Quality time tops Tiffany’s

Forget about diamonds from Tiffany’s or a trip around the world. Time after time, moms everywhere say the one thing they really want for their special day is time with their family. With that in mind, here are some very special gifts for Mother’s Day.

A Grape Escape

Let mom experience peace and serenity — something she may not get a lot of at home — while drifting over vineyards as the sun rises over the mountains in Temecula. Take flight with the birds and observe wildlife marveling at the sight of a beautiful hot air balloon floating overhead. View lakes, citrus groves, wineries and estate homes from your unparalleled view in the air.

Mom’s adventure begins at sunrise as cold air inflates her beautiful seven-story hot air balloon, piloted by a certified commercial pilot who will navigate the flight with your family’s safety and enjoyment in mind. During your one-hour ride the pilot will also act as your family’s tour guide to identify local points of interest and answer any questions.

Once back on the ground, A Grape Escape will toast your successful flight and new status as “aeronaut” with champagne, orange juice and a continental breakfast served picnic style in the gardens at Wilson Creek Winery. As a memento of your journey, you will be presented with a souvenir photo in a picture card.

A Grape Escape offers balloon tours every day over the beautiful Temecula Valley.

Tours start at $124 per person. For reservations and information, call (800) 965-2122 or visit www.AGrapeEscape.com.

Duffy Boat Rental

One of the great benefits of living in Orange County is the availability of Newport Harbor. Known up and down the coast as perhaps the best “cruising” harbor, Newport offers a couple of very special ways to see the sights. One is the Duffy boat.

Created by Marshall “Duffy” Duffield, the Duffy boat is a quiet, fuel-efficient way for the entire family to cruise around and explore beautiful Newport Harbor. The electric boats can be rented by the hour, accommodate 10 to 12 passengers and come equipped with a CD player and ice — you provide the food and drinks. Duffy boats are easy to use and can be piloted by mom’s younger skippers, too.

Mom will enjoy relaxing on the Duffy with her favorite beverage while her family gives her a guided tour of this exquisite scenery.

Rentals start at $60 per hour. For reservations and information, call (949) 965-6812.

Gondola Ride

If you would rather have someone else do the driving around Newport Harbor, we suggest the more intimate ride from the Gondola Co. of Newport Beach. Experienced gondoliers will escort your family around Newport Harbor, across the beautiful bay, through the canals and beneath the picturesque skyline in a one-hour tour. It’s a taste of Italy in Newport Beach.

The Gondola Co. will provide ice buckets, wine holders, openers and beautiful Italian music — you provide the rest to make mom’s special day.

Gondolas can carry up to six people. Prices start at $85 for the first two people and $15 for each additional person.

For reservations and information, call (949) 675-1212 or visit www.Gondolas.com .

Oh, and dad, this may be one you’ll want to do with mom alone!

Ritz-CarltonIt’s famous and it’s fabulous. That can only mean Mother’s Day Sunday brunch at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel.

At the hotel’s premier dining spot, Restaurant 162, mom will enjoy a tempting feast of brunch favorites including poached jumbo shrimp, Alaskan King Crab, oysters, crab cocktail in a martini glass, Belgian waffles, a made-to-order omelet station, caviar and much more. Plus, the champagne, mimosas and orange juice flow freely.

While she enjoys this very special meal with her family, mom will take in a spectacular ocean view from the restaurant, which is perched 162 feet above the beach.

Mother’s Day brunch is served from 9:30 to 2 p.m.

The cost is $75 per person. For reservations and information, call (949) 240-2000 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com .

Spa and Fitness Club

For those who think mom may be ready for some special down time, here’s our hot tip for Mother’s Day: It’s a visit to one of the premier day spas in the country, the Spa and Fitness Club in Costa Mesa.

Picked last year by Forbes magazine as a “Super Spa,” the Spa and Fitness Club will pamper mom with her choice of massages, hot stone therapy, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, body wraps and a full line of skin care treatments, waxing, nail care and more. Mom can also take advantage of the Spa and Fitness Club’s fully equipped gym.

Prices start at around $65. For reservations and information, call (714) 850-0050.

Rent-A-Husband

Last but not least, here’s a gift that will score dad some huge points. The company is called “Rent-A-Husband,” and they provide someone they call “tall, dark and handy” to take care of all of the little chores around the house that dad can’t get to.

You know the ones: the leaky faucet, the broken toilet handle, the light switch that doesn’t work — all the jobs that mom keeps bugging dad about.

With Rent-A-Husband, all problems are solved. For just $85 an hour, Rent-A-Husband will provide a professional handyman to restore peace, harmony and functionality to the home.

It’s a great way for mom to get real peace of mind.

To rent a husband, call 877-99-HUBBY or visit www.rent-a-husband.com .