Send Dad away for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is coming up in less than two weeks, and if the father in your life already seems to have it all, you might consider giving him a mini-break or a travel gadget to help him get away from it all.

Honestly, in our house, the kids have given Daddy more ties and dress shirts than one man could ever need. The World’s Number One Dad has also been on the receiving end of countless golf-related gifts, from hats and gloves to balls and wedges. We’re simply running out of room to store the many ways we show Dad how much we love him.

My own father lives on the coast in a state of total retirement and contentment. He needs nothing, and he has all that he wants.

If the dads you know are in similar situations and you still want to give them something, then check out these getaway ideas. They don’t have to be grandiose or expensive. It’s the thought, after all, that counts, right?

· Send him out of town for the day or weekend to enjoy his favorite pastime, like golf at a different course or fishing.

· Tell him to take a hike, and take advantage of the entrance-free weekends at all of the country’s national parks on Father’s Day weekend this year.

· The Atlanta Braves are playing in Boston over Father’s Day weekend, but you can still take your dad to the ballpark for his big day – in Chattanooga, where the minor league Lookouts will be playing at home from the 17^th of June through the 21^st; in Augusta, where the Greenjackets will host the Rome Braves; or in Birmingham, where the Barons will take on the Huntsville Stars.

· Book a hotel; then grab tickets to a museum exhibit or historical tour that he might enjoy in a nearby city.

· Uncork a weekend of fun for him with a tour through a southeastern vineyard.

Or you could do what our kids have done for their Dad this year. We are leaving for a trip out west, where we will be driving throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. All roads not yet traveled (by us). While I’m content with a simple road map, the kids know that Dad likes high-tech travelling. So they chose a portable GPS system to give him for Father’s Day. He can pack it; plug it into the rental in Seattle and drive all over the Pacific Northwest without fear of getting lost. It will also locate restaurants, hotels and just about anything else we may need to find while we’re out there.

What kind of travel gift would you consider giving to the dads you know? What would your father most appreciate for a gift getaway – a trek to a new golf resort, a hike in a national park, two lazy days by the beach, a weekend in the city or something else? Should the trip be one you share with Dad, or should this be a special time for him to enjoy on his own?

What are some of your favorite travel gadgets out there? Have they noticeably improved your travel experiences? What’s the coolest gadget out there for a travelling dad?

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