Forbes Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Best Gifts For The Beach Mom

Is your dad active? If so, your Father’s Day shopping just got easy. It doesn’t matter what Dad’s favorite activity is, hiking, cycling, diving, golf, skiing, tennis, whatever, if he travels to do it, there’s some piece of luggage that will make his life and his trips better. I’ve been traveling for sports for three decades, I’ve seen lots of innovation, I have personal experience with every brand here, and unlike many holiday gift guides, there are no commissions if you buy anything you see—but you can rest assured that they are proven, best-in-class picks worthy of a best-in-class Dad. These entries run a bit longer than other gift guides you’ll find online, because I really have reasons why I recommend these products, and I want you to know what you and Dad are getting for your hard-earned dollars.

Prime golf season is just kicking off, and if your Dad plays, Father’s Day shopping just got a lot easier.

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 12 this year. If you’re looking for some last-minute Mother’s Day gifts for your travel-loving mom, consider eye makeup. That’s a failproof present if your mom enjoys wearing makeup on her adventures. With seemingly endless options out there, I’ve narrowed it down to some fun makeup choices that are travel-friendly and long-lasting. There’s something for every makeup lover, so consider choosing a few products to create your own little Mother’s Day gift basket.

Moms are always active, but usually their energy goes toward taking care of other people. Whether you have an active beach mom or one who enjoys attending fitness classes or playing a sport, when they’re on vacation, they deserve to take care of themselves. Here are my picks for exercise and wellness gifts that travel well and meet all of mom’s vacation needs.

The terms “toiletry bag” and “cosmetic case” are often used interchangeably although toiletry bags are usually larger and hold more than cosmetics.

I grew up vacationing in a beach town called Nags Head on the Outer Banks, the string of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. My parents did, too — they were high school sweethearts — and their stories about hitchhiking to Nags Head as teenagers in the 1960s and seeing bands like the Drifters perform at the local dance hall were the stuff of legend in my mind. As a kid in the ’80s, I loved climbing the massive sand dunes at nearby Jockey’s Ridge State Park and fishing at Cape Hatteras. So I was excited to learn that this month, Steidl will publish a book of images the photographer Joel Sternfeld took in Nags Head in the summer of 1975. Sternfeld’s weatherworn cottages and roadside snack bars bring back memories real and imagined, and I’ll enjoy reliving them with my mom. The book is currently available for preorder, so, in the meantime, I’m eyeing some other ’70s-inspired gifts for Mother’s Day. Vacation’s Orange Gelée sunscreen is reminiscent of the vintage tanning staple Bain de Soleil, and this portable wine chiller designed in 1978 by Richard Carlson is easy to find on eBay. It fits two bottles of wine. Alternatively, Cann Social Tonic’s zero-proof Roadie pouches, infused with 2 milligrams of THC, travel easily to the beach. And for a nostalgic summer pants set, turn to the Rockaway Beach-based Zingara Vintage. The designer Erin Silvers custom makes her ZingaraTerry loungewear from vintage YSL towels produced in the 1960s and ’70s.

Mother’s Day is a good holiday to choose something you know your mom loves yet also get a little adventurous with what you give. If your mom is a frequent traveler who loves perfume, here are some fragrances that may inspire even more trips, and they’ll be well-suited for taking along on planes, trains, and cars. These perfumes all offer something special and unique that make them thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts.

While it might be tempting to shop for a gift with a big wow factor this Mother’s Day, why not spring for something practical—an item your mom will actually use on a regular basis?

Good hotels are in the business of cherishing their guests. Hotels - at the highest end - are all about curation, which makes the products they sell in their shops particularly desirable, whether fashion, furnishings or art. Here are some presents that every mother will love.

That hottest club in town is Cookbook Club! And whether mom is in one right now, thinking or starting one or joining one, these gifts will help her prep for the most delicious social gathering of the 2020s. Prepare to be lauded as the best child (or spouse) of this cookbook club member, because these gifts are perfect.

Traveling can be hard on the skin. Your travel-loving mom probably knows this all too well. However, with the right lotion, there’s no need to worry. Here is a carefully selected variety of skin-nourishing lotions to help your mom maintain hydrated and healthy skin in any climate.

Fragrance is superb at creating a sense of place - and they are powerful sensory weapons for luxury hotels. Whether it’s a flickering, highly fragranced reminder of a perfect holiday, a signal of a forthcoming trip or an opportunity to dip into a beautifully curated world, these candles will help your mother dream of her next vacation.