Taking the Kids: And celebrating the dads in your life

Camper or city lover? Amateur chef or restaurant goer? Athlete or spectator? Frequent flier or road tripper?

No matter how the dads, granddads and uncles in your life like to travel, there are plenty of ways you can show your love – and how you appreciate their travel style – this Father’s Day.

In case you are wondering, Father’s Day began in the United States in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. Sonora Smart Dodd, inspired by Mother’s Day, proposed a day to honor fathers, acknowledging the sacrifices her dad made while raising her and her five siblings alone after their mother died. However, it wasn’t until 1972, 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official, that a day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday. In other countries, especially in Europe and Latin America, fathers are honored on St. Joseph’s Day, a traditional Catholic holiday that falls on March 19.

Fun fact: There are about 72 million dads in the U.S., about 55 percent of men, 16 and older. Many, though, will want to celebrate men who aren’t their biological fathers but who have become like a father to them – an uncle, a neighbor, a coach, etc.

The key is to find a gift he not only will enjoy but won’t buy himself. For the road tripper, have the kids create a playlist. Get a subscription to Audible.com and suggest some audiobooks he might enjoy (99 cents for the first month; $14.95 a month after that.)

For the dad who likes less-touristed spots, consider “Lonely Planet Offbeat” ($35) that offers travel ideas and local insights. There is also Offbeat North America from Lonely Planet ($45).

For the frequent flier who flies economy, how about a subscription to Priority Pass with more than 1,700 airport lounges worldwide. (A standard subscription costs $99, though there is a per-visit fee. The standard plus offers 10 complimentary visits before the fee is required ($329).

A good travel pillow will be appreciated. Travel+Leisure tested 48 pillows and said the Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow is the best overall ($69 on Amazon). The reviewer likened it “to sleeping on a cloud,” and can be adjusted to suit your size and sleep style. It also can be compressed to fit in its stuff sack, not taking up too much room.

Compression socks for dad’s upcoming long flights would be another good bet. They improve blood circulation, reduce the risk of blood clots and alleviate swelling. Get Men’s Everyday Compression socks from Bombas ($28). For every pair you buy, the company donates a pair – 150 million essential clothing items to a network of more than 4, 000 organizations.

For the frequent traveling dad, an annual travel insurance plan is a good bet. (Compare plans here.) Unexpected medical expenses will be covered, trip cancellation and interruption, lost luggage and more.

Active dads would appreciate a subscription to Strava, with 150 million users in 185 countries ($79.99 for an annual subscription). Dad will join a like-minded community that will offer points of interest, routes, tips and more for more than 50 types of activities.

Dads who love games would enjoy the new PLAY outdoor games from Helinox, known for their lightweight camping chairs. These are lightweight, packable and under $100. Great for the beach or campground.

All dads should be careful about getting too much sun. Gift a Sahara Shade Hoodie from REI ($49.95) that is soft, stretchy, wicks moisture and provides UPF 50+ sun protection. Another good bet for sun protection is a hat. My husband and I take our Tilley hats on every trip. There are many that offer UPF 50+ sun protection. Their T4MO-1 Airflo Hikers Hat is a best seller and is now on sale for $96. (Other sun hats are less with runners’ caps $39.20).

We also take our Yeti BPA-free insulated travel mugs and tumblers (great for campground or hotel room happy hours). Customize dad’s mug. (Is he a cool dad, pet dad….)

For the dad who hates running out of power, try the Limitless 10,000mAH Fast-Charging Power Bank with built in cables. It weighs less than 6 ounces ($79.99).

For the new traveling dad, there’s the Dude Dad Diaper Bag ($85) complete with wet/dry bag, changing pad, even an insulated cooler pouch with a carabiner and beverage pocket with built-in bottle openers. And since it’s a backpack, it can be used when diaper days are over.

For dads that are always losing their sunglasses, how about Ombraz armless sunglasses. Instead of arms, they have a built-in cord that won’t break and packs flat. Another plus: Each pair provides funds for the planting of 20 mangrove trees. ($160).

Sometimes an experience can be the most memorable gift – theater, concert or festival tickets. If you know what Dad would enjoy; a market tour or cooking class in a city he will be visiting; a guided tour of a museum or a day vineyard-hopping would be nice. Or try a gift card to visit a brewery or distillery if that’s dad’s thing. ToursbyLocals and Context Travel are two companies that provide such experiences around the world. If you aren’t sure which tour to choose, go with a gift card.

Happy Father’s Day!

========

(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)