21 Unique Father's Day Ideas

Whether your dad has a green thumb or a black one, getting your hands in the dirt together can be a great bonding experience. And since Father's Day falls in early summer in North America, this is a great time to help him with gardening tasks such as weeding, fertilizing plants that need a boost, mulching or working in fresh compost, or even planting mature seedlings (hint: many gardening stores will sell them at steep discounts to clear out their stock around this time!). 

If your dad has a corny joke prepared for every situation, tickets to a comedy show are sure to make him smile. Better yet, take him to a Father's Day themed comedy show and you'll be treated to an evening of dad jokes that will have you both doubled over in laughter. As an added bonus, he might even pick up some new material, so you don't have to listen to the same jokes. every. single. time. 😉

If your dad loves to man the grill — or just loves to eat freshly grilled food (I mean, who doesn't?), then a Father's Day cookout is the way to go. If you can, source ingredients from local farms for a meal that is better for the environment and your taste buds. Whether he's a vegetarian, a full-on carnivore or somewhere in between, there are plenty of ways to green up your grill up. And if he's never tried a grass-fed burger on a home-baked (or locally baked) bun, well, he's in for a treat!

Whether you take in a local band or get tickets to see one of his favorite musicians, attending a concert together (or giving him one to look forward to later in the year) is a great way to celebrate Father's Day. Find an outdoor venue that allows you to bring your own refreshments, and prepare a some delicious apps and beverages for a picnic that will bring the experience to the next level.

Sometimes, the best gift is simply quality time spent together making memories and learning something new. So look into any local offerings that align with his hobbies, or sign the two of you up for something that's outside of his comfort zone. This could mean anything from fly fishing lessons to writing workshops, cooking classes, timber framing or woodworking workshops, and more. 

Planting trees is a great way to celebrate everything your dad does for you and your family. That’s because just like our dads are always doing whatever they can to help us out, trees silently create the conditions for life. They clean the air, stabilize the soil, improve water quality, provide habitat and food for biodiversity, absorb and sequester carbon, moderate local temperatures and more.

Bike rides are a lot of fun, and as a low-impact activity, they're something that the entire family can enjoy. And with the right bike, even those with limited mobility may be able to partake. Scope out local trails ahead of time, and plan to stop for food once you reach your destination. If you don't have enough bikes for everyone, look into rental offerings from a local bike and board shop.

Is your dad a man's man who never turns down a challenge? While we never want to encourage people to use axes to chop down trees, taking your dad to an axe-throwingrange is a fun, out of the box activity that will let him flex a new (or old) skill. And you never know, he might end up kicking axe at it (sorry, we couldn't resist including at least one corny joke!). 

Does your dad take pride in having a perfectly trimmed lawn, without a single blade of grass out of place? Or does he prefer to let nature take its course? Regardless of where he falls on the spectrum, there's probably something that he could use help with around the yard, be it tidying up tools, adding a fresh layer of mulch, raking up and removing leaves, or trimming overgrown brush.

Even the handiest of dads usually have at least one project that they’ve “been meaning to get around to." This Father’s Day, give him a hand — or let him take a load off — while you take care of whatever tasks are lingering on his to-do list. Maybe there's a door that sticks, a leaky faucet, paint that's peeling, or a window that is leaking. Whatever it is, he'll surely appreciate the help!

If he's the competitive type and is in good shape, consider signing up for a local father's day road race, triathlon, mud race, or other sporting event. Running a race together is a great experience, regardless of how you place. And afterwards, you can raise a toast to your athletic prowess and a nearby restaurant or bar.

Have a dad who's got it all? Sometimes the best gift is an experience he can fondly look back on. Pack up the car for a day trip or a weekend trip to your nearest beach or mountaintop, and set up camp under the stars. You're never too old to go camping with your dad, and you're guaranteed to have the best campfire stories (or songs) ever! 

If a quiet afternoon spent together on the water is your dad's idea of a perfect day, then make it happen! Pick up any fishing gear he might need, pack a picnic, (and a book if you need to) and make a day of it. And if you're lucky, he might just catch dinner! If not, then you still got to spend time with dad in the great outdoors, which we consider a win in itself!

It's natural to want to know how far and deep your roots extend, and nowadays, genealogy platforms such as ancestry.com make it easier than ever to conduct gene testing right at home. Researching ancestral migrations and mapping your family tree together can be a fun and exciting thing to do. And who knows? You might be surprised by what you find. 

Bring the Olympic spirit right to your backyard by organizing an afternoon event complete with dad's favorite lawn games like cornhole, horseshoes, croquet, badminton and more. If he has a competitive side, keep score at each game and tally up the points at the end to name a winner. The prize? Bragging rights and a 6-pack of his favorite beer!

Speaking of beer, that's always a solid gift idea. Nowadays, it feels like you can't walk 5 feet without bumping into a local craft brewery. And that's great! If dad's already a connoisseur, you'll know exactly what to get for him. But if he's old school and still drinking the mass produced classics, spend some time looking for a locally (or regionally) crafted beer that's similar to his standard brew.

If he's a nature lover, grab him a pair of quality binoculars, research the best birdwatching spots in your area, and spend an afternoon observing the sights and sounds of nature. Get him a notebook and a bird guide so that he can start his birding life list. If he has mobility issues or you just want him to be able to enjoy nature closer to home, consider setting up a window bird feeder so he can watch from his favorite chair. 

Does your dad love to antique, thrift, or shop a good sale? Humor him by spending the day at his favorite thrift shops, perusing antique stores, exploring tag sales in the area, or competing to find the best deal. You never know what you'll discover, and we bet you'll end up with a cool find that will bring back fond memories of your day together, every time you look at it. 

Spending time in nature is a great way to bond while enjoying the beautiful summer weather. Forest bathing is another fun idea that can even help lower stress levels. Bring along a guidebook so you can identify plants and animals together — and pack plenty of hydration and trail mix, too.

Ask Dad to show you his old photos from back in the day. Flipping through them together is sure to inspire memories and hilarious childhood stories. And by creating a scrapbook or album together, he'll have all of his favorite photos right at his fingertips. 

Surprise him by signing both of you up to volunteer for a cause that he cares about. This could be anything from planting trees to walking dogs at a local shelter, cleaning up trash, serving food at a local soup kitchen, mentoring local kids, building a lending library, and more.