This Mother's Day, you could go the traditional route and pick out some cheerful flowers for your mother or a nice piece of jewelry (P.S. we have some great options over on our Mother's Day Gift Guide). But if she's a little less traditional or if you're unsure of what to get her, then it's time to consider experience gifts for Mom.

These basically act as gift experiences for families, not just Mom. But that's OK because they give Mom the opportunity to spend time with her favorite people and create memories. But how do you choose between taking a class and watching a show together? Bonding over a room-escape game and bonding during a spa visit? To help you narrow it down and pick the best experience gifts for Mom, we interviewed real moms to see what activities they've loved doing with their families over the years.

And the winning experience gift ideas for mom were...

1. Outdoor Activities

The moms we interviewed overwhelmingly preferred to spend time in nature with their families. Except for one person, every single one of them said it was one of their favorite things to do with their families.

Mary Susan Delagrange, who has four kids ranging from 21 months to 7 years old, visits a local nature center in Ohio about once a week with her kids. She loves how it's "educational without being overly structured." Other moms love taking their young kids to pick and eat strawberries or to pumpkin patches crammed with toddler-friendly activities.

Karen Loster, the mother of three and grandmother of four, loves her family's tradition of hiking through Devil's Lake State Park every year. "We have been doing this for over 40 years, first with my husband's family and now with our grown children and grandchildren."

And there's always the zoo. "The zoo was always a favorite when our kids were little," says mother-of-two Michele Schwartz.

Need more suggestions for outdoorsy things to do with your mom? Here are a few ideas:

• Peep the Spring colors at a botanical garden.
• Indulge mom's adventurous side by exploring local water ways on a kayak tour.
• Take in the spectacular views on a hot air balloon ride.

2. A Nice Meal Out

Nearly all of the moms (73%) said they loved eating a nice meal with their families. Liz Gorr, the mother of three daughters in their late 20s and early 30s, enjoys "celebration meals" with her family. "As little kids, celebrations meant relatives, presents, and good food. As our kids got older, meals meant a time to catch up with each other, share laughs, dreams, and just enjoy being with each other," she explains.

If that sounds too expected, consider these tips for making a meal out feel extra-special:

• Instead of a typical meal, try a tasting menu at a famed restaurant
• Combine our #1 and #2 experience gifts by booking a food tour that makes multiple stops around town.
• Try a new type of cuisine such as Brazilian barbecue or Korean barbecue.

3. Museum Trip

Believe it or not, 67% of the moms said they liked going to museums with their families. Connie Wayman, who has one adult son, says that one of her favorite family memories was exploring the Body Worlds exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Lisa Lux, who has two young kids, said that one of her favorite outings was when she took her 3-year-old out of school for the day and went to the Shedd Aquarium. "He was so thrilled ... it piqued his interest in aquatic creatures and he seeks out books about them," she says. "That experience has stuck with all of us, and we revisit the memory often."

And if a museum isn't quite right, you could consider one of these similar experiences:

• Explore underwater habitats at the city aquarium.
• Skip the history lessons and take in some modern art at a local gallery.
• Swap the museum for another cultural institution: the symphony.

What Happens if You Pick the Wrong Gift?

Don't worry, because sometimes the worst outings make for the best memories. "Those moments are fodder for later laughter!" says mother of two Elaine Gritti.

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