Best Mother Daughter Trips for Bonding and Adventure

Why Take a Mother Daughter Trip

When we’re off living our lives, time moves SO quickly. Which is why savoring the time between mom and daughter is that much more important. 

• Moms — whether you have a close relationship with your daughter or you struggle to relate to this new version of the baby you raised, there are many reasons to take a mother daughter getaway. Use the planning stages of a mother daughter trip to listen to and understand each other a little more before bonding during the perfect mother daughter getaway.
• Daughters — embrace the chance to get to know your mom properly. For years, she might have been your cook, cleaner, taxi driver, counselor, teacher, and more, but she is a unique person beyond that. If you can take the time to look beyond your historic relationship, you may find a new friend.

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All you need is patience, a willingness to step out of your roles and comfort zones, and a few good ideas about where to go and what to do — those last two are where I come in! I’ll write from a mother’s perspective but daughter’s reading this, trust me, your mom will appreciate your suggestion of a mother daughter getaway and you can have so much fun planning your mother daughter trips together.

Best Mother Daughter Day Trip Adventures

Life can be hectic. Between family and work commitments, it can be hard to snatch enough time to take an overnight trip. However, with some efficient schedule synchronization, even the busiest moms and daughters can schedule an awesome day trip. 

Forget settling for lunch at the mall and think bigger. There are so many exciting things you can do with just a day – or even a half day!

Glass Blowing

Where: Indianapolis, IN
When: Monthly
Duration: 1/2 day
Group Size: 20 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: The mother-daughter duo that can handle a little heat and don’t mind phallic shapes

Fancy a thrilling blend of hands-on creativity, history, and science? Glass blowing is an ancient art and while learning how to blow your own keepsakes, you’ll learn some fascinating facts about how silica transforms into glass. Plus you get to shout phrases you’d never expect to say in front of your mom or daughter like: “Stick it in the glory hole!”

The women’s glass blowing class in Indianapolis is the perfect place for moms and daughters (over the age of 21) to have an amazing time creating their own artwork. The nature of glass blowing means every piece made is truly unique — just like each mother-daughter relationship.

This is the perfect trip for family members to spend time together working towards a common aim, becoming closer and having lots of fun at the same time.

Rock Climbing

Where: All over the US
When: Monthly
Duration: 1 Day
Group Size: 9-15 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Outdoorsy women who have loose hips and love climbing things

Rock climbing is a fantastic activity suitable for pretty much all ages and enjoying a hobby together might be the best way to celebrate your amazing mother daughter bond. From beginner courses indoors to more challenging outdoor adventures, rock climbing is a great year-round opportunity for moms and daughters to challenge and support each other.

With destinations across America and some options suitable for all weathers, all you need to bring is a hair tie for longer hair and a can-do attitude.

Yoga Retreat

Where: Chillicothe, OH
When: Monthly
Duration: 1/2 Day
Group Size: 18 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Women looking for a place to chill out while fawning over the unspeakable beauty of the surrounding nature

Yoga retreats are great because they’re suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Taking yoga classes together as part of a spa getaway, wellness weekend or at a luxury resort is a special way to redefine your mother daughter relationship. The great thing about Yoga is you can find places to do it pretty much everywhere, so a one-off experience could inspire you to take regular classes together and spend quality time together on a regular basis.

If you fancy trying yoga, along with meditation and journaling in a more spectacular destination than your local gym, you should sign up for a potentially life-changing session at the Geode Yoga Dome in the Great Seal State Park in Chillicothe, Ohio. Tempting as it might be to take endless selfies during your visit to this amazing destination, you’ll get the most out of the experience by relaxing and unwinding, allowing yourself to reconnect and rebalance.

Make the most of the opportunity to really connect with your mom (or daughter) and others around you and journal your thoughts and experiences so you can learn to live your best life.

Best Mother Daughter Weekend Getaway

If you and your daughter can spare a weekend, the range of destinations for mother daughter trips expands hugely! You could take a road trip stopping off at world class museums, designer boutiques, trendy restaurants, and historical sites (or you could FINALLY go see that giant rubber band ball 🥎).

You could book a trip to a luxury resort and indulge in some spa treatments and delicious food, but with a bit of imagination (and maybe some inspiration) you could take your girls’ trip to the next level. Explore new awesome places and meet like-minded women of all ages who also want to spice up their life.

Wine Tasting

Where: All over the US
When: Monthly
Duration: 1/2 Day
Group Size: 10 – 24 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Duos looking for a cheeky little afternoon delight with their adventures

Now you can legally share a bottle together, why not plan a weekend to wine country? Sonoma county is a great place to explore historic towns and vineyards and if you head to the county’s coastline you can enjoy some amazing fresh seafood along with great vino. There are many trails for horseback riding in the county too – it really is a great place for a mother daughter getaway or a family vacation.

Napa Valley, aka California’s wine country, is of course famous for having almost 400 wineries, but did you know it’s also a great place to go paddle boarding too? I’d plan that activity before the wine tasting though for obvious reasons… Find a cute B&B and indulge in high tea. Wander round some of the towns antiquing and if you’re history buffs, take the opportunity to explore some of the many historic sites in the area.

Mom might have taught you some recipes when you were a kid but now you are all grown up, why not take a cooking class together? Find one with a wine pairing experience for even more fun.

Vegas, Baby!

Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: Monthly
Duration: 4 Days
Group Size: 12 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Outdoorsy duos who like to moooove (think: rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, camping, hot springs)

This is top of my personal bucket list. 

I would LOVE to party it up in Las Vegas, then make the drive to the Grand Canyon, a Unesco world heritage site. I drop hints every Mother’s Day but I have yet to land a visit to Nevada and Arizona. 

Plan to visit between November and February for fewer crowds, lower room rates, and more availability (though you can also book with Explorer Chick during the shoulder seasons and not worry about any of the nitty gritty booking details). The weather will be cooler but should still be fine for hiking, helicopter rides, rock climbing, kayaking, and soaking in hot springs. You could stay in the city playing the slots and eating shrimp, but with world renowned red rock canyons just on the city limits and the Grand Canyon within a day’s drive, why would you?

Longer Mother Daughter Getaways for Grand Adventures

As I get older, I realize that experiences are worth more to me than “stuff.” 

A brush with serious illness or a period of being geographically distant can highlight the fact that time with your loved ones is priceless. If you can find time for a grand adventure, don’t put it off. Plan the perfect mother and daughter getaway and get ready to tick off some of your bucket list destinations. 

Prepare to step out of your comfort zone — ride a camel, camp under the stars, plan a 2-week-long trip to drive from San Francisco to New York City, or go gorilla trekking. You will not regret it!

Trekking in Uganda

Where: Uganda
When: November
Duration: 10 Days
Group Size: 11 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Literally everyone, just do it

Nature lovers will have all the feels when they get to spot lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and more on an exciting safari in Uganda. It gets even more thrilling when treks take you safely close to wildlife under the guidance of local experts. Get the ultimate mom and daughter selfie with a gorilla family (at a safe distance!) and make lifelong memories with a multitude of wild animals.

Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain Adventure

Where: Peru
When: A few times a year
Duration: 8 Days
Group Size: 12 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Super adventurous women who need adrenaline like they need oxygen

For women with an adventurous streak, how about hiking, zip lining, white water rafting, and mountain biking in the stunning natural beauty of the regions around Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain in Peru?

Get acclimatized in the historic Cusco city and check out the Sacred Valley or an ancient salt mine before taking in Macchu Picchu.. Take lots of pictures with mom and make your Insta stand out — this has to be the queen of mother daughter trips.

Best of Yellowstone

Where: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
When: Summer and Fall
Duration: 7 Days
Group Size: 10 Explorer Chicks
Who it’s for: Chicks who just want to marvel at how insane nature is together

Don’t pass up the chance to explore America’s first national park (and one of the most spectacular). Leave the city behind and book yourself a mother daughter trip to experience the best of Yellowstone. 

Investigate every nook and cranny of this extraordinary destination complete with peaks, valleys, geysers, canyons, and lakes. This adventure is action-packed from the moment you pass under the spine tingling inscription “For the Benefit of the People.” Along with spending quality time with your mom/daughter, you’ll see epic wildlife, meet new gal pals, and experience some amazing hidden gems on and off trail.

Closing Thoughts

The best mother daughter trip is one that helps you foster a healthy and evolving mother daughter relationship. A bit of quality time together somewhere beautiful will turn into a cherished memory that will stay with you both for long afterward. From the United States to South America to Africa, may your next mother daughter vacation be adventurous!

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