Happy Father's Day! Here Are Some Activities To Consider For Different Kinds Of Dads

Dad, Pops, Papa – what do you call your father? This year, Father’s Day and Juneteenth fall on the same day, so why not treat dad to some activities he’ll enjoy? To be sure, you don’t have to sire a child to be a father. Some were raised by men who aren’t related to them but assumed parental duties with enthusiasm. We strive to show our appreciation for these wonderful men, not just one day, but all year long.

As pointed out by Country Living, Father’s Day was created by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd who “tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents.” Eventually it took off, and according to History, “the nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington.”

Like Mother’s Day, it’s a highly commercialized, “Hallmark” holiday, which explains why your inbox is filled with emails about sales for dad, travel deals, and the like.

Here are some US-based Father’s Day activities for different kinds of dads.

The Nature Lover

If dad digs the outdoors, summer opens so many doors.

There’s great hiking in upstate New York, New Jersey, California, Utah, and Colorado.

Is he into biking? Take him to Portland, called “the king of cycling in the US” by the Travel Channel.

Chicago is also a great biking spot that allows dad to enjoy the city on one side and Lake Michigan on the other.

Camping, anyone? Treat dad to some time at Acadia National Park in Maine or Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

If he wants to experience camping without the bugs and limited amenities, maybe he’ll give “glamping” a go.

The Chill Type

As hard as dad works, he deserves to be catered to without fuss.

How about a few hours or, if you really want to go all out, a few days at the spa? Oasis Day Spa has a location on Park Avenue in Manhattan and another in Westchester.

If he wants a glass of wine while he unwinds, there’s Auberge du Soleil, an adults-only luxury spa in Napa Valley. This is where the charm of California and the south of France seamlessly intersect.

Check out our feature on Black-owned spas here.

The Food Enthusiast

For some dads, Father’s Day is best celebrated by eating.

Order take-out or make a reservation at one of the many eateries in the US. For vegan dads in New York, try Seasoned Vegan, Urban Vegan Kitchen or Ras Plant Based.

All of those are Black-owned.

If dad is a meat-eater, take him to New Orleans for pulled pork and brisket at The Joint.

Franklin Barbecue in Austin gets long lines early and is considered among the best in the city; possibly the state. Burn’s Original BBQ in Houston is proudly Black-owned and popular.

Does dad want a taste of the Motherland? Tsion Café in New York offers Ethiopian delicacies. Yassa in Chicago serves Senegalese fare. And for tasty Egyptian food, try Cafe Dahab in Los Angeles, which serves kebabs, falafel, and more.

The Thrill Seeker

If dad hears about sky-diving, bungee jumping, and rock climbing and doesn’t bat an eye, let him try them!

Some of the best places in the US to skydive include Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, and California.

If he isn’t quite ready to jump out of a plane, take him for indoor skydiving at one of the many iFly locations across the country.

For indoor rock climbing, take him to Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers, one of the largest facilities of its kind in New York.

If dad has always wanted to safely throw himself from a height, there’s bungee jumping at the High Steel Bridge in Washington, the Navajo Bridge in Arizona, and many other sites.

The Athlete

Maybe dad wants to spend his special day keeping fit.

Let him unleash his inner Arthur Ashe by playing tennis at Hudson River Park in New York. It’s free and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Get pops a guest pass for some laps at Asphalt Green. For free swimming, there’s Marcus Garvey Pool and John Jay Pool. There are others listed on the NYC Parks site.

Is he a Tiger Woods type? Florida offers beautiful golf courses, as do Georgia, the prestigious Fishers Island in New York, and North Carolina.

The Dancer

Register pops for a hip-hop, jazz, or contemporary dance class at Broadway Dance Center.

Take him for mambo, West-African, or Masala Bhangra, a traditional Indian folk dance at The Ailey Extension, which is also in New York City.

For something really different, dad can try pole dancing. This will test his strength like nothing else, and contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just for women.

If he just wants to move in an unstructured setting, he might enjoy Vinyl Nights. This free, outdoor dance event plays the music that shaped New York, from funk to old-school hip hop. It takes place though the summer on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

Related: 11 Father’s Day Gifts For Dads Who Travel