The beautiful thing about travel is that it brings people together in fun and surprising ways. Travel bonds us; especially when we enjoy amazing trips with family members that we know and love! As Father’s Day 2024 is approaching on 16 June, now is the perfect time to start planning the ultimate getaway for future trips with your dad.
Expat Explore has put together a list of trip inspiration based on shared interests. Adventurous holidays, history-filled getaways, foodie finds and more! Whether you enjoy relaxing vacations or are searching for fun activities that will get your adrenaline pumping, the perfect adventure to fit your interests is out there. Make family memories together in incredible places; from the safari plains of South Africa to the historic streets of Europe’s top cities!
Take inspiration from these great trip ideas to celebrate Father’s Day:
Get adventurous
Make new memories in a big way when you set off on an adventurous holiday with your father! Head outdoors and enjoy camping, fishing, hiking and even skydiving. Feel the competitive spirit with a few games of paintball or laser tag. This can be in a new country completely in your own town. They do say that a change of scenery is as good as a holiday!
Take it further afield and visit exotic foreign destinations. Vietnam is filled with fantastic culture, food and outdoor activities. Hike magnificent mountains, kayak on the ocean and cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. Travel to Vietnam on tour and enjoy the streets filled with scooters, fresh seafood and beautiful temples!
South Africa is another incredible adventure destination. Start off with an unforgettable safari experience and watch wild animals in their natural habitat. Take a leap of faith off of one of the world’s highest bungee jumps at Bloukrans Bridge Bungy along the Garden Route and spend your days surfing and snorkelling at the country’s gorgeous beaches. The outdoors, cities and towns are full of local fun and flavour making a tour to South Africa a definite must!
Across the Atlantic Ocean in South America, grab dad and enjoy something slightly different. Travel to Peru where you can spend time exploring the world-famous Machu Picchu. This breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site is on countless bucket lists for a reason! South America is home to incredible countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica which are overflowing with outdoor adventures, unique tastes and memorable experiences.
Re-discover your roots
Take a trip down memory lane with your family members. Destinations such as the United Kingdom and Ireland and countries across Europe are steeped in history. This history includes our extended families reaching back generations. If you and/or your dad are history buffs, a trip that includes facets of family history is a fun, informative and fascinating option! Rediscover your roots; visit the countries that your ancestors immigrated from or enjoy a pint at a pub in the town your father or grandfather grew up in. If you describe yourself as ¼ Irish or half-French, experience life in these places! You may even discover something truly unique about your father or even yourself through these experiences.
Indulge in foodie fare
As many travellers will know, one of the best parts of a vacation is the food! If you and your dad are foodie fanatics, why not plan a trip to countries famous for their cuisine? Taste the pasta, pizza, fresh meat and local ingredients of Italy. Enjoy fine dining in France. Share tapas plates in Spain. Taste fresh seafood in Greece, savour exotic spices in Turkey and sample Dutch cheese in the Netherlands. Indulge in hearty fare like goulash and lángos in Hungary. Side note: the age-old joke “Dad, I’m hungry” “Hi Hungry, I’m dad” never gets old – and imagine how much funnier it will be when you get to say it in a place called Hungary – dad joke level 1,000!
Once you have had your fill of delicious meals, why not treat yourself and your dad to a relaxing male spa day? Enjoy some rest and rejuvenating treatments – holidays should have some time for relaxing after all!
Related: Be sure to try out these iconic European street foods on your next visit.
Say cheers with your favourite drinks!
If you and dad are passionate about good drinks, a holiday together is the perfect excuse to visit some iconic beer, wine and whiskey destinations! One of the most well-known festivals in the world is Oktoberfest. It has many iterations around the world, however, the original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, has to be experienced to be believed. Travel to the Scottish Highlands to enjoy a “wee dram” or two in the country’s famous whisky distilleries. Just across the Irish Sea in Dublin, you can visit and tour an iconic brewery: the Guinness Storehouse. Here you can sample Ireland’s most iconic beer in its homeland! A trip to France should be at the top of the bucket list for wine lovers; this beautiful country is famous for its wines and wine country. It is where perennial favourites like Bordeaux and Champagne were born and perfected!
Related: Beer lovers simply have to visit these top destinations!
Head off on a golf getaway
This may feel like a slightly stereotypical idea but as it has been said, what’s old is gold! Enjoy a few days away at a gorgeous golf resort in countries like Scotland, South Africa (which is home to the world-famous resort Sun City), the USA, Spain and Portugal. Or tee off closer to home on a golf day trip. Whiling away a couple of hours on the green with your dad is a great way to catch up, bond and enjoy time together (just don’t make any loud noises when he is about to swing).
Travel the open road on a road trip
The quintessential bonding experience: a road trip. Pack a bag, grab the keys and hit the road! Plan a route together that includes stops at new places, old favourites and a few quirky spots and get ready for a road trip adventure. Throw in some fun activities like rock climbing, lake visits and more. Stop at roadside diners or find places off the beaten path. You can travel through your home country or discover somewhere completely foreign – just remember to check what side of the road they drive on! Be sure to make a music playlist that features a few of your dad’s favourite tunes and rock out along the way. There are so many little ways to make a road trip with dad the ultimate vacation adventure.
For something slightly different take the stress of driving out of the equation and choose a coach tour that ticks all your boxes! Technically, you’ll be on the road so that counts as a road trip in our books!
Are you feeling inspired? Yes? Excellent! There’s never a bad time to start dreaming about your next epic trip with your dad. Celebrate Father’s Day by planning a future holiday Expat Explore – there is nothing quite like the gift of travel!