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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 steak or lobster for dinner, you’ll want to indulge in whatever is on the menu. It’s all-inclusive, after all. Starting at $975 per night based on double occupancy at the Ranch
Tame the Mustang Mountain Coaster
Dad might not have the skills (or health insurance package) to saddle up for bronc riding at the National Western Stock Show, 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 new-in-June figure-eight spinning roller coaster. If it’s not, stick to one of the theme park’s numerous other funtivities like water walking balls or the giant slide. Overnight in one of the simply chic rooms at Trailborn Rocky Mountains, 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 $190 per night at Trailborn Rocky Mountains
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 for the first-ever “DC Summer Experience.” Every weekend through September 1, overnight guests can join resort-wide 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. Starting at $389 per night
A Day of Relaxation at the Oakwell Beer Spa
Has Dad been looking a little frazzled by the Rockies’ ineptitude? 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 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). $359 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. 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. 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. Starting at $29 for an all-access day pass
Raft the Poudre with Rocky Mountain Adventures
Put in on Northern Colorado’s clear-watered the 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 for a splashtastic Father’s Day that’s breathtaking in every sense of the word. Starting at $120 per person
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 Speakeasy for a Twisted Branch Pretzel and mustard flight, gin-forward Screech Owl, or non-alcoholic Garden Fairy, made with butterfly pea flower syrup. $23 for those over age 16, $15 for children ages five to 15, free for kids under five
