9 Perfect Ways to Celebrate With Dad This Father’s Day

We like to think Father’s Day should be less about the gifts you wrap, and more about the moments you spend together. From outdoorsy dads to those who just enjoy a good cup of coffee and a book indoors, what they’ll remember from a visit you pay them will be the conversations and the experiences you share. So why not capitalize on some of those magic moments you’ve already lived together this Father’s Day?

Prepare to spend time together with props and gifts that bring your memories back to life, or with conversation starters and planning aides so you can make new ones. Here are nine ideas that connect people and place. Grab your favorites, choose an experience, and start celebrating with Dad by your side. 

Take a Scenic Walk

Walks and hikes are a great way to spend time together while stretching your legs and getting fresh air. It’s not just about the health benefits, either. You can get a lot of bonding out of a nature walk, because you are usually walking side by side, without eye contact. Psychologists have noticed that men tend to favor speaking to each other in the side-by-side “frame” more so than when establishing eye contact. This has been observed a lot with runners (ever noticed you’re likely to share more with a friend when you’re out jogging, compared to over a cup of coffee?). 

Whether you’re walking for the exercise benefits or for a lower-commitment chat, dads of all ages and fitness levels will love an easy trail like the Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park. Remember: not everything needs to be a huge adventure, you can simply go out for an easy, enjoyable stroll!

Another favorite of ours is the 11 miles at Cades Cove Loop, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can use our hand-illustrated story map to prepare for this and start the conversation about the National Park. 

Our tip: You don’t need to make a huge trip for your Father’s Day walk, and it certainly helps if you live near these beautiful locations. If you don’t, you can simply head out to a local park or outdoor space. Also, can’t find a loop? Do an out-and-back to a landmark, cool tree, or favorite spot!

Spend the Morning Fly Fishing

One activity for dads in Montana? Missoula natives will answer in a heartbeat: fly fishing on the Bitterroot! It’s not just a local favorite, it’s one you can tackle regardless of your level and experience. And a good time for Dad to give you some tips, too.

Our tip: Set off early and go to the West Fork of the Bitterroot to enjoy some of the best scenery while you’re looking for trout. If it’s too high to wade through, another good bet is the East Fork, which is a smaller stream and generally quite a lot quieter, too. 

When it comes to exploring a new place, dads heading to the Adirondacks will also love checking out the West Branch Ausable river, with plenty of pocket water sections you can try your hand at together. You have about 35 miles to explore. And, if you’re not going right away, why not gift Dad a hand-drawn map of the Adirondacks and start planning your trip now?

Finally, don’t forget to gear up for the weather on your fishing trip. We recommend versatile neck gaiters for this time of year, as you can use them to keep your neck warm, but also to cover your head if needed (for warmth or as a sun block). Why not commemorate your Montana fishing trip with a map-imprinted gaiter your dad can use again and again? 

Get Competitive Indoors With a Puzzle Session

If the weather isn’t on your side this Father’s Day, you can always have lots of fun and dream of cool destinations indoors. We love completing puzzles: they’re good for breaking the ice if you don’t know where to start a conversation, or simply for reminiscing about a favorite spot.

Xplorer Maps’ wooden puzzles will also bring a nice blend of art and imagination to the table, connecting people and place the way our products always do. Go for one depicting your favorite vacation spot from childhood and start going through stories as you put it together. It might take a little longer, but it will be so worth it!

Catching Up With a Brew

Picture the scene: you haven’t caught up properly in ages, you’ve just driven hundreds of miles to visit your dad, and you’re just absolutely exhausted. What could be better than simply sitting down with a brew?

Purchase a pair of unique, matching ceramic mugs ahead of your visit so you and Dad can start your catch-up by talking about his favorite fishing spot, a well-loved vacation destination, or your most recent trip. There’s so much detail in our illustrated maps, that you’ll have hours of talking lined up in no time. 

Our tip: Want to take your coffee catch-up on the go? Switch over to an illustrated travel tumbler. Still the amazingly detailed hand-illustrated map, but this time on a 16 oz container that will keep your drinks warm (or cold!) for hours. And it’s great for taking on an outdoor adventure, too. 

Grill It, Cook It, Bake It!

Cooking is great fun - and even more so if either one of you (or your siblings?) have a passion or talent for it. Food brings you all together effortlessly, there’s something really tasty for everyone to enjoy, and it can be another conversation topic.

Grill some ribs, bake a cake, or just make a sandwich! Whatever you choose to serve, you can place on an illustrated tray that showcases your favorite outdoor destination or your home state.  Even if you can’t make it outside this Father’s Day, this is a way to bring a unique place to the table (literally!).

Play Cards - With a Different Deck

Does your dad enjoy playing cards? Surprise him with a different type of deck this Father’s Day and he might actually lose a game or two, for once. The Xplorer Maps playing cards are decorated with over 60 different map designs, with intricate detail and vibrant colors. They’ll end up being the talk of any game night in the future, too!

Make Your Own Memory Wall or Scrapbook

Instead of simply bringing a gift with you this Father’s Day, why not try to make your own lasting memory corner together? As we look back on some of our favorite moments, we often find vacations and trips with family come up. To bring them together in one meaningful scrapbook or on a wall will show your dad how much these times meant to you and will help him reminisce more often when you’re away.

How to do it? Collect the relevant notecards from the best places you’ve been together and combine them with family photos and mementos to make a unique scrapbook. This will be a perfect time to also learn more about those places, while letting our illustrations spark up memories of your trip there. As a family, this can be a brilliant group activity, where each sibling brings something new to the table.

For a memory wall, we recommend using wooden postcards, signs, and maps. You can build it around one central trip where the main map is the center of attention, or use multiple mini-maps to create a wall of all the best vacations in one. 

Our tip: We love the idea of doing something like this together, but you can also create a scrapbook on your own and bring it with you as a gift.

Experience History Through a Self-Guided Tour

For the history buffs or dads who just love the local stories, get out of the house and book a tour or guided visit to one of your favorite places. This doesn’t have to be completely new. In fact, revisiting somewhere you’ve already seen is a good opportunity to experience it from a new angle, rich with your past experiences and knowledge.

Some of the best places to experience self-guided tours include Washington, DC; Charlottesville, VA; and Santa Fe, NM. But you don’t have to travel far for these. Check out your local museums or libraries and see what guided or self-guided visits are available. Historic homes or monuments are often open for visits on specific days and can feature free tours or talks. 

Or, if you want to create a self-guided tour starting from a map, why not browse our hand-illustrated story maps that pull out some of the most interesting topics and locations in each state?

Discover more of our hand-drawn story maps here!

Musical Evenings

For your Father’s Day evening, create your own DJ set or use one of our “Xplore the Sound” playlists to go back in time or plan future trips… or just showcase the music you love. Dads who love their music will appreciate a mini map of their favorite place, while you play a set of tunes from that state or destination.

Browse the Xplore the Sound collection for musical inspiration, then match it with a map or map-inspired gift. 

Bonus: Hard to shop for? Get Dad a gift card and let him pick his favorite story maps and souvenirs!

Our tip: Pair it with a notecard of somewhere special… it’s a conversation starter and will be appreciated for the personalized touch!