father's day gifts
14 Experience Gifts That Any Dad Will Love
And won't stop bragging about to his buds.
A tangible gift is great, but there’s something extra special about gifting experiences. Maybe it’s that feeling of knowing a loved one will have a sweet life-long memory or that they're step closer to something they’ve always wanted to try. That’s why I’ll be going for a not-so-tangible, but oh-so-memorable experiential gift this Father’s Day.
While you can’t wrap it in a box or tie it up with a bow (well, sometimes), an experience-based gift lends itself to new memories, new skills, and maybe even new trinkets—like a handmade vase or blurry photos that captured an awesome night at a concert.
From cooking classes and unique travel experiences to personalized video greetings from their favorite celebs, athletes, and more, these experience gifts are going to help create so many fun memories this Father’s Day.
1. Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit, $48
Give Dad everything he needs to brew IPAs from the comfort of his own home. Even if his first batch isn't quite there, you can be sure he’ll have fun during the brewing process.
2. Uncommon Experiences, $20+
From coffee tasting to flower arranging and bath bomb making, Uncommon Experiences has all sorts of fun virtual classes that crafty dads will love. Most of the experiences come with corresponding kits that include all of the necessary materials for the class. Others have a simple list of supplies, so he can show up prepared—even if he's just in PJs.
3. MasterClass Subscription, $15/month
For the dad that loves learning new things, a MasterClass subscription will give him a year’s worth of access to hundreds of expert-led online classes—and knowledge that he'll happily share forever, and ever, and ever. MasterClass has something for every type of dad from songwriting with Alicia Keys to scientific thinking with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Since this is totally digital, it's also a great idea for all you last-minute gifters out there too. And if you need some more last-minute recs, we've got a whole batch right here.
4. Airbnb Experiences, varies
Airbnb may be best known for its unique stays all around the world, but it also has a whole treasure trove of fun experiences. Whether it’s a pasta making class in Italy or a helicopter ride he can take over his own city, Airbnb has all sorts of in-person and online experiences he’ll love.
5. Fender Play Membership, $10/month
Help him relive his high school jam band glory days with a Fender Play membership. It’ll give him access to online guitar lessons as well as sheet music and technique tips so he’ll be ready to rock (again) in no time.
6. Peloton Membership, $12.99/month
He doesn’t even need a Peloton to take advantage of all the great workouts the brand has to offer. With classes for boxing, yoga, pilates, biking, strength training, and so much more, a subscription to this app is sure to keep him on track with his fitness goals. Plus, he can do the classes anywhere—all he needs is a device to stream videos.
7. Delicious Experiences Gift Card, varies
Whether he’s an expert home cook or a novice in the kitchen, a gift card to Delicious Experiences means that everyone in the family will benefit, too. The site offers a variety of virtual personalized cooking classes, as well as wine tasting courses and cocktail-making sessions, so all he needs to do is choose the experience that whets his appetite.
8. The National Parks And Federal Lands Annual Pass, $80
Adventure awaits! Start Dad’s summer off right with an all-access pass to explore all of the country’s national parks.
9. The Sill Workshops, $0+
Give him the gift of a green thumb with a workshop at one of our favorite plant shops. The Sill has plenty of in-person and online workshops for plant parents of all levels. The best part? Some of them are even free!
10. Ticketmaster Gift Card, $25+
Music lovers, sports fans, Broadway fanatics—a gift card to Ticketmaster is ideal for anyone who loves live entertainment. If you know there’s an event he really wants to go to, treat him to some tickets. Or if you’re not sure, a gift card works just as well—maybe add on a few bucks to cover your ticket as well.
11. Sculpd Pottery Kit, $50+
For crafty dads who love to get their hands dirty, try a Sculpd pottery kit. It comes with all the materials and instructions he needs to sculpt, carve, and shape a clay creation like a vase or bookends. If freestyle is more his speed, he can use the supplies to make a totally unique creation of his own.
12. Babbel Classes, varies
If he’s been itching to brush up on his Spanish since college or pick up some Italian before a trip, a Babbel subscription is an easy way to help make those dreams a reality. Babbel offers courses in Spanish, French, Italian, Indonesian, and more. He can choose from a subscription on the app that’ll let him go at his own pace or opt into a live class.
13. Cameo, varies
The ultimate gift for superfans, commission a personalized video greeting from his favorite actor, athlete, musician, and more. It’s like a greeting card, but way more fun. I’ve been gifted a Cameo video before and to this day, it’s one of my most memorable gifts ever.
14. Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Tasting Box, $52.50
The basis of a great cheese board? A selection of fromage handpicked by the professional cheesemongers at Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont. There are seven different boxes depending on his preferences, each with several types of cheeses and some even with crackers, spreads, and more for a full tasting experience.
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