For the foodie (and chef) a cooking class where he is traveling will always be met with approval

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Content Agency
Taking the Kids

Is your dad a chef extraordinaire? Does he seek out unique restaurants and markets when he travels? Maybe he’d rather visit a craft brewery or winery. Would he be more inclined to chase city lights, play golf or head into the great outdoors? Beach or mountains? Does he take his pooch whenever possible?

If you are nodding yes to any of the above, we’ve got plenty of ideas for the dads in your life that are guaranteed to please as well as be sustainable.

First, let’s consider clothes for his next adventure. The more versatile, the less he needs to pack. My husband lived in his Men’s Active Traveler Stretch Pant ($110 from Royal Robbins) on our recent transatlantic cruise. They are breathable, water resistant and UPF +50 with multiple pockets. And while he was turned away from the dining room for wearing jeans one night, the travel pants passed muster. Royal Robbins Desert Pucker dry shirts (now in long sleeves, $85, as well as short sleeves, $75, and certified as carbon neutral, are breathable, lightweight, and quick drying.

Patagonia’s new Quandary Joggers are also a good bet ($119). They’re made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean plastic pollution, are water repellent and offer 40+ UPF sun protection.

Whether climbing a mountain, hitting the beach or exploring a new city, Outerknown’s new Hooded Sun Shirt ($98) is also a good bet. It’s made from 100 percent recycled polyester with UPF 50+ sun protection, and is quick drying, moisture-wicking and has anti-odor properties.

A new rain jacket that folds into a pocket, a puffy vest or jacket are always good gifts for a dad, whether he is heading to tour national parks or a foreign city. (Check REI or L.L. BEAN, as well as Patagonia.)

REI, incidentally, has great bets for outdoors-loving dads including a Flexlite Camp Boss Chair ($89.95) that has a wider seat, easy setup and can be stored in the included stuff sack. There’s also a Cool Haul Soft Cooler ($99.95) for all of his craft beers. And for the dad who is a birder, book s for the region where he lives – or plans to travel (starting at under $20).

For the dad who hates to leave his pooch behind, Gentlemen’s Hardware has created Field + Wander, a line of curated dog toys and essentials, including a collapsible dog bowl ($22) a treat bag ($20) and a 2-in-1 water bottle that is a water bottle and water bowl combo ($26). Chewy.com also stocks a mobile dog gear tote travel bag with collapsible bowls, a place mat and plenty of storage space, a travel pillow dog mat ($24.99) and even a hands-free padded sling dog and cat carrier ($24.72), among the options.

For the foodie (and chef) a cooking class where he is traveling will always be met with approval. Tinggly offers hundreds of food tours and cooking experiences across the country and in many cities around the world (starting at under $100). Context travel is another good bet whether dad is going to be in Paris, New York (how about a focus on Italian?), London (how about a beer tour?) or Portugal (a wine tour in Porto). And if dad is heading out on a cruise, see if there is a food-oriented excursion (like we did on a recent Regent cruise) or a cooking class on board that you can gift him. At Giftory.com you can shop by experience (a hot air balloon ride in Napa Valley, a cocktail making class in NYC, a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon, among the options ), as well as by location in the United States. You can also buy a gift card for an experience offered by one of these companies.

If Dad’s heading to a resort, you could always gift him a massage, a tennis or golf lesson or cover the greens fees at the golf course. If you know a winery, brewery, or distillery he will be visiting, you can get him a gift card for a bottle, a T-shirt, a cap, or another souvenir.

If he loves national parks, check out ParksProject.us, which offers an array of national parks apparel and has a commitment to giving back to the national parks. (You can search by park.) Also check out America’s National Parks Store. One hundred percent of your purchase supports national parks.

Another food bet for the road tripper or RVer could be Patagonia Provisions, including the tinned Seafood Sampler Box ($94) that offers responsibly caught mussels, mackerel, anchovies, salmon and more, plus a tin-to-table cookbook. Of course, a gift card he could use for a local restaurant or farmer’s market would also be appreciated.

For that dad heading to a new city, consider a discounted pass to major sites from companies like CityPASS or Go City.

Not only will he save significantly on major attractions (the Empire State Building in New York; the Tower of London, or the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, for example), but he can also avoid waiting in line. (Prices vary depending on which pass you buy.)

Wherever dad is planning to travel in the coming year, you won’t go wrong by gifting him an annual travel insurance policy (starting at $135 from Allianz. These policies not only cover medical care when your insurance doesn’t, or medical evacuation, but also costs when your flights are delayed, your luggage gets lost, or you have to cancel a trip you have paid for. You don’t appreciate how important travel insurance is until you need it, as I discovered recently on a cruise when treatment for a sinus infection set me back more than $600. My annual travel insurance saved the day.

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.)

©2024 Eileen Ogintz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.