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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.
Trail Time (and Gear from Royal Robbins)
For a budget-friendly Father’s Day gift, nothing beats a little uninterrupted quality time out on the trail. There are countless hikes we know he’ll like throughout the Centennial State, though you might consider Frisco’s Rainbow Lake for a mellow out and back, this 13-mile loop through Golden Gate Canyon State Park for something more strenuous, or a close-to-town quadbuster up Mt. Sanitas if you’re both short on time. Have a little leniency in your pocketbook? Wrap up a handsome sun shirt or mosquito-repelling trail pants from Louisville-based Royal Robbins. Free; $95 for the Salathe Sun Shirt, $135 for the Wilder Pant
Get Artsy at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver
If your dad prefers the Ritz-Carlton over a campground stay, set him up with the Denver Art Museum Stay & Play Package from the Ritz-Carlton, Denver, the city’s first and longest-standing AAA Four Diamond hotel. Expect a welcome fit for royalty with champagne or sparkling water upon arrival and an art-themed gift bag (think charcoal pencils and decadent drawing paper). Take a few moments to unwind in your well-appointed room or meander to the Club Lounge for light bites and Rocky Mountain views likely to inspire some sketches.
Then you’re off to the Denver Museum of Art—it’s just a mile away, so walk if the weather accommodates—to compare how Dad’s doodles stack up to Albert Bierstadt’s rendition of Longs Peak found in the Western American Art Galleries. Put an exclamation point on the day at Elway’s, located in your hotel. Sip on a flight of Old Fashioneds or enjoy freezer martinis and a round of caviar bumps while you decide whether to spend your $150 daily meal credit on the Colorado rack of lamb or the dry-aged Kansas City strip—both are worthy of the Duke of Denver and yours. Starting at $720 per night
Level Up His Grill Game with Eagle Rock Ranch
If that trip to Elway’s isn’t in the playbook (or if Pops is convinced his grillmaster skills are second to none), pony up for a primo carnivore care package from Eagle Rock Ranch. Based in Jefferson, the family-run operation raises pure-breed, humanely certified black Angus cattle and ships the goods right to Dad’s door. Choose his favorite cuts, go big on a beef share, or meat in the middle with one of the gift boxes, which includes two pounds of dry-aged ground beef, two steaks, a pound of all-beef hot dogs, and a trucker hat. For a truly experiential gift (beyond a backyard barbecue) aspiring John Duttons should set aside June 19 for the ranch’s seasonal spring calving tour, complete with a tractor hayride and chance to learn the basics of responsible ranch management. Meat pricing varies; spring calving tour costs $40 per person
Book a Sporty Staycation at the Rally Hotel
If America’s pastime has long been your family’s, too, gather the whole dugout to celebrate Dad at the Rally Hotel. Positioned adjacent to Coors Field and designated the official home of the Colorado Rockies, the 182-key hotel is the perfect home base for a weekend of baseball. Whether you opt for one of the sleeps-four corner bedrooms (complete with bunk beds and a vintage video-game system) or the 1,876-square-foot, two-bedroom penthouse, where floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies provide bird’s-eye stadium views, there’s room for your whole crew.
In the lobby, find memorabilia from the 1998 All-Star Game (held in Denver) and the 26-foot-tall Baseball Fountain, an elaborate ball machine-cum-scultpure. Swing through during the nightly social hour for complimentary Coke floats or ice cream sundaes scooped into souvenir Rockies helmets. If you don’t treat Dad to stadium seats for his special day, cover your bases by catching the game on McGregor Square’s massive LED screen steps from the hotel. Starting at $330 per night
Toast the Best with Award-Winning Local Spirits
Remember that “World’s Greatest Dad” glass you bought your pops when you were 12? Now that you’re an adult, you can gift him something good to go in it, like an award-winning whiskey from Loveland-based Root Shoot Spirits. This distillery took home the “American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year” honor (among others) at the 2026 London Spirits Awards, so it doesn’t get much better. Families who bond over a shaken, not stirred, martini should mix in Aspen Vodka, a double-gold winner at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
If Dad is up for something different, try one of the botanical options from Golden’s own Hoot + Howl Spirits, which took home 15 total medals this year from the American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition and Denver International Spirits Competition. You can’t go wrong with their silver-medal-winning black tea liqueur, but we’re partial to the just-released Saint Alpin herbal liqueur, which was inspired by Chartreuse, génépi, and absinthe. $63 for the Root Shoot Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey; $30 for the Aspen Vodka; $40 for the Hoot + Howl black tea liqueur; $74 for the Hoot + Howl Saint Alpin herbal liqueur
Tame the Mustang Mountain Coaster
Dad might not have the skills to hop on a real horse, but he can certainly enjoy the thrills on Estes Park’s zippy Mustang Mountain Coaster. The outdoor roller coaster offers Rocky Mountain views as it barrels—or meanders, since Dad is in charge of his own speed—2,000 linear feet back to the starting point. Then, if his stomach is as strong as it was when he was your age, make your way just a few miles over to Fun City to try the figure-eight spinning roller coaster. If it’s not, stick to one of the theme park’s numerous other attractions, like bumper boats or the giant slide. Overnight in one of the simply chic rooms at Trailhead Lodge, a boutique motor lodge within walking distance of Estes Park’s main drag. $25 for one ride on the Mustang Mountain Coaster; starting at $2 for Fun City activities; starting at $226 per night at Trailhead Lodge
Brush Shoulders with Super Stars at Gaylord of the Rockies
Let your super hero meet his super hero when the Justice League takes over Gaylord Rockies during the “DC Summer Experience.” Every weekend through September 7, overnight guests can join resortwide scavenger hunts and eat alongside caped crusaders with themed dining. Don’t miss a chance to marvel at the DC Super Hero Academy Live Show, where guests problem-solve puzzles and train with their favorite muscled celebs. When the mercury spikes, dive into DC Super Hero–themed games, trivia, and DJ-spun tunes at the on-site Arapahoe Springs Water Park. (Added bonus that this should keep both pops and pipsqueaks entertained.) Starting at $389 per night for an overnight stay or $414 per night with the Super Hero Summer package
A Day of Relaxation at the Oakwell Beer Spa
Give Dad 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 traditional treatments like zero-gravity massage and infrared saunas—both 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 session in a private spa suite equipped with an herbal beer bath, infrared sauna, rain shower, and ample room to spread out. Plus, expect 15-minute zero gravity massages along with craft suds and gourmet treats (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). $359 for the Father’s Day Package
Raft the Poudre with Rocky Mountain Adventures
Put in on Northern Colorado’s clear-watered Cache la Poudre River for what’s guaranteed to be a wild and scenic ride—after all, the Poudre is the only stretch of blue in our state with a “Wild and Scenic” designation (similar to a National Park honor). The river’s 7,000-foot drop from headwaters to confluence creates both beginner/family-friendly Class II rapids and more advanced Class IIIs and IVs, while limited development along the banks means plenty of towering rock formations to ogle when you and your pops aren’t white-knuckling the handholds. Choose Rocky Mountain Adventures to guide your fearless father down the river Starting at $120 per person
