When you walk into the store, are you quickly reminded of all the things dad does not need this Father’s Day? Cologne, another quirky tie? Instead of taking a trek to the store, perhaps it’s time to take him on an adventure that he will love.
Begin by thinking about the men in your life. What are their interests and passions?
If there’s a golfer in your life, consider sending him to one of the many wonderful courses in the area. Find a new course and set up some golfing fun by visiting golfclevelandohio.com. Or make it a family affair and choose a miniature golf course instead. One good fit may be Adventure Zone (adventurezonefun.com) in Geneva. You’ll find a quaint retro town that includes a fun place for mini golf, as well as other adventures to explore with dad (arcade, batting cages, bumper boats, go-carts, zipline).
After a round of golf, treat dad to dinner at one of the area restaurants. For sit-down family fun, try the Old Firehouse Winery, or for something more casual, take a stroll down to Eddie’s Grill for burgers and shakes.
If you’re seeking a different kind of adventure, check out Cleveland Rock Gym (clevelandrockgym.com), located in Euclid. Everyone can climb — but be sure to make a reservation in advance.
If your dad is an outdoorsman, pack up the backpack and head to one of the many parks in the area. There are plenty of choices and trails to explore.
Train fans will love riding the rails and hitting the trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (nps.gov/cuva). Combine a biking or hiking adventure along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (cvsr.com). Board your bike at one of the stations along the trail for only $3 per person and make a stop for food or biking (try Winking Lizard Tavern in Peninsula, winkinglizard.com). Be sure to check out the other special events offered through the railroad — dad may enjoy the Ales on Rails Beer Tasting, for example.
Is dad more of a pinball wizard? Take the family for some retro fun at Superelectric Pinball Parlor in Cleveland (superelectric.tv). Located in Gordon Square, dad will find more than 20 games ranging from the 1950s to the latest releases. Seeking more games? Westlake’s Dave & Buster’s (daveandbusters.com/westlake) may be the perfect present for dad, combining food and fun.
If Dad is a bowler, check out The Corner Alley in downtown Cleveland (thecorneralley.com), which provides a hip setting for the coolest dads around. Add to this outing by checking out one of the many restaurants located nearby on East 4th Street.
And yes, for that sports dad there are plenty of options, too! A day out for baseball can be planned throughout Northeast Ohio. Of course, there’s the Cleveland Indians (mlb.com/indians), but also consider these other ballparks: Classic Park to the east (captainsbaseball.com), Sprenger Stadium on the west side (lakeeriecrushers.com), or Canal Park to the south (akronrubberducks.com).
And, after all these adventures, don’t forget to give dad a cold beverage and a few minutes of peace and quiet — that may be the most perfect gift of all.
