We show dad how much we care and love him on Father’s Day. This holiday is celebrated every year on the third Sunday of June in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries. A woman named Sonora Smart Dodd started this celebration of Father’s Day a few years after the first Mother’s Day. She did it by trying to “establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents.” (History.com, 2021)
Since then, the way we commemorate dad, grandpa, and the other men who have formed us into who we have changed thru the years. At first, young women gave their fathers red roses during church services on Father’s Day. Then, a decade after this holiday began, families liked to get tobacco, socks, neckties, and hats as gifts.
Nowadays, gift ideas for dad include pajamas, slippers, electric razors, grooming products, sports gear, and shirts. But there has been a significant change in the last ten years. A 2011 survey found that more than 60 percent of people planned to buy dad a gift related to electronics, clothing, or sports goods, while only 6 percent planned to get dad something related to an experience. In recent years, millennials have chosen to spend more on experiences than on things for Father’s Day.
Fortune.com said that in 2017, the amount people planned to spend on a memorable excursion with dad (like golf, a concert, or a road trip) placed it at the top of the list of Father’s Day gifts.
Do not fool yourself. Dad does not want another tie or tool for Father’s Day. Plan a trip with dad this year. You all deserve it. Travel is great because it brings people together in a fun and unexpected ways. Traveling brings people closer together, especially when we go on amazing trips with our loved ones, like our families.
Whether dad will enjoy a vacation with fun activities that will get the adrenaline pumping or a relaxing weekend enjoying breathtaking ocean views, here is a list of destinations based on shared interests to make family memories in incredible places.
Kailua-Kona, HI
When dad loves to surf and is a coffee enthusiast, there is no better place to visit for Father’s Day than Kailua-Kona on The Big Island. Surfing on the Big Island is available to all skill levels. So sign up dad for one of the local surf businesses to take a two-hour class and experience the thrill of riding a wave. Kona Coffee is world-renowned and consistently rated among the very best gourmet coffees in the world. In addition, you can book a visit to the Kona coffee farm. The nation’s only living history coffee farm is open for you to explore with an admission fee.
Spend your weekend relaxing together at Mauna Kea Beach or Hapuna Beach, two of the most popular white-sand beaches. Experience with dad a must-do activity in Kona, the manta ray night dive. It is a nightly diving or snorkeling excursion where you can float between giant and harmless manta rays that come so close that you could touch them if you wanted to.
After enjoying this excellent water activity, you can try a helicopter charter ride to learn about Hawaiian cultures and traditions, combining aerial sightseeing and on-the-ground experiences honoring the ancestral stories of Hawaii by participating in the host culture’s spiritual, historical, and oral traditions. Kona offers accommodation options for every budget that can suit your family’s needs and the type of Father’s Day experience you wish to enjoy. From five-star hotels, lovely B&Bs, or rental homes with enough space for the whole family.
Palm Springs, CA
If your dad dreams of living like the celebrities, a visit to Palm Springs to celebrate Father’s Day will be a gift he will never forget. This Southern California oasis known as “Hollywood’s Playground” has been a favorite destination for a generation of celebrities. Dad can order the pastrami sandwich Elvis loved from Sherman’s Deli or the steak Frank Sinatra used to eat at Johnny Costa’s. Then, plan to visit the Indian Canyons Golf Resort to hit the links like Walt Disney or Bob Hope.
Include a superb dinner at Melvyn’s Restaurant at Ingleside Inn on your dad’s itinerary, one of the most fantastic restaurants in Palm Springs where celebrities may show up. Journalists have praised its food as “beyond comparison.” In addition, plan a visit to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a ten-minute journey in a tram car while enjoying the valley’s spectacular vistas below. And when you need to rest of all the fun in the city, you can rent a luxurious property among homes once lived in by such Hollywood celebrities as Leonardo DiCaprio and Marilyn Monroe so that dad can complete his celebrity style getaway.
Big Bear, CA
A Big Bear Lake vacation is a fantastic way to celebrate dad and can be personalized based on what he wants to do. Around Father’s Day, the temperatures in Big Bear are extraordinary, making for ideal conditions for taking him out on the lake.
If your dad likes to try things out of the ordinary and loves to test his fitness, this is the perfect occasion to rent a paddleboat or kayak in Big Bear. These are lesser-known things to do on the lake and great options for those looking for more of an adventurous activity rather than a leisurely boat trip. Although this requires a little more physical effort, this is a fantastic way to see the lake.
A lake trip to Big Bear can also include some great fishing. Families can rent a boat and spend the weekend on the lake in California. Big Bear Lake is stocked with plenty of varieties of fish for your dad to try and catch. These fish include sunfish, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. You can stay at a luxurious lakefront cabin with a dock to fish and swim and enjoy stunning views of the lake. You and your Father are sure to enjoy this excellent time together.
Cape Coral, FL
Because its 400 miles of canals allow access to the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico, Cape Coral is also known as the Venice of Florida. This delightful town is a simple and blissful option when you want a little getaway to the beach without crowds and traffic for your Father’s Day celebration. As this is a paradise for water enthusiasts, vacation homes on the Caloosahatchee River with a private dock are available, allowing dad to bring his boat and set sail for the Gulf. If dad does not have a boat, why not book a boat charter in Cape Coral and have someone show you the local sights?
You can explore the Rotary Park Environmental Center with dad, then shop at the farmers’ market together to end your day with a delicious dinner from various food truck vendors offering unique street food. Finally, stop by the Southwest Florida Military Museum, dedicated to honoring the military and educating the public through displaying and preserving military memorabilia. In addition to this, Cape Coral is a laid-back beach town where your foodie dad can visit a vast and diverse collection of independent restaurants because of its proximity to the world-famous beaches of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas is located south of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. A family vacation to Cabo is an opportunity to enjoy an authentic paradise where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. Taking a Father’s Day weekend trip to Cabo San Lucas lets you experience exciting activities like sailing trips to the sea, swimming with dolphins, ziplining in the mountains, riding camels on the beach, and jumping into resort pools. Take note that La Isla Tour offers private catamarans in Cabo San Lucas as well.
If you want to give dad a little time to himself, you can treat him to a round of golf, a sportfishing adventure, or a day at the spa. And when you plan to pamper dad with a luxurious getaway, Cabo San Lucas is the perfect destination where you can enjoy stunning ocean views from elegant accommodations that may even include a breakfast cooked by your private chef. So without a doubt, Cabo San Lucas is the ideal place to surprise dad and give him a gift that he will remember forever.
