Okay, you took care of Mom. Good job. Now who’s next? Oh, him, that’s right; dad gets his own special day, too. But what would dad truly like? Perhaps, something unusual, and creative, and uniquely chosen just for him. GO Airport Shuttle has been doing some research for you. Here are a few choice gift ideas. A little quirky, but so is your dad.
Let’s start with his hobbies. A lot of dads like to build things in the spare time. Maybe they never grew out of their Lego® phase either. Take him back to ancient times with his very own pyramid. Harness the mystical powers of Egyptian Kings right in his office. Help build it, and you’ll pick up some quality dad time while you’re at it. That’s a bonus!
For the tool box owner who thinks he has everything, a quality egg-beater drill might come in handy. No batteries, no cords, just hand power. That might be useful when he’s away from home, in the great outdoors, and someone needs to hang something from a tree, for example.
Yep, what camper wouldn’t be happy to get his own personal hammock for relaxing after a long day of hiking, fire-pit building and tent raising? There are colors galore, and a wide range of prices, to make any outdoor dad a happy camper for sure.
Of course, dad might need some fire wood to get ready for preparing dinner. No need to turn into Paul Bunyan with this handy little hatchet. And before he starts cooking, let’s make sure the grill is clean and ready. Who knew there was actually a tool for cleaning a grill before the steaks land?
Packing for the great outdoors can be tricky. Being prepared is always a good motto. So, a fallback food favorite in case provisions become stale or boring might be peanut butter sandwiches. Just in case, this lid-top stir crank could save the day. You never know.
Travel always seems to be something dads like to do. An easy connection, right? Remember those family road trips crammed into the back seat with your dear siblings? For the worldly dad—or dreamer-dad—you’ll find a phenomenal collection of global scratch-off maps here. He can track all his past excursions as well as plan for the future. Closer to home, the U. S. National Park Service offers maps for every state.
Combining both hobby and travel themes, you’ll find lots of other Lego® destination kits, like the Taj Mahal, or even smaller postcard-like sets that capture London, Paris, or Japan. The trick is finding one of his favorite destinations or his next vacation site.
Now that you’ve whetted dad’s appetite for the open road, make sure he has everything he needs to head out. Item #1: passport, not just the old blue government-issue version, but his very own personalized carrying case. Item #2: Being the road warrior that he is, some nice relaxing foldable slippers might be appreciated. Easy to pack, easy to wear.
Item #3: A coffee-drinker must-have, especially the dad who likes to sample local beans and blends or different coffee varieties (when was the last time you had a decent cup of java from the hotel breakfast bar?). Here’s a link to help you choose the right portable espresso machine.
Item #4: this could be a little tricky, but remember how dad always seemed to sneak away for an extra long bathroom visit? Perhaps you’ve heard about the Sqautty Potty®. Now there’s a portable version of the bathroom step stool. Of course, it should be presented with a few jokes to help keep the conversation light, and your relationship in good shape. You’ll have to come up with some humorous gambit to make things less awkward.
And for the regular dreamer-dad traveler, maybe just a little taste from around the world will suffice. How about an international collection of hot sauces? Or, if he has a favorite national flavor (think Hispanic or Greek), you might be able to find a good selection of worldly seasonings from the king of spice racks here.
Let’s say dad is getting close to retirement and you have a sense that he’d really like to travel more with mom, but you don’t know where he’d like to go. You can get him thinking about future travel wants and wishes with this little card set. Just talking about travel might give you clues for other gifts down the line, too, like his always tough-to-buy-for birthday.
A family that travels together is always a treat. There are several game options under the Trekking franchise that might be of interest. Trekking the World, Trekking Through History, Trekking the National Parks. Check them out here.
Of course, the ultimate travel card game is The World, but get ready for 194 countries plus their flags and their capitals. If this doesn’t capture the wishes of a “traveling dad,” you might have to buy him his own ticket to fly out of town.
For a selection of other travel-themed board games, here’s an article that discusses several. Yes, there’s even a version of Monopoly® that might fill the bill.
And while you’re playing whatever game you choose, you could add some tasty snacks with a global flavor: the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Greece, South Korea, just to name a few. Get more yum-snacking ideas here. Let the munching begin!
See, dad isn’t that hard to shop for. All is takes is a little creativity and curiosity plus a sense of humor. Hopefully, you now have a few ideas to get started. And if all else fails, you can always go the old neck-tie route. But, give him the world as well. Or maybe his favorite place. You can find lots of stylish destination oriented ties here.
But for that special gift, if you know your dad is planning to head out of town soon, you could you always schedule his to/from airport transportation. A ride with GO Airport Shuttle is a sure way to let your dad know how much you care about him and want to make sure he has a great trip from start to finish. That’s a real special Father’s Day gift for a real special dad—yours!