Don’t have a Father’s Day gift yet? Don’t stress about it, but also don’t give dad the short-end of the stick. Ties, kicks and cookout tools are cool and all, but we know and you know, that you can do better for one of the most important men in your life. Coming up with cool gift ideas year after year can be taxing, which is why we’re eager to help out!
Since summer is vacation season, and everyone could alway use a vacay, gift dad something epic this Father’s Day—a quick weekend getaway is what we’re thinking. Sound good? Whether you’re shopping for your husband, father, grandfather, uncle or son, we’ve rounded up four thrilling escapes that the special men in your life will most certainly enjoy.
01
Atlanta, Georgia
What dad wouldn’t enjoy zooming around in a Porsche 911 Carrera or off-roading in a Cayenne? Treat dad to the ultimate thrill ride at the Porsche Driving Experience in Atlanta. Paired up with a driving coach, he’ll hit Porsche’s 1.6-mile course, which is like an amusement park for car enthusiasts. Here, he’ll finally know the experience of hurdling from Zero to 60 within seconds (or speeds well beyond if you’ve got the guts), while braking merely yards from the road’s dead end. Adding to the exhilaration is the handling circuit—a winding road filled with curvaceous turns, which really highlight the maneuverability of the Porsche—and the water-slicked no-friction kick plate— where you test your skid control.
Then, take dad to the neighboring Kimpton Overland Hotel for a night spent listening to live jazz, munching on tapas and cocktails while watching a steady flow of airplanes landing at the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.
02
Kissimmee, Florida
Central Florida isn’t just for the kids. It can be a dad-friendly escape if you play your cards right. Take advantage of cheap fares to Orlando for the weekend, but opt for a vacation rental in neighboring Kissimmee. Here, you can really impress dad with vacation rental options at Reunion Resort & Golf Club; the more extravagant rentals are 10- to 15-bedroom mansions, where some include their own bowling alley, movie theater and lazy river. Plenty also come equipped with HGTV-inspired outdoor kitchens and grills. But don’t make dad work on his special trip; hire a private chef to do the grilling for you.
If dad’s a golfer, he can tee-off in one of three acclaimed golf courses at Reunion. Of course, you can always do the famous Orlando theme parks. But for a change of pace, take him on an airboat tour with Booggy Creek Airboat Adventures. As the headwaters of the Everglades, you’ll find plenty of gator sightings and lots of wind-in-your-face thrills.
03
Stanardsville, Virginia
Does dad just want quality time? Then you’ll have plenty of that with an off-the-grid camping adventure. But if you’re not cut out for the full-on outdoorsy camp thing, meet him halfway. With Getaway D.C. (which is roughly a two-hour drive from the nation’s capital) you have the luxury of staying in a tiny home (complete with queen beds, hot showers, toilets and A/C) while enjoying an immersion in nature, backdropped against the Blue Ridge Mountains. Pack food to prepare meals in their full kitchen or outside over the campfire. Either way, a bit of time in the woods, is a great way to disconnect, put the phones away and bond with the important man in your life.
04
Telluride, Colorado
Dubbed the summer festival capital of Colorado, there is plenty of fun to find in the popular ski town. From their early September Brew and Blues festival to their famous August film festival, which has previewed a number of award-winning films and lured big Hollywood names like Samuel L. Jackson and director Barry Jenkins.
But even in the summer, the small ski town is also an outdoor sports haven, offering dad a choice of adventures from hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing and more. And if dad’s a fan of Westerns, opt to stay the New Sheridan Hotel, the town’s historic 19th-century property, which gives off lots of Old West vibes, especially in its celebrated 1895-built bar.
