Best Gift Shops For Mother's Day In The Bay Area

Sure, she may be the most beautiful mom in the world, but no doubt she doesn't always feel that way. Perk her up to feel gloriously alive and pampered. Treat her well at the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, rated one of Travel + Leisure's top 25 spas, and the ideal setting for a day of indulging at the ultimate Wine Country destination. Surrounded by exquisite grounds and set within a lush and verdant region, this beautiful location offers several spa packages that any mom would adore. The 40,000 square-foot spa offers countless opportunities to reenergize in the tranquility of the environment. Spa packages ($255 - $485) include unlimited fitness classes and use of facilities, private locker and locker room amenities, terry robe, reflexology slippers and refreshments. This spa bathing-ritual access, an experience inspired by bathhouses around the world. View spa package here, plus view all spa and fitness services at the website.

Napa Valley Wine Train (credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry St.
Napa, CA 94559
(800) 427-4124
www.winetrain.com

The grand Napa Valley Wine Train is a terrific Mother's Day gift for moms who would enjoy a relaxing three-hour, thirty-six mile round trip journey through one of the world's most well-known wine valleys. Beginning in the historic town of Napa, and winding through the region's lush wine valleys to the picturesque town of St. Helena and back, there is nothing quite like the Napa Valley Wine Train. This is one of the most distinctive restaurants you and mom will ever visit. The train's highly skilled chefs create fabulous gourmet meals on a par with the finest Napa restaurants. With three kitchens on board Napa Valley Wine Train guests are invited to see the chefs at work on board. As expected, the Wine Train offers an extensive selection of delicious, local wines and each dining package includes a welcome taste of wine for each visitor over 21. Check the website for full details and to review lunch, dinner and winery tour packages, and to make reservations. Mom will forever remember her incredible Mother's Day on the Napa Valley Wine Train.

Does mom love chocolate? Silly question, of course she does. What luck to live in the Bay Area, home to quite a few top quality chocolate shops. This includes Xocolate Bar in Berkeley, where artisan chocolatiers Malena Lopez-Maggi and Clive Brown create standout chocolates freshly made on site. The pair works mainly with 70 percent cacao dark chocolate using organic and fair trade couverture chocolate. This is the highest quality chocolate and nothing artificial. Xocolate uses only the good stuff for its bon bons that come in many flavors and colorfully wrapped bars covering a variety of tastes, including Cacao Nib Crunch, Fleur de Sel, Cardamon Crunch, and Cinnamon Chile. Traditional flavors Dark, Extra Dark, and Pure Milk Chocolate are also available. Visit the shop for the full range of chocolates or purchase online. While you are there, try the sipping chocolate too. Other high quality Bay Area chocolate purveyors include, but not limited to Alegio Chocolate, Berkeley, Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates, San Francisco, Go To Chocolate, San Carlos, and Danville Chocolates, Danville.

(credit: Draeger's Market)

Draeger's Market
222 E. 4^th Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 685-3700
www.draegers.com

If mom is an outdoorsy sort why not put a new spin on the classic Mother's Day Brunch and take her out for a picnic brunch in a local park. There several parks of all sizes throughout the Bay Area that offer great picnic settings. For example, San Mateo has many parks with drop-in and reservable picnic areas. View a list here. Start at San Mateo's Draeger's Market, an awesome repository of amazing food, wine, baked goods, housewares, flowers and much more, and all you will need for a tasty lunch. Draeger's deli equals some of the best casual dining spots around, and is a perfect place to begin gathering a scrumptious Mother's Day worthy picnic. You can order a set Box Lunch for $12.50 - $15.50. Make sure to give 24 hour advance notice. Or you can grab a panini or other Mother's Day worthy fare. Draeger's Bakery is extensive, with delightfully luscious desserts, including mom's choice. Think about returning here for a dessert and beverage inside Draeger's Bakery café. Check out some of the mouthwatering bakery items here. Visit the website for additional Draeger's Markets or adapt the Mother's Day picnic to your area.

In this era of declining bookstores, when even big box stores have packed up their tomes and left, it is reassuring to be able to go into Kepler's for touchable, readable and hold-in-your-hands books. After 59 years, Kepler's is still going strong as one of the nation's top independent bookstores. This is a terrific bookstore and bound to have just what mom craves to read. Or take her to one of Kepler's Premiere Events, and then have her select a book for you to buy to assure a perfect fit. Check out the upcoming events here.