NEWSLETTER
Happy (almost) Father’s Day! We appreciate all different types of dads, so instead of one-size-fits-all plans, read on for ideas on where and how to treat the unique dad in your life. From outdoor activities to unique museums, from gardens and restaurants to historical attractions and even spas, find the best way to show Dad you appreciate him.
Originally published 06/04/2019
The Outdoorsy One
Credit: Marta Zielinska
Dad can’t spend enough time in the fresh outdoors? Good thing you’re in a state filled with beautiful natural settings. Take him hiking in the Catskills on a trail like Giant Ledge, a moderately difficult hike that runs almost four miles and leads you to five unbelievable scenic overlooks. The Frick Pond Loop is another great trail that’s not as challenging, so it’s a better bet if you’ve got young kiddos hiking with you. Or, load up the bikes and head to Long Island to coast along the paved Jones Beach Bikeway for ocean views. Caumsett State Park (pictured) has accessible dirt trails for all skill levels, plus you’ll get to enjoy the beautiful Long Island Sound. To fully immerse your family in the beauty of the Adirondacks, visit the Wild Center and Wild Walk where you can hang out above the treetops on viewing platforms, swinging bridges, and a giant spider web. For more adventure, try white water rafting. North Creek Rafting Company will set you up with everything you need to take their Hudson River Day Trip—three miles of intense Class III whitewater action.
The Indoorsy One
Not everyone’s trying to work up a sweat in the June weather. If you’ve got an indoorsy dad, take him to an interesting museum! The Corning Museum of Glass in the Finger Lakes (pictured) is not your typical art museum; instead of paintings hanging on walls, there are gigantic glass sculptures and exhibits on the history of glassmaking dating all the way back to the ancient Romans. Watch live glassmaking demonstrations and even play with the hot molten stuff yourself! In the charming Hudson Valley town of Beacon, your art-loving dad can step into room-scale, conceptual works of art at the world-famous Dia Beacon. Check out Albany's New York State Museum, the largest and oldest state museum in the US, to explore displays about culture, natural history, and art.
The History Buff
Know a dad who loves to tell you all he knows about history? This Father’s Day, let some professionals do the telling as you take him out for New York’s Path Through History Weekend. Historical locations all over the state will be holding special events, such as the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum, which is soaring with excitement all weekend. On Saturday, the “History of Flight” program takes you through the early days of aviation, featuring the daring pioneers before World War I, a sneak peek at the WWI Dog Fight Spectacular, and the excitement of the Golden Age of Aviation in the 1920s and ’30s. On Sunday, experience the action-packed “WWI Dog Fight Spectacular,” complete with a brave hero, a cheering heroine, and the infamous Black Baron of Rhinebeck, featuring pyrotechnics, a WWI-era tank, and antique automobiles. Bring dad to Oswego for a walk through history at Fort Ontario to see the star-shaped fort dating back to the early 1840's. There are two guardhouses, a powder magazine, a storehouse, enlisted men's barracks, an Army office building, an unfurnished officer's quarters, videos, exhibits and windswept ramparts featuring magnificent views of Lake Ontario and underground stone casemates and galleries to tour.
The Foodie
Sure, all dads love to eat, but not all dads are gourmands. Take your foodie father out to dinner somewhere with a menu that’s sure to impress. One great option is New York Kitchen in the Finger Lakes, which offers an experience that goes beyond eating. There’s a hands-on kitchen which offers cooking classes, a wine education theater, a tasting room, a gift boutique, and a farm-to-table restaurant on the second floor overlooking Canandaigua Lake. It’s a dream for anyone truly passionate about food. It also offers an amazing sampling of New York-crafted foods, from dishes made with local ingredients to wine made with New York grapes. Visit The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and have dad choose from four CIA chef-led and student-run world-class restaurants (plus a brewery and bakery) to enjoy a Father’s Day meal. And if you’re in the Buffalo area, book a table at Las Puertas, helmed by Acapulco-born, Montreal-trained acclaimed chef, Victor Gonzalez, for Mexican flavors made with French techniques (Open Wednesday-Saturday 5 PM - 9 PM).
The Botanist
Take your green-thumbed dad to stop and smell the roses. The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (pictured) offers a botanical journey with its large collection of tropical and exotic plants. Take a guided tour through the gorgeous conservatory or just meander on your own time. There are also more than 156 acres of grounds waiting outside in Buffalo’s South Park, where you can walk and talk and enjoy the weather. In the Finger Lakes, enjoy a leisurely exploration of the Cornell Botanic Gardens, with its arboretum, gardens, trails, and greenhouses. Continue the nature appreciation and head right on into a hike through Ithaca’s gorges for breathtaking views. Pack up a tasty picnic of Dad’s favorite foods and head to Innisfree Garden in the Hudson Valley, where you’ll find peaceful and picturesque Chinese and Japanese gardens. The garden is also offering a 1.5-hour Curator’s Tour on June 15, exploring Innisfree as one of the powerful icons of mid-twentieth-century garden design, or just enjoy the garden’s waterfalls, sculptures, bridges, trails, and pond (a popular hangout for turtles), then settle in at one of the picnic tables for lunch.
The Goofball
Let’s hear it for dad jokes! Keep your jokester pop inspired with fresh content. The National Comedy Center in Jamestown (pictured) is always a good bet. Dad can work his way through more than 50 interactive exhibits that delve into different genres of comedy—including a karaoke station with the chance to deliver classic bits from favorite comics. The Funny Bone comedy club in Syracuse is actually located inside Destiny USA, an enormous mall with plenty of dining and entertainment options. Swing by the go-karting track or one of the world’s largest indoor suspended ropes courses before catching a stand-up show. And of course, there’s always live comedy happening in NYC. For a night of laughs, check out Gotham Comedy Club which has hosted comedy legends like Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfeld, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Trevor Noah.
The One in Need of Pampering
Let’s get real—dads deserve pampering too! We think a day at the spa is a perfect Father’s Day option, and by the end of his back massage, we’re sure he’ll agree. At the Roosevelt Baths & Spa, Dad can rest in the natural Saratoga Springs mineral baths, get a massage, facial, and scrub. They offer a Gentleman’s Facial which specifically addresses razor burn and other male skin sensitivities. The award-winning spa at Mohonk Mountain House (pictured) offers a number of services, including the Deep Cleansing Renewal Facial that’s customized based on your skin’s needs, Nourishing Scalp, Hands, and Feet Ritual, and Deep Tissue Massage, which focuses on recovery from sports and fitness. Go all out and stay at the Turning Stone Resort Casino to relax and rejuvenate at the spa, then hit up the tables in the casino! A definite win-win.
The Gearhead
A gearhead is someone with a passion for automobiles, bikes, and other machines. If that’s your dad, we have suggestions. Saratoga Automobile Museum, for starters, has a large and gorgeous collection of antique race and sports cars, with fascinating rotating exhibits such as “Speed - Style - Legacy: The Corvette Story.” If he’s more into bikes, you’ll make his day with a visit to Motorcyclepedia in the Hudson Valley! He’ll be wowed by more than 500 motorcycles, some dating back to 1897, plus plenty of memorabilia and other novelties from automotive history. For those racing fans, dad can actually put his pedal to the metal at Watkins Glen International (pictured), the former home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix. On select dates (including Father’s Day) visitors are allowed to take their cars around the circuit and feel like superstar race car drivers.
The Sporty One
Even if Dad’s the only one who loves sports, on Father’s Day, you’re a sports family (we promise you’ll have fun too!). Baseball season is in full swing and New York has some amazing teams. On Father’s Day, June 15, watch the New York Mets take on the Tampa Bay Rays at their home turf, Citi Field in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park (pictured). The first 15,000 fans at this game get a free Hawaiin shirt! Catch some minor league action and major thrills as the Rochester Red Wings play the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at Innovative Field while you celebrate dad at their Father’s Day celebration (and the first 2,000 fans score a free hat.) And June weather is absolutely perfect for a round of golf, which, we hear can be quite popular amongst dads. Christman's Windham House Country Inn and Golf Resort in the Catskills features a historic Colonial inn and 27-hole golf course on a 300-acre property.
The Musical One
Is Dad always humming a tune? Take the day to enjoy live music together! For something free andfamily-friendly, head to the Foothills Performing Arts & Civic Center in Oneonta for their Father's Day Weekend Celebration featuring The Corvettes Doo-Wop Revue. The fun-filled Saturday event will feature a car show, food trucks, corn hole, live music, beer, and more!Another great Father’s Day event can be found at City Winery in Manhattan. Dad will love rocking out to all his favorite tunes at the Ultimate Strawberry Fields Beatles Brunch concert. Tickets are $30. Additional events include the 2025 New York State Blues Festival, and concerts at Bannerman Castle, Cooperstown Brewing Co., and Historic Catskill Point.
The Animal Lover
Does dad have a soft spot for animal friends? Meet animals from around the world and close to home at zoos throughout the state. Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville is home to more than 300 animals like sloths, capybara, penguins, rhinos, and giraffes, and they’re offering free admission for dads on Father’s Day! 11,000 animals await at the Bronx Zoo, and if you’re in town on Friday, June 13, you and dad can enjoy Brew at the Zoo (ages 21+). Zoo New York in Watertown is the only zoo in the world dedicated to animals native to New York like wolverines, black bears, eagles, mountain lions, and more. Take dad under the sea and make some aquatic friends over at the Aquarium of Niagara, where you can feed sharks and stingrays.
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