Just like the obligatory Father’s Day necktie has run its course, mothers might enjoy something more than a card that pops up and dumps confetti on her carpet.

Put a little thought into it. What about an experience she can enjoy with her family?

We came up with a few that are only a short drive from various points in Alabama – but you’ll get all the credit!

Picnic at Noccalula Falls.

This beautiful park in Gadsden not only offers great facilities for a picnic, including tables and a view of the gorgeous waterfalls it is named for, but it also has mini golf, a kiddie train and a pioneer village visitors can tour. The village includes a real covered bridge, grist mill, cabin and more that were moved to the site. The park is located at 1500 Noccalula Road, Gadsden, Ala. It is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., February-October. Entry fee: $8 for adults, $6 for kids and seniors, with additional fee for mini golf.

Drive through the Oak Alley in Magnolia Springs.

One of the prettiest places in Alabama is the canopy of live oak trees in the tiny town of Magnolia Springs in Baldwin County. Located, of course, on Oak Street, it makes the perfect place for family photos, or just a beautiful spot to spend a spring afternoon. When you’re there, take a drive through town, which was the inspiration for the fictional town of Lost River in Fannie Flagg’s book “A Redbird Christmas.” Magnolia Springs is the only town in the United States with year-round postal service by boat.

Be sure to take a drive by the buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including 1897 Sunnyside Hotel, 1901 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Moore Store, the historic district and more. Free.

Hiking on Green Mountain Nature Trail in Huntsville.

Take a picnic to have either before or after the 1.5-mile hike around the nature preserve atop Huntsville’s Green Mountain. The walk circumnavigates a picturesque lake and crosses Cambron Covered Bridge, built in 1974. You’ll pass places to sit and rest and a chapel on the easy hike. The 72-acre preserve includes pavilions and restrooms. Located at 13800 S Shawdee Road, Huntsville, Ala. Free.

Dining at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear.

What better way to show Mom love than taking her out for a meal in gorgeous surroundings? The Grand Hotel in Point Clear offers fine and casual dining but the setting is extravagant!

The historic hotel’s website says: “With our signature restaurants and a reinvention of all our dining experiences, the Grand pays homage to this great art magnificently. Here, talented chefs curate inventive breakfast, lunch, break, and dinner menus that spotlight honest farm-to-table fare – and the iconic cocktails that accompany these brilliant meals. This means the Grand is where culinary tradition meets new South innovation in the most memorable way.”

Here are just a few ways to dine at the Grand:

Southern Roots, fine dining, open 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Reservations recommended.

Bayside Grill, casual dining for lunch and dinner.

Bucky’s Lounge offer drinks and small plates.

The Grand Hall, Mother’s Day buffet.

Click here for a full listing.

To stay overnight, check availability here.

Attend a Mad Hatter Tea Party in Bessemer.

Head to the Paisley Pig in Bessemer on Saturday for the Mad Hatter’s Mother’s Day Tea Party. Wear your finery to win prizes. The event promises tea, goodies and shopping from 10:30 a.m.-5 pm. You can win a $20 gift card for: Best Mad Hatter-themed hat, best overall tea party attire, biggest hat, most flamboyant hat. Address: 1904 2nd Ave N, Bessemer, Ala. Free to attend and enter contests.

Tour the Covered Bridge Trail in Blount County.

Three of Alabama’s historic covered bridges are located in close proximity in Blount County. They are:

Swann Covered Bridge, 1590 Swann Bridge Road, Cleveland, Ala. This 324-foot span built in 1933 over the Black Warrior River is the longest in state.

Horton Mill Covered Bridge, 91 Covered Bridge Circle, Oneonta, Ala. A 220-foot span built in 1934 over the Calvert Prong in the Warrior River. At 70 feet above the water, it is the highest covered bridge over any U.S. waterway.

Easley Covered Bridge, 335 Easley Bridge Rd, Oneonta, Ala. A 95-foot span built in 1927 over Dub Branch.

Free.

Take a Dolphin Tour from Orange Beach.

A variety of knowledgeable crews will take you and other visitors out into the Gulf of Mexico to watch dolphins and other sea life frolic, including giant manta rays and sea turtles.

A few cruises even feature “pirates” to entertain the kids and let Mom enjoy the view in peace!

Find one that suits your needs here. Fees vary.