What birthday present do you recommend for a 70 year old?

My mother in law is turning 70 in a week and my hubby and his sibs are taking her and friends out for lunch and also they were planning to do a family (the three of them) portrait, but didn't do it early enough...... my parents are turning 70 (dad in may and mom next jan) and being an only child there is not a whole lot of cash...so i am sending them on a cruise around the harbour (we live next to lake ontario) (its about $50- per person) other things that we have done for family is sending them to a show/musical...i wanted to get a picture of their grandchildren (professionally done) or you can get a picture woven into a coverlet..which is cool but pricey (about $150)

My dad is a widower and closing in on 80. He has everything he needs plus some. I was stumped as to what to give him for Christmas then it hit me. We have this place in town that cooks meals for takeout. You get to choose the main dish and whatever veggies and starch you want with it. They are healthy home cooked goodness. I bought him a gift certificate and he loved it. He could go and buy a few and just heat them in the oven when he needs them. He is now eating better and goes there all the time.

I don't know how creative any of you are. But for my mother's 60th birthday I went to a paint your own pottery place. I bought a plate and then I painted a bouquet of flowers, in her favorite colors and then painted a ribbon around the stems. On the ribbon I wrote my father's name, my brother's name, his wife, my name, and my niece and nephew (her grandchildren). Then on the edge of the plate I stenciled 'celebrating 60 years'. she loved it because it was home made and from the heart. Another idea, when my grandfather turned 80 we made him a scrap book. It had pictures of him as a child all the way through my niece's birth. 80 years of photos, news paper clipings and other stuff. It's a great keepsake for generations even after he's gone. Now if none of that is your style, then maybe send her to a spa for a day. Or more.

Many of the suggestions I have seen are all great and I will try to remember some of them. I wonder is she healthy enough to do some of the traveling things? If not how about gift vochers for dinners or movies ,sometimes the elderly cant afford to do some things they love to do because of high medicne bills and such, what ever you decide remember to include some if not all of you children or at least a friend so she wont be alone and can enjoy the event.

Is she in fair health & able to get around? Perhaps send her on a retreat or sightseeing trip? I know there are some less expensive short cruises here in New England and I imagine with a little bit of searching you'd find them all over the place.