Recognizing that Orlando residents will need to be creative with new ways to celebrate this unusual Mother’s Day (May 10), Visit Orlando has compiled a guide of 10 ideas across the destination to connect virtually, via special delivery or through social distancing – all of which support local businesses in the process. All of the Mother’s Day experiences below, and more, can be found on VisitOrlando.com.

  1. Brunch To Go

Dining rooms may currently be closed, but Visit Orlando’s online Mother’s Day guide includes a variety of Orlando restaurants offering special brunches and meals specific to the holiday, available for delivery or takeout. Or, you can search over 500 open restaurants on the Orlando To Go website for a new place to try.

2. Buy Local Gifts

Locally made gifts are always a hit, and the online guide include items such as a pretty stationary set from Winter Park’s Rifle Paper Co. and foodie items like bourbon blended vanilla barbecue sauce from 4 Rivers Smokehouse, home-made marshmallows from Wondermade or wine from Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard.

For the fashion-minded, Orlando International Premium Outlets and Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets are offering big savings on top brands via their shared online store.

3. Take A Scenic “Socially Distanced” Walk Outdoors

Local nature parks are open throughout Orange County, including Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando, Kelly Park in Apopka, the West Orange Trail between Winter Garden and Apopka, and many others.

Take scenic walk through the flowers at Harry P. Leu Gardens, where admission is currently free, or pick fresh blueberries at places like Beck Brothers, Bekemeyer Family Farm and Long & Scott Farms.

4. Meet Virtually in Orlando

Make Mother’s Day phone calls memorable with custom Orlando Zoom backgrounds featuring everything from iconic roller coasters to dinosaurs that allow moms (and kids of all ages) to virtually escape to the Theme Park Capital of the World™ or hang out in downtown Orlando at beautiful spots like Lake Eola.

5. Send an Orlando eCard

Visit Orlando has created custom eCards that will be available via Facebook and Twitter with iconic Orlando images and message like “You are a ROAR-some MOM-a-saur" (Universal Orlando Resort’s Jurassic Park).

6. Say It with Fresh-Picked Flowers

Support local florists, who are offering special Mother’s Day bouquets include Bluegrass Chic Floral Design, In Bloom Florist, Orlando Florist and Colonial Florist.

Or, go the fresh-picked route by picking up a bundle of giant sunflowers and zinnias from Southern Hill Farms in west Orange County.

7. Get Front-Row Seats to the Orlando Arts (Virtually)

There’s not a bad seat in the house when you arrange a date to enjoy virtual artistic experiences from Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Ballet and Cirque du Soleil. Or explore virtual galleries from The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and Orlando Museum of Art.

8. Take Cooking Lessons from Orlando’s Top Chefs

Make a culinary masterpiece by learning to cook with some of Orlando’s celebrity chefs, including José Andrés of Jaleo, Masaharu Morimoto of Morimoto Asia, Art Smith of Homecomin’ Florida Kitchen, Rick Bayless of Frontera Cocina, and others. Amazon also sells cookbooks authored by some of Orlando’s homegrown James Beard honorees, including Norman Van Aken’s Florida Kitchen; James & Julie Petrakis’ The Ravenous Pig: Seasons of Florida; and 9 Courses from Brandon McGlamery of Prato, Luma on Park and Luke’s Kitchen.

9. Learn Something New Together

Bond over learning a new skill or experiencing something new by exploring more than 20 free digital experiences from our local experts, including up-close animal encounters, art instruction, history and even makeup tutorials.

10. Share Virtual Orlando Experiences

Although not currently open, Orlando’s theme parks and attractions can still be enjoyed virtually on VisitOrlando.com, including 360-degree online experiences, Facebook Live broadcasts, live streamings of special films, YouTube videos and more. Whether Mom likes riding roller coasters or standing on Main Street in front of Cinderella Castle, there are all kinds of fun ways to both chill and thrill together virtually.