Father’s Day Weekend Trip

This post has been sponsored by American Greetings. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Father’s Day, being in mid-June, always lends itself well to an easy BBQ at home. In fact, that’s what we’ve been doing to celebrate the occasion the past few years. We grill up some burgers and hot dogs, sit by the pool (or have diving competitions into the pool), and celebrate our awesome stepdad with a little backyard bash. 

A Father’s Day Weekend Trip

Truth be told, I never really know what to get for Father’s Day. I feel like I constantly fall into this trap of knowing a few things that he enjoys –  then I keep buying more and more gifts that fit within those genres, if you will. For example, my stepdad loves golf, so my go-to ends up being little golf-themed knick knacks. But, how many more golf-themed knick knacks can one buy? I want to gift him something meaningful and something that he’ll actually enjoy, though that’s often times much harder than you’d think! So, here’s my idea for this year: A Father’s Day weekend trip.

The travel

Whether you live 5 miles or 500 miles from the dad in your life, a weekend trip can be doable, with a little planning. If flying is involved, use a flight tool to find affordable flights – especially if multiple people are flying versus you flying your dad out. The biggest tip here is being flexible with dates. If you can fly out on a Wednesday instead of a Thursday, do it! You might save some major money.

The itinerary

No matter where you’re going, plan out a little itinerary for the weekend. I would suggest having a mix of activities, restaurants to check out, and parts of the city to explore. I also like having a few anchor items on the itinerary – for example, dinner reservations and perhaps a scheduled tour or museum visit (if that’s your thing). That gives you a loose guide so you’re not wandering around for hours on end trying to fill up your time.

It’s also super helpful to have backup options. You certainly don’t need to have plans b, c, d, and e. Rather, have a few ideas in mind if your outdoor activities are rained out, or a backup restaurant for lunch in case your top pick is packed. I find that I used to put all my eggs in one basket and only have an ‘ideal’ plan in place for weekend trips and travel. Now, I’m trying to be better with having a few backup options in place so we’re not worrying about scrambling at the last minute, especially when it’s for a holiday or celebration!

Making it memorable

If you’re flying him out to visit you, take him to your favorite spots. Give him a glimpse into your daily life and make the trip a personal one – one to remember.

If we’re talking local spots – doughnuts are a must around here, and Blackbird Doughnuts in the South End is phenomenal. Start your trip out with a doughnut trip! You all deserve it. Bring him to a specialty shop next, one that you know he’ll enjoy. If he likes to cook, there’s an adorable spice shop up in Cambridge that he’ll love. Or, perhaps he’s building out a collection of sorts. If so, bring him to one of Boston’s vintage markets!

He may also want to do a few activities deemed a little ‘touristy’, but I urge you to give in and enjoy it! See your city from a new perspective – that of a visitor or first-timer. If you’re heading to Boston, the view from the Charles River simply can’t be beat. You’re in between Boston and Cambridge, and during the summer, it’s the most refreshing spot in the city.

There are tons of options for getting out on the river and catching those dazzling city views. Duck Boats are, by far, the most popular. However, we also have rental kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards which you can grab and head out on your own. Boston also boasts riverboats, which are so beyond charming and give you the opportunity to relax and simply enjoy the ride. Sounds like an ideal kind of day, right?

Even though the weekend trip is the big Father’s Day gift, I still like to give a heartfelt card with a personal message inside. I found my card in the Target card aisle and it’s the perfect one – so bright and colorful! Simply add a thoughtful message and you’re Father’s Day-ready.

Are you thinking about celebrating with a Father’s Day weekend trip? What’s at the top of your travel list?

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