You might be celebrating Dad this Father’s Day, the grandpa who always slips you an extra $20 around the holidays or the fun uncle who never fails to have your back when you get into a bit of good trouble.
Whomever you’re highlighting on the holiday this year, we know it can be stressful searching for the perfect gift for people who can sometimes be men of not-so-many words.
Before you throw in the towel and settle on yet another customized golf ball or men’s dress shirt, let us show you some of the statewide adventures you can embark on with the men in your life.
Spirits tours
Maybe you’ve exhausted the go-to gift option of buying your dad a bottle of his favorite whiskey or replenishing his favorite craft beers, but what if you took him straight to the source?
Delaware is known for its ample supply of local craft beers and various breweries, wineries and distilleries, and a tour through one of these facilities might be just the Father’s Day celebration you’re looking for.
Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton has several tours and tasting experiences ranging from 20-minutes long to an hour long. You can opt for a tour of the brewhouse, check out the brewing process and sample new concoctions, peek in the distillery, try your hand at a mixology class or hangout for an afternoon of cheese and beer pairings.
If you and Dad prefer to wine down, Nassau Valley Vineyards in Lewes offers self-guided tours and wine tastings.
You’ll learn how many pounds of fruit it takes for your favorite bottle of red, what makes the perfect ripe fruit, how wine can be used outside of your cocktail glasses, learn about the processing equipment and more.
Fishing on open waters
If your old man loves to fish, giving him a Delaware dose of “The Deadliest Catch” could be an exhilarating way to kick off Father’s Day festivities.
As a coastal state lined with plenty of beautiful beaches, there’s no shortage of fishing charters around the state to give your dad the deep-sea fishing trip of his dreams.
The added bonus? If fishing isn’t your forte, send all the men in your in life on the same trip so the ladies can have a girls’ day out.
Captain’s Lady Charters in Frederica offers private fishing charters, party boat charters and cruise charters. To kick the fun up a notch, you can sign up for head boat fishing and pit your best fishing tricks against other guests on the boat.
Anglers Fishing Center in Lewes has a few fishing charter options and sand shark fishing adventure fit for a Father’s Day mixed with family fun.
First Light Charters in Lewes takes fishing charters out on the Delaware Bay, Indian River Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. Participants can enjoy fishing for striper, tog, sea bass, flounder and more.
Bike through the First State
Delaware’s surplus of state parks and greenery lends itself to countless trails and paved paths fit for biking across various terrains.
Spend the morning biking through the forests of southern Delaware before making your way to the coast, or bike around New Castle County’s flourishing parks system before popping into a local spot to get a bite to eat.
Spots like the C&D Canal in Bear, which is close to Grain H2O, and the Junction & Breakwater Trail in Lewes, which features restaurant hot spots along the way, are great options for a sunny weekend adventure.
If your uncles and grandpas are more of the sip-and-ride type, the Delaware Beer, Wine & Spirits Trail gives you a two-for-one deal on burning calories and immediately cashing in on that extra gut room with some tasty craft beers.
While you’re on the trail, stop by Iron Hill Brewery to try their new Dad’s Got Jokes Juicy Lager, releasing in 16-ounce cans at all Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey locations on June 9.
The new lager is fermented with Omega’s Lunar Crush yeast and layered with tropical fruit notes that complement citrus notes of the American and New Zealand hops.
Iron Hill will also feature a “Hoppy Father’s Day” menu from June 15 to June 18 that includes dad jokes with tasty dishes like bourbon peach cheesecake mousse, scallops & bacon and grilled watermelon salad.
A day at a Delaware State Park
Delaware State Parks feature a wide range of activities that are guaranteed to wow Dad and Grandpa on June 18.
Whether you’re searching for walkable trails, a serene jog alongside stunning water views or a dash of local history this Father’s Day, look no further than our state parks.
At Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, you can spend some time at the Seaside Nature Center, sign up for a dolphin watch and walk the fishing pier.
If your dad is a history buff, tour the Fort Miles Historical Area to see Battery 519 and climb to the top of the observation tower.
Brandywine Creek State Park in Wilmington features nature preserves and all the outdoor recreation you can imagine, including birding, canoeing and kayaking, picnicking, geocaching, disc golf and plenty more.
A trip across the Delaware Bay
We don’t understand the science behind it, but most dads, uncles and grandpas love boats.
Talking about boats. Looking at water vessels. Going boating on a summer day. If it involves a boat, they’re in.
That’s why taking a cruise across the Delaware Bay to visit Cape May, New Jersey, could be your golden ticket this Father’s Day.
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry in Lewes takes passengers on an 85-minute trip to Cape May, where you can spend the day trying out fresh seafood, touring local museums or e-biking through the city.
Passengers can travel on foot or bring their bikes and cars to enjoy the day in Cape May.
Both terminals offer dining options and water views, and the ferry ride is known to warrant a wildlife sighting or two.
However you want to spend your day, a trip to Cape May is sure to be a blast. Plus, the next time your dad talks about boats, you might actually be interested after experiencing all the fanfare yourself!
Cruise across the Delaware Bay:Have you ever been on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry? Here’s everything you need to know
Dust off your tents
One thing dads love to do is remind us how much they (supposedly) know about everything, and teach us survival techniques that we’re not exactly sure they have ever had to use.
If this sounds like your old man, opting for a camping weekend this Father’s Day where he can bestow upon you his wisdom about roughing it in the woods could be the best surprise gift.
And, you’ll get extra points for asking questions about how to build a fire or needing Dad to help set up your tent.
Most of Delaware’s state parks are equipped with primitive camping sites, RV and tent camping, cabins, yurts and cottages. Aside from a place to call home for the weekend, these locations feature recreational trails, historical sites, beach views, nearby dining and plenty more ways to create lasting memories.
Warning: we are not responsible for any family bickering that may ensue, boredom from a lack of Wi-Fi or the inability to drown out your dad’s snores from the next tent over.
Fill up the tank and drive
When was the last time you asked Grandpa to tell you stories about his childhood? Or asked your uncle to tell you all about his rebellious teenage fun?
Sometimes the best gift we can give is a listening ear, and spending some quality time on a road trip with a father figure is the perfect way to do that.
With all the Delaware adventures you can hop out of the car and enjoy, you might also be enticed by a trip where you don’t have to set foot outside at all.
The Small Wonder is filled with many roadside attractions and unique statues that really do make you wonder, and what better way to appreciate them than embarking on a road trip up and down the entire state that lets you see them all.
From a giant doctor’s bag in Christiana to a shark-in-a-box in Odessa, these photo-worthy spots will be a talker for months to come.
The cherry on top? Put the photos from your adventure in an album and gift it to your roadie for their birthday or Christmas.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin atkgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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