Men's Journal

It’s Mother’s Day weekend: treat your wife to some nature-inspired R&R, enjoy the wilds of Michigan, or strafe a race track in a stock car.

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Richard Petty Driving Experience

Nationwide

Attention speed freaks: you can put away the video game controllers thanks to the the Richard Petty Driving Experience. It puts you behind the wheel of a NASCAR-style stock car and lets you rip around one of 20 speedways across the country at up to 140 mph. You can drive a stick, right?

Sign up for the $450 Rookie Experience, and after spending some class time learning safety rules and driving technique, you’ll take eight laps around the track, learning when to accelerate, brake, and turn in by tailing pro drivers. If that’s not enough track time to get your adrenaline fix, the $850 Kings Experience delivers a two-session, 18-lap orgy of fast.

Travel and Accommodations
Start your racing career at one of the major stock-car racing venues: Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, or the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando. Click here for a complete list of tracks and their respective driving schedules.

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Mother’s Day at Spring Creek Ranch, May 8-9

Jackson, Wyoming

No woman will balk at a spa day gift for Mother’s Day, but this year, step it up a notch and send your wife to rustic, luxurious Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. While she’s getting the royal treatment at the Wilderness Adventure Spa — everything from detox treaments to full body massages and yoga classes — you can indulge in horseback riding, hiking, balloon rides, golf, tennis, and even a Wildlife Safari through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park.

At night you can dine on delicacies cooked up by executive chef Jason Mitchell at the award winning Granary Restaurant, or take a short trip off the grounds to the top-notch Rising Sage Cafe in the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Travel and Accommodations
You can’t go wrong with one of the lodge’s Inn Rooms, but if you’re traveling with kids, a multi-room suite or condo might make more sense. If you’re going with a big group, Spring Creek offers extravagant mountain villas with 4 bedrooms and at least 3 baths, which means no waiting for the shower. Rooms range from $170 to $1,500 per night and reservations can be made here; or, for the best available rate, call 1-800-443-6139.

The Jackson Hole Airport is located just 1,000 feet below the ranch, at the base of the Teton Mountains and in the heart of Grand Teton National Park.  Shuttle services are offered to and from the airport and can be booked in advance here.

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Climbing the Dunes

Leelanau County, Michigan

Hold out your right hand, fingers together, thumb pointed out. Look at the tip of your little finger. You’ve just pinpointed your next destination spot in Michigan.

Sand beneath your feet, wilderness all around, numerous trails, and a Great Lake: Just a few of the things you can enjoy at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this weekend. For starters, get in some fly-fishing. If you could use a refresher course or need an introduction to the sport, sign up for a weekend lesson at the Orvis Fly Fishing School. As for other fishing in the area, make sure you’ve got the proper paperwork. Stop by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website for more information.

If you’d rather head out into the area on foot, hiking trails are never too difficult to find. Check out this page to find a good trail. Of course, your itinerary also should include a trip to the Dune Climb. Follow the Dunes Trail for a 3.5-mile roundtrip to Lake Michigan and back. You’ll be glad you did.

Once you’re done enjoying nature, there are plenty of options for great eats. Highly recommended: the pheasant cannelloni and whitefish at the Riverside Inn, and the clam miso and Vietnamese shaking beef at Red Ginger.

Travel and Accommodations
The area has plenty of options for camping, whether you’re living out of an RV or a backpack. If you really want to escape civilization but aren’t into carrying a tent, look into staying on the Manitou Islands. A number of non-camping lodging can be found here.

The easiest way to make the trip is by flying and driving or just driving. Visit this page for directions.