One of the reasons we love our fathers is that no one single dad is alike. They are perfect combinations of quirky, charismatic, fashionable yet rough-around-the-edges and wise. Today’s dad is also not just about sports and cars, they are more cultured, well-traveled and enjoy the finer things in life. This Father’s Day, instead of the typical baseball memorabilia and checkered ties, consider a gift that fits his distinguished personality. Here are six alternative gifts to give the guy in your life who will always be your number one man:
The Musical Aficionado
If you can remember singing out show tunes with your dad at a young age, the Hamilton Musical VIP experience from Pure Entertainment Group would be a fun way to celebrate him this Father's Day. Fresh off the heels of winning 11 Tony awards including Best Musical this past weekend, the hip hop affair is one you won’t want to miss. Although tickets have been long sold out for upcoming performances, Pure is offering passes along with backstage access to meet the cast. As a luxury concierge service, the group can also take care of all arrangements for your trip from your transportation to the hotel room and dinner reservations. Our suggestion for accommodations? The Mark Hotel’s two-bedroom suite and dinner reservations at The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges. Rates for the VIP Hamilton experience start at $1,700 a person without full travel arrangement options.
The Fashionista
Who says shopping sprees are only for women? When your pops is the trendsetter of the fam, football season tickets just won’t do on his special day. D Asia Travels offers a seven day, six night Shopping Spree Tour Package in Paris and London to explore their plethora of high-end stores and fashion houses. On the first day, guests will get an overview of Paris through a 1.5 hour drive in the area before heading down the River Seine on a boat cruise. After zipping up the Eiffel Tower, you’ll head to shops such as Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Gucci at La Vallée Village before retreating to your hotel. On day three, visit the over 678,000-square-foot Val d’Europe shopping center where you’ll find Armani, Baccarat, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy and Jimmy Choo. Each day, travelers will also get to see a scenic part of the city and experience some of its major attractions like the Buckingham Palace, St. James’ Palace or the Horse Guards Parade in London. Rates are available upon request.
The Cineophile
If dad didn’t take you on a cinematic journey through the years you may have never discovered iconic films such as All Quiet on the Western Front, Citizen Kane, Rebel Without a Cause, Psycho, Die Hard (the original, obviously) and of course, the many James Bond movies. Thankfully, he understood the importance of the industry and today is still one of the first people you call to get his take on a recently released flick. To celebrate his influence, treat him to a two-night jaunt in Miami Beach to immerse yourselves in all things James Bond. During the trip, visit the Miami Auto Museum’s Dezer Bond Collection to see cars from The Ian Fleming Foundation. SpyFest founder and an avid collector of film memorabilia, Matt Sherman will guide you throughout your stay with insider stories on actors, screenwriters, and film technicians who helped create the secret agent's mystique. The experience also includes stops at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab, dinner at Il Gabbiano, and a nightcap at Viceroy Miami. Rates begin at $1,590 a person.
The Sommelier
Growing up, dad was always the one who’d let us sneak a sip of wine during the holidays, and even though we never enjoyed it, we were always grateful for the secret tradition. When pops was the one who gave you your first lesson in opening a bottle of wine and showed you how to tilt, smell, swirl and sip the fine varietal, he deserves a thank you in kind. Enjoy a two-night stay in Sonoma, California at the Armor Plate Residence and experience the Hamel Family Wines estate. The first day includes a tour of three vineyards with winemaker John Hamel as well as a private tour of a winery and caves. Sip on barrel samples and spend the afternoon dining on hors d’oeuvres and Krug Rosé before being treated to a five-course meal and after-dinner drinks and chocolates besides the fire. The second day, features a trip to Nuns Canyon Vineyard, a three-course picnic, and an afternoon with a winemaker blending your own custom wines in the caves. Topping things off with a massage, guests will conclude the experience with dinner and paired wines from founder George Hamel’s private cellar. The experience is priced at $7,655 per person.
The Bibliophile
You know your dad is a literature snob when he can easily name the hundreds of authors he’s read but can’t name five players on the Golden State Warriors right now. For him, a trip to New York to visit the Condé Nast offices is in order. Take dad on a private tour of The New Yorker Magazine headquarters at 1 World Trade Center along with an exclusive lunch with famed Cartoon Editor Bob Mankoff. As visitors, you’ll get to explore the desks of your favorite columnists and editors while learning about Mankoff’s longtime career asking questions about the iconic magazine. When your time has ended, spend the next day on a book lover’s walking tour of the city. There are plenty of companies offering guided excursions, but for a livelier scene, the Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl offers a fun way to sip on pints with dad while learning about the pubs that were once the site of writers’ inspiration. Hear stories of Edith Wharton, Thomas Paine, John Reed, Dawn Powell and others. Rates for the tour with Mankoff are priced at $1,250 per person, and the pub crawl is $20 per person.
The Adventurer
From snowboarding to parasailing, hang gliding and great white cage diving, there’s no extreme activity dad won’t try once. Adding a twist to a typical snow bunny vacation, IfOnly’s heli-skiing trip takes place in British Columbia where you’ll be joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The four-night getaway includes accommodations at the White Wilderness Lodge and helicopter transportation to the hotel from the airport. Along with daily heli-ski sessions, pops and Robert will spend time mingling about life, politics, the environment and everything in between, indoors at the fireplace-lit lounge. Gourmet meals will be served throughout the trip and guests will have access to the resort’s spa. Not only will dad go home wanting to share every detail his trip with the family, but you might just move to top of his “favorite kid” list! Rates begin at $9,000 a person and proceeds benefit Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement for swimmable, drinkable and fishable water.
