day at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Canon City, Colo., about an hour from Colorado Springs.
Built in 1929 and now listed on the National Historic Register, the bridge hangs 1,053 feet above Colorado’s Arkansas River and is the world’s highest suspension bridge.
Moms can travel the quarter-mile span by walking across the bridge, driving across it, or riding on the world’s longest single-span aerial tram. Or they might try the Royal Rush Skycoaster. It drops harnessed passengers from a tower and lets them dangle, for just a moment, 1,200 feet above the river. ";
// END editorial data