Best Things to Do on Father’s Day

Some dads may want to travel the world this Father’s Day, while others would prefer to stay close to home. That’s no problem thanks to our eclectic list of things to do this Father’s Day. Instead of buying your pops white tube socks, boost your gift-giving rep with tickets to a baseball game or a tour of whiskey/whisky distilleries in Kentucky or Scotland. And if your dad just wants some quiet time, we’ve also got some great ideas to get the kids out of the house.

Father’s Day Baseball & Beer

All Major League Baseball teams are playing games this Father’s Day, so don’t miss your chance to welcome the summer and toast your dad with an ice-cold beer at the ballpark. If you’re going to be in Denver this Father’s Day weekend, spend Saturday on a culturally enriching beer tour through the River North Arts District (RiNo) and Sunday at the Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres game. If the game is quick, you can join an intoxicatingly informative tour of craft beer taprooms and breweries in the LoDo neighborhood.

West Coast baseball fans can check out the hard-hitting Oakland Athletics take on the scrappy Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum this Father’s Day. If you’d rather watch the game on various TVs during a craft beer crawl, venture across the Bay Bridge for a brew-fueled journey through downtown San Francisco.

Whiskey Tours

America’s literary father, Mark Twain, once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” Live it up like the former riverboat captain with a day trip to the historic Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Leave Nashville behind and take the hour-long pilgrimage to Lynchburg, where you get to explore this whiskey-drinker’s paradise with a tour of the distillery and a stop at the Jack Daniel’s General Store. Fans of Irish whiskey can visit their own mecca at the Jameson Distillery in Dublin. Wander through the nearly 230-year-old spirit factory and see the whiskey-making process from end to end as you watch workers malt, mill, ferment, distill, and blend one of Ireland’s most iconic exports.

If you like your whisky without that pesky “e,” head to the Scottish Highlands and travel through the verdant rolling hills of the Campsie Fells on your way to the Glengoyne Distillery. After trying out a single-malt whisky, explore the countryside with a ride through Trossach National Park to the bonnie Loch Lomond. Be sure to stop in a local pub for a softer drink like an ale—or another whisky—and some haggis. Close out your whisky experience at the Deanston Distillery on the River Teith by learning all about this liquor maker’s eco-friendly practices that result in a rich, oaky finish.

Classic Rock Concerts

Dads love a little nostalgia on Father’s Day, so why not transport them back to when they drove a VW microbus to see John Fogerty and the rest of CCR or a muscled-out Camaro to see Def Leppard. If your old man hails from the Woodstock era, check out 2 iconic acts from that festival, Santana and the Grateful Dead (or at least some of the remaining members playing in the Dead and Company). If your dad likes taking those old records off the shelf, get him tickets to see Bob Seger play his greatest hits. Or if he’s more of a jukebox hero, don’t be as cold as ice—send him to see Foreigner on their latest world tour.

Dad Jokes

If you found yourself either rolling your eyes or laughing heartily at any of those classic rock “jokes,” a comedy show might be right up your dad’s alley. Fathers are known for impeccably timed puns and obscure digs based on TV shows that were on 20 years before you were born, and some dads like Weird Al Yankovic and Gabriel Iglesias have taken their dad jokes to the stage. For dads who like a little magic in their comedy, grab tickets to Penn and Teller and watch this one-of-a-kind duo’s blend of daring tricks and biting wit.

Solitude

Much like hibernating bears, fathers sometimes like to be left alone to wander around their cave in a too-small T-shirt from back when music wasn’t just noise. Give dad the gift of lounge time as you take the kids on a trip to the Legoland Discovery Center just outside of Chicago. For those spending Father’s Day in San Diego, there’s no better place to let the kids go wild than at the San Diego Zoo, where they can see cute koalas, tuxedoed penguins, and lazy sun bears. More reptile-inclined children can head to Orlando’s Gatorland, home to 200 hungry alligators, and bring home stories about these ferocious creatures.

Golf

This year’s US Open concludes on Father’s Day, which makes a Sunday ticket the perfect gift for your links-loving dad. Diehard fans—and Die Hard fans (maybe)—would appreciate a US Open weekly badge, allowing complete access to the entire tournament. While in the Pebble Beach area, your dad can feel the wind in his hair (or what remains thereof) by booking an electric convertible that he can drive down the wave-crashing coast of California. If your pa prefers the sunny and arid climate of Arizona, get him a Phoenix-Scottsdale golf package that includes a round at his choice of course, including Eagle Mountain, Talking Stick, and We-Ko-Pa.

Ties

Last-minute Father’s Day gifts typically include socks, ties, and novelty coffee mugs reporting their ranking in the last World’s Greatest Dad Contest. Step up your game and improve your dad’s wardrobe at the same time with 2 tailor-made suits, shirts, and ties from Bangkok. While it may be easier to go to the local warehouse of men’s clothing, a trip to Bangkok also offers your pop the chance to see the overpass made famous in the classic dad movie, Bridge on the River Kwai.

No matter where you go or what you do this Father’s Day, remember that what really matters is spending quality time with your dad on his special day.