Father of All Vacations
We’re thinking Dad might not want a tie, grill gear, or a golf shirt from your corporate picnic for Father’s Day. So swap a trip to Home Depot for a bonding trip–just you and dad. How do we know he’ll like it? Because he sent us the backlog of ties you’ve been giving him and begged for our help.
Washington DC flights | hotels | cars
What better spot to hang with Dad than where our founding fathers are still watching us stony faced and quietly judging? All Dads are universally required to dig on history trips, and our bet is that yours is no exception. Check out Washington, D.C.’s exhausting list of manly museums including the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, International Spy Museum and the National Museum of Health & Medicine. No D.C. trip is complete without a stare down with Honest Abe at the Lincoln Memorial and a solemn gaze at the Washington Monument. But it’s not all history and dead prezes, so check out a Washington Nationals game or unwind in air conditioning at ESPN Zone.
Bryce Canyon flights | hotels | cars
We’ve seen enough 80’s movies to know Dad + camping = madcap comedy. Take him on a camping adventure in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Kick it off with a hike 521 feet down the Navajo Trail to see native wildlife and stunning rock formations but remember what goes down eventually has to walk back up during the heat of the day. Next, hike from Under-the-Rim Trail connecting Bryce Point to Rainbow Point. Or try Riggs Springs Trail to see some amazing views of the Pink Cliffs. When you and Dad have bonded over blisters and sunburn, set up camp at North Campground, Sunset Campground, or Sunset Group Campsite. Build a fire and do some stargazing over some cold brews. Good talk, Russ.
Hamburg flights | hotels | cars
Got a non-traditional Dad? Take him on a non-traditional vacation. Germany’s version of Father’s Day is called Vatertag and is more about “boys day out” and drinking in the pubs than honoring dad with a tie in the shape of a fish. Revitalize the tradition and head to Hamburg for a well-rounded trip of culture, funky shops, smoky bars, and good food. If you can stomach the thought, shock your Dad with a visit to the Erotic Art Museum. Not your dad’s speed? How about Fish Auction Hall and Market for some local flavor. Next, try Jungfernstieg Street for some shopping, Alster Lakes to relax, or just hit the local bars. Try Top of the Town, Toast, or Max & Consorten for some good brew. Cheers!
Key West flights | hotels | cars
We’ve got a wild card up our Hawaiian shirt sleeve: Key West. If it’s good enough for the likes of both Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet, it’s good enough for Dad. If he’s an outdoorsman, take him snorkeling, boating or fishing at Smathers Beach. If he prefers a little history and culture, venture over to the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Pat Croce’s Pirate Soul Museum, or Harry S. Truman’s Little White House. Big spender? Try some shopping on Duval Street. Do you have a party Dad on your hands? Try Sloppy Joe’s for frozen concoctions, The Hog’s Breath for brews and Mallory Square for fire eaters and contortionists. Speaking of eating, we recommend Blue Heaven, El Siboney Restaurant, and Rooftop Cafe.
Next Week’s Newsletter: Summer Festivals
Do you have fond memories of a summer festival from your childhood? Or is there a festival you’ve always dreamed of visiting? Share it with other Kayakers. There’s a free Kayak t-shirt in it if we pick you.
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Win the Father of All Trips!Rev your engines because one lucky winner and a friend are flying to Atlantic City where you’ll live like Ocean’s 14th friend at one of the city’s best casino resorts. You’ll also get a full day of racing at Doug Foley’s Racing School where you’ll both strap on driving suits to actually drive the most bad-ass racing cars you’ve ever seen. Enter today to win.
Wishing every day was Father’s Day,
Steve (father of three) and Paul (father of two), Kayak.com co-founders
June 6th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
My favorite memory is when I wore my awesome new Kayak T-Shirt to Woodstock, in a strange anachronistic dream.
June 6th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
[...] Father of All VacationsTake him on a non-traditional vacation. Germany s version of Father s Day is called Vatertag and is more about boys day out and drinking in the pubs than honoring dad with a tie in the shape of a fish. Revitalize the tradition and … [...]
June 6th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
These are some great ideas!! My dad would be hilarious in just about all of these situations. As much as I love camping, I think the old man would much prefer a stint in Key West or Atlantic City! Now that I’m writing this…. yeah, I think we’ll go to Atlantic City!
June 6th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
[...] Father of All VacationsTake him on a non-traditional vacation. Germany s version of Father s Day is called Vatertag and is more about boys day out and drinking in the pubs than honoring dad with a tie in the shape of a fish. Revitalize the tradition and … [...]
June 6th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
For those of us who are musicians, or just love music - why not try out the Mammoth Lakes Jazz Festival held the 2nd week of July in beautiful California ? The weather is gorgeous, the talent outstanding, and accomodations are plentiful. We have gone twice ( coming from Florida) and stayed at “Seasons 4 ” where you pay for 5 days and get to stay for 7 days. There are plenty of places to visit - ghost towns, etc. We took our youngest daughter with us last year, and she had a blast. Yosemite is only about 2 hours away, there is still snow on the peaks . For a good time, with wonderful music of all kinds - try it out!
June 6th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Memories flood my mind of the VP Fair in St. Louis, Mo. My parents were good enough to instil wonderful family traditions like this one… and we did it every year. It used to take place (not sure if it still is that week) over the 4th of July in downtown St. Louis. We would pack our coolers, grab our blankets and leave early to get the best seat on the hill for the fireworks later that night. That was way before all the improvements to the waterfront by the Arch so it was pretty empty there. Great food, great fun, and lots of great music. What memories.
June 7th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Beer Summer - Tallin Estonia - hitching a ride round a circuit on a hell’s angels trike whilst listening to a Led Zeplin tribute band - bizzare but true
June 7th, 2007 at 6:47 am
When I was a child in Upstate New York, the Catholic Church had a weeklong summer festival with a battle of the bands, italian sausage and peppers and lemon ice, carnival games run by members of the parish, etc. One year when I was 13, my boyfriend was in a band and I was standing in front of the stage next to my father, watching them perform. They were singing the song “midnight confessions”, and when it got to the part where the singer says “I LOVE YOU”, my tennybopper boyfriend belted out that line from the stage and pointed directly at me in the crowd. My face got red, but not as red as my father’s face, as I watched the veins start popping out in his neck. A tense and funny moment to remember, if there ever was one!
June 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
has to be the classic “isle of wight ” festival 1968, sitting on the hill listening to Jimmy Hendrix. SUBLIME!!!
June 7th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Quebec City summer festival - 1st 2 July weeks - don’t remember much, so I’ll have to go again, see if I do better this time.
June 7th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA - Idellic!
July 4th - National Heritage Award fellows Liz Carroll and Paul Dahlin, along with the Carolina Chocolate Drops and dozens more, turning up the temperature during the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.
Family fireworks overlooking the Sound.
Wonderful!
June 9th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
An English friend of mine has told me wonderful stories about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and I hope to see it one day.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Since it´s too late for the Portland Rose Festival, why not check out the Waterfront Blues Festival or Oregon Brew Fest at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon! You can listen to great music and/or sample microbrews from Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska and Colorado (they wish they were west coast). Hot day, cold beer and a riverside seat on the grass makes this the best summer festival out there!
June 19th, 2007 at 9:50 am
my best deal when i went to italy was to visit the historical cities like Rome or florence. It mostly dipends from when you get there. Surely i was told to go to venice but not in summertime cuz it smells bad, due to its very “charming” channels - so maybe if i ever go back to italy i’ll go there in winter - Florence it’s a very nice place i have been even if i haven’t study that much of arts and so i couldnt understand their medioevo’s story but i think it’d be great to live there at that time. So Roma is a kind of three centuries City with a lot of history that it would take you a life to visit and to understand, and still i dont not know much about history but i had fun anyway. I went there mostly for my wife who is from the twincities in USA. but the most funny thing about Rome is that there’s so many american that we’ve stayed in a place called twincities hostel that you can find here http://twincities.altervista.org, cause they are from missesota like us.
Dont forget a thing: anywhere you go, have fun and if you’re lucky to find a place or at least some people as polite like we did. i got to go now bye bye