Most moms don't cook on Mother's Day, a fact not lost on New Hampshire restaurants.

“It's our single biggest day of the year,” said Michael McDonough, owner of Fratello's in Manchester.

From restaurants to amusement parks, New Hampshire businesses received a Mother's Day boost to the bottom line Sunday as families enjoyed the warm weather.

“We are usually very busy on Mother's Day, when no mother wants to cook,” said Elaine Boule, who has worked for 15 years as a waitress at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, where mothers were each presented with a carnation.

“They are getting treated,” Boule said. “We are making sure we are giving the men the check and the girls the carnations.”

The story was the same at restaurants across the state as they catered to families seeking a special meal for mom.

“People celebrate in many different ways, with flowers and candy, but the restaurant industry relies on Mother's Day, McDonough said. “It's a big day for the industry. Everyone seems to witness the same activity.”

At the Red Arrow, some people began their Mother's Day meal as early as 6 a.m., said Boule. There usually is a surge after church lets out, said the waitress, who said people were lined up to get into the diner at 9:30 in the morning.

Mother's Day also is a time when regulars will come in with their families, with a nearby table holding a regular who had brought along her husband and teenage sons, she said.

“I knew it was going to be a busy day,” said Boule. “We love it. It's great.”

At Fratello's, McDonough said he often sees familiar faces who return every year for the special Mother's Day brunch and dinner.

For some of these customers, a once-a-year outing to the restaurant has become a tradition. The beautiful day, with temperatures in the 80's, served the restaurant well with outside seating being snapped up by walk-in customers.

“We're pretty much maxed on this day,” said McDonough, who explained it is a big weekend in general, with people spreading out their celebrations all weekend long.

The warm weather played a part in other Mother's Day celebrations, enticing many outdoors.

Canobie Lake Park in Salem saw a large crowd take advantage of free admission and lunch for mothers.

The yearly event is a staple of the park, with only Father's and Senior's days offering similar free tickets, said Chris Nicoli, the park's marketing/entertainment manager.

“It looks like everyone is having a great time. They are coming out with their whole family and having fun,” he said. “It's quite a family staple. Some do the brunch and others come to the amusement park.”

Also benefitting from the warmth was Devriendt Farm Stand and Ice Cream Shoppe in Goffstown, where mothers and their families selected plants and enjoyed some ice cream.

“Ice cream is always a treat,” said Lea Devriendt who owns the farm with her husband Dan. “We have a lot of local people who come here on a regular basis every year.

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover sets the day aside to honor mothers every year, said Douglas Tilton, director of visitor services.

Mothers and grandmothers visited the museum free on Sunday.

“It's just a way of honoring them,” said Tilton. “We didn't do it to get more people in the door. It was more of an issue to honor mothers and grandmothers.”