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His quips are cornier than a silo full of kernels, and he’s pretty much the biggest exaggerator in the world, and that’s exactly why you love your dear old Dad. This Father’s Day, rather than getting him something he’ll leave at the bottom of a drawer, show him how much you love him by taking him somewhere.
These experiential gift ideas will ensure you both have inside jokes and yarn to spin for years to come.
Getaway Trip to The Ranch at Emerald Valley
If Dad has a fondness for the great outdoors (or perhaps a man crush on John Dutton), consider booking an off-the-grid escape to The Ranch at Emerald Valley, one of The Broadmoor’s wilderness experience properties. Surrounded by 100,000 acres of Pike-San Isabel National Forests and nestled alongside two trout-filled lakes, this luxury dude ranch offers the perfect mix of active fun, fine dining, and an excuse for Pops to relax with his boots up (or, if he prefers, in one of the outdoor hot tubs). Just steps from your cabin—its logs are real, but the high-thread-count sheets mean your housing is rustic in aesthetics only—you can get your Robin Hood on with archery lessons, saddle up for a guided horseback ride, or take a fly-fishing tutorial. Hiking trails (including a lung buster up to 9,328-foot Gray Back Peak) abound. No matter your adventure, each exploit works up an appetite. Whether it’s Colorado Bison Tenderloin or Rohan Duck Ragu for dinner, you’ll want to indulge in whatever is on the menu. It’s all-inclusive, after all. Starting at $900 per night based on double occupancy at the Ranch
Games Galore at Over Flyte
Still hemming and hawing about whether to take Dad out for a round of golf, challenge him to an axe-throwing contest, or just treat him to a pint of craft suds? Over Flyte, located on the third floor of air-traffic-control-center-turned-brewery FlyteCo Tower, suggests option D: all of the above. Their 20,000-square-foot entertainment zone includes a trio of Widescreen Full Swing Pro 2.0 Simulators (the same sim Sir Woods himself uses to practice), six axe-throwing lanes where you can play tic-tac-toe Viking-style, and two top-of-the-line pingpong tables. In between rounds, order a round, maybe the Fogged Out Hazy IPA or Heading 270 West Coast IPA, from the team downstairs. $40 per hour for an eight-person golf suite, $24 per person per hour for an axe lane, $15 per hour for a pingpong table
A Day of Relaxation at the Oakwell Beer Spa
Has Dad been looking a little frazzled ever since the Nuggets got knocked out of the playoffs? Give him a gift that pairs what he wants (a cold beer) with what he needs (some R & R). Denver’s award-winning Oakwell Beer Spa (formerly just the Beer Spa) offers more traditional treatments like zero-gravity massage and full-spectrum infrared saunas—both of which stimulate stress reduction and muscle relaxation—but it’s their signature service, Beer Bath Hydrotherapy, that truly raises the bar. Guests soak in a cedar tub filled with a seasonal blend of antioxidant-rich hops, barley, and herbs crafted to soothe joints, boost circulation, induce calm, and more. And of course, every treatment can be enjoyed with a local beer in hand. If Dad deserves the works (and you know he does), opt for Oakwell’s deluxe Father’s Day package for two, which includes a 90-minute private session in a Beer Therapy Room and 15-minute zero gravity massages, along with plenty of gourmet treats for you both to savor (charcuterie, anyone?). The $15 cosmetic minibar credit means Pops can bring home an Herbal Beer Bath Tea or Beer Body Wash to share (or not). $350 for the Father’s Day Package
Play (and Learn) Outside in Fort Collins
Boulder gets a lot of credit for its natural playgrounds, but the People’s Republic’s neighbor to the north is no slouch in the greenspace department either. Home to more than 50 protected natural areas encompassing more than 36,000 acres—not to mention an impressive 100-plus miles of trail—Fort Collins offers plenty of ways to explore outdoors with your favorite khaki-clad dad. Take him out to skip rocks in the reservoir at Pineridge Natural Area or pack a picnic and traipse through the prairies in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Another fun (and free!) way to enjoy these spaces: Sign up for a wide range of mixed-age classes about astronomy, fireflies, raptors and more, all available through the City of Fort Collins. Free
Inflatable Fun at Bounce Empire
From the way he plays with Legos when he thinks nobody’s looking to his not-so-secret fondness for Goldfish crackers, Dad’s just a big kid at heart. Indulge his inner child with an afternoon at Bounce Empire, a 50,000-square-foot fun hub situated 10 miles east of Boulder. Race him through a 280-foot-long inflatable obstacle course or slide out of the maw of a 25-foot-tall raptor head. The biggest hurdle is deciding which of Bounce Empire’s more than 50 attractions to do first. All that bouncing make you both thirsty? Sidle up to one of the three on-site bars. $29–$36 for an all-access day pass
Supercar Driving Experience with Oxotic
Think giving your pops a $259,000 McLaren 600LT is a bit outside your budget? It doesn’t have to be. Take him on a Rally Tour Experience with Oxotic Denver, and he’ll get a chance to drive a McLaren or one of its supercar siblings (a Lamborghini Huracan EVO, perhaps? Or, new for 2024, a Porsche GT3RS?) through the flowy canyons and along the zippy curves of Colorado high country. Starting at $219 (plus fuel and maintenance fees) for a 15-mile, 20-minute driving experience
Rafting (or Floating) with Echo Canyon River Expeditions
Whether wild rapids or chill ripples are Dad’s jam, Echo Canyon River Expeditions in Cañon City has the perfect option. The Family Float, a gentle ride through the upper reaches of Bighorn Sheep Canyon, caters to those who prefer calmer waters; the trip is suitable for kids as young as four. Teenagers older than 13 can join Dad on the rapids ripping through the Royal Gorge. Make a night of it with a stay in the Royal Gorge Cabins, located nearby. Starting at $119 for a half-day
Tandem Paragliding with Aspen Paragliding
Looking for a high-flying adventure option? Share the skies with your pops this summer in a tandem paragliding experience with Aspen Paragliding. You and Dad will each be seated in a harness and then attached, front and back, to your own expert pilot. For takeoff, each passenger and pilot jog down an easy slope until the glider lifts you both off the ground. Soaring high above Aspen, you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of the town and its surrounding peaks and valleys. Starting at $400 per person
Immersive Art Experience at Prismajic
Dad’s always told you to follow your dreams. Bring him along for the ride with an interactive, multisensory experience dubbed Shiki Dreams at immersive art hub Prismajic inside Lakewood’s Colorado Mills. Together, you’ll venture into a fantastical wood with Shiki, a yeti who leads the spirits of the forest, as your guide. Spend an hour (or more) exploring a range of magical realms, and be sure to use the included flashlight to reveal secret messages and hidden treasures. Then, pop into the Night Owls bar for a Twisted Branch Pretzel and mustard flight, gin-forward Screech Owl, or non-alcoholic Garden Fairy, made with butterfly pea flower syrup. $28 for those over age 16, $15 for children ages five to 15, free for kids under five
