• HOME
• FOOD
• RECIPES
• DINING
• DRINKS
• SHOP
• TRAVEL
• ABOUT

If your dad or husband hasn't made out his Father's Day wish list and isn't known as being easy to shop for, you're probably searching for a few ideas. Gifts don't have to come in boxes to be memorable and appreciated. Ditch the box this year and get him something to eat, drink or do.

Consumable Gifts

Gifts that have some sort of shelf-life will ensure they get used and you won't find them tucked away in a box years down the road. For a gift that keeps on giving all year round, order a membership to a mustard-of-the-month club from the National Mustard Museum or another gourmet shop that sends out monthly shipments of wine gift baskets or seasonal specialty items like beer, meats, nuts and cheese.

Hot sauce sauce gift baskets will make your man's mouth drool. Gourmet Mikes has varieties that include America's Best BBQ Joint set, Dave's Insanity sauce, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Cooler Set and Blaire's Death Sauce Sampler. Pair with a new BBQ tool set, some juicy steaks and something wet to wash it all down and you got it right, girl.

Experiences

Some people prefer to have experiences over getting tangible gifts. Taking trips, attending sporting events and visiting exhibits are more memorable than a coffee mug:

• Take a cooking class together at the local culinary school.
  
• Rent him a sports car to drive around town for a week.
  
• Get him tickets to a NASCAR event or better yet, spring for a NASCAR driving experience will blow his mind.
  
• Does he enjoy fine art? Take in a day downtown visiting museums.
  
• Is flying a plane on his bucket list? There's your answer — flying lessons.
  
• Send him off on a fishing excursion with his buddies.
  
• Go big with a trip to Scotland so he can hit a few rounds in the birthplace of golf, kiss the Blarney Stone and get some real corned beef, cabbage and Irish ale.
  
• Take a big family trip and let the guys take it easy while the women and kids do all the planning, cooking and cleaning. Rent a beach house in San Diego, take a cruise to Alaska or go camping in the Shenandoah Valley.
  
  And If He Actually Likes to Open a Gift

Want to get him a small gift in addition to the gourmet delights, travel destination or experience? Among some of the numerous personalized gifts you can get are cooler bags to keep that cheese and wine cool on a picnic or a passport case to hold his overseas documents in style.

Does dad like his daily bottle of beer? An at home brewing system or brew-on-demand beer dispensing machine increases your cool factor two-fold.

It's All About Dessert

At the end of the day, it's really all about the dessert. Feed him bananas foster, creme brulee, baked Alaska or (and) classic mud pie.