Father's Day - Boston Moms Blog

My husband suffers every time a holiday rolls around. I scour the gift guides all over the internet, but my husband isn’t into gadgets or tech. He buys all his own clothes whenever he needs them. Books get downloaded to his Kindle, and I have no idea what he’s reading. The barware I purchased years ago has never been touched.

Now Father’s Day is coming up, on the heels of my husband’s birthday, and I’ve got to procure not one, but TWO gifts for the dad who has everything. Over time I’ve come to the realization that experiences, rather than things, are the answer to my gift-giving dilemma. And Boston offers a number of experiences that are great for the dad in your life!

Sports lessons 

Any individual sport lends itself well to being gifted to a dad on Father’s Day. My husband has received lessons for squash and for golf, but lessons for any individual sport or activity would make a great gift. Try a golf course, a sport court, or cross-country skiing track for lessons. The REI near Fenway offers a number of different activities, including climbing and kayaking.  

Exotic car or boat rentals

For a new experience, try renting a fancy car and taking a drive. Many of the car rental agencies offer convertibles or other fun cars that your guy might enjoy driving. For a more unique experience, look into Seacoast Exotic Car Rentals. You could also take to the sea, renting a boat for an afternoon. Whether you choose a kayak, a sailboat, or a yacht, there’s something available for all price points and skill levels.

Cooking classes 

If the man in your life is into cooking, gift him a class that will teach him a new skill/technique, or introduce him to a new type of cuisine. Sur La Table offers cooking classes in its Boston and Natick locations. The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts has date-night classes, visiting a number of different regions of the world. And Stir in the South End offers an intimate setting in which to learn.

Beverage tastings 

I gifted my husband a bourbon/rye tasting while we were on vacation in Tennessee a few years ago. Boston has a number of distilleries and breweries that would be perfect for Father’s Day. For spirits, try Bully Boy Distillers or GrandTen Distilling. If you want beer, check out the Trillium Taproom in Canton. If cider is his thing, there are a number of spots to visit, including Downeast Cider House in East Boston, Bantam Cider in Somerville, or Lookout Farm in Natick. And if the dad in your life is a coffee buff, the Counter Culture Coffee Boston Training Center offers both tastings and home brew classes.

Pampering

Guys enjoy being pampered just as much as the ladies, and a number of upscale barbershops have opened in the last few years offering hair cuts and hot shaves. The Barbershop Lounge, Tweed Barbers, and Roosters are just a few of the options offering these services. Running after kids creates tired muscles, so you could also book dad a sports massage. Try Boston Bodyworker or Exhale Spa for two excellent options!

Man meals

When I think of “man meals” I think of BBQ. Take dad out for lunch or dinner, or bring takeout home for the family. Redbones and Blue Ribbon BBQ are two local favorites. Sweet Cheeks Q, located near Fenway, is known for its cocktails and its enormous biscuits. New to the BBQ scene is The Smoke Shop in Kendall Square, which even has a number of tofu options for vegetarians. Other options include The Village Smokehouse in Brookline, SoulFire in Allston, and Larry J’s BBQ Cafe in the seaport district.

My husband reads this blog, so I can’t say what I’ll be giving him this year. I will tell you that it’s definitely on this list! What will you be gifting the dad in your life this Father’s Day?

 

Rachel Wilson
Rachel is a native of the West Coast and didn't know that her straight hair could frizz until she made the move East! After earning a Master of Environmental Management from Yale, she moved to Boston for a job opportunity and, on her first Saturday night in the city, met the man who would become her husband. They married in 2012 and are learning more every day about how to be parents to daughters Annabel (2013) and Eleanor (2016). Rachel and her family recently relocated from Charlestown to the Metrowest suburbs and are enjoying their yard, but dislike shoveling snow from their driveway. Rachel currently works as an energy and environmental consultant, and wore Birkenstocks before they were trendy. Likes: her family, her in-laws, cooking ambitious meals and leaving the dishes for someone else, hiking, running, yoga, climbing mountains, reading books, farmers' markets and her CSA, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, the sound of her daughters' laughter, and coffee Dislikes: running out of milk, New England winters, diaper rash, wastefulness, cell phones at the dinner table