Don't worry. With a little creativity you can put together amazing gifts that he'll never forget.
? For the Artistic Type. He loves art. Instead of getting him yet another art book or framed photograph (and he's out of wall space anyway), why not go for some art supplies? Let him try his hand at painting, or sculpting, or drawing! Putting together a gift basket full of supplies might ignite an otherwise hidden creative spark. You never know, you just might have the next Picasso on your hands.
If you want to go a step further, you could even sign him up for a class at the local community college. Talk about a surprise!
? For the Health Nut. Indulge him this year with a tasty, organic gift basket. These can be filled with anything from fresh, organic fruit to rich organic coffees or chocolates. Sure, you could go for just another pair of running socks, but this is so much more fun! You can fill the basket with things he normally wouldn't buy for himself anyway, which makes it that much more special.
If your dad travels often, why not put together a portable fitness kit for him? These are great to take on the road, allowing him to do several resistance exercises from the comfort of his hotel room (or RV, for that matter). From yoga to jump rope, he'll have it all right at his fingertips. You can put all the little items in a portable canvas bag and he'll be able to grab it and go.
? For Pure Decadence. Ever want to buy something just for the sheer fun of it? Or give a gift that you know the person would never get for themselves? Well, decadence gifts are right up this alley.
First off, you need to get creative. Why not do a bit of research and find out what kinds of games your dad used to play when he was younger? You can hunt them down one by one and make a fun gift basket full of old toys. Or, instead of doing games specifically, you could hunt up memorabilia from when he was younger (?40's, ?50's, etc.). Lots of companies make fun reproductions that are sure to bring a smile to his face.
If you're thinking luxury, why not plan a trip for him? Depending on your budget and his interests, you could send him off anywhere from Vegas to Paris. Make all the arrangements so he doesn't have to worry about a thing. If Paris seems a bit of a stretch, why not set something up at a Bed and Breakfast a short drive away?
? For the Time Honored Gift. These are the gifts that are the solid standbys. Books, jewelry, games. The tried and true gifts that never let you down.
So, we're thinking out of the box here (and ignoring the alluring call of the plain-jane gift card ?). What about a pair of really unique cufflinks (they even make them out of Scrabble tiles?who knew?)
Or, if you've got some time on your hands, why not buy a really beautiful, unique photo album and fill it with pictures of his life, from the time he was born up until the present. These can be really powerful gifts if you have the time to put them together. Or, if the thought of doing an entire album is too daunting, why not buy a nice big frame and do a collage?
? For a Technology Gift. If your dad is at all into music, he's probably got an iPod of some sort. (If he doesn't, great gift idea here! Do him a favor and put some of his favorite songs on there so he can start enjoying it right away.) If he does already have one, why not get him some cool accessories to go with it? You can get an alarm clock that uses the iPod to wake him up to his favorite song, or a watertight boombox he can use outside or on the lake.
Hopefully some of these ideas have sparked your creativity enough to get you going on a great gift idea. Good luck, and happy hunting!
Getting him a meaningful gift for Father's Day can be easy, as long as you think outside the box yourself.
Why not think about buying him a year's membership to the local art museum (or botanical gardens)? Members usually get in free whenever they want, and also get special invites to come hear speakers or take classes. It would be a gift he could enjoy all year long.
Or, if he loves to write, how about a variety of writing-inspired gifts? For example, you could get him some stationery embossed with his initials, an exquisite pen, and perhaps some books on writing fiction, or the art of composing letters, or whatever type of writing he enjoys doing. All of this could be wrapped and placed inside a leather messenger bag he could tote to the local coffee shop when the creative muse strikes!
If your dad has always had an adventurous spirit, give him the world. Literally. There are companies that make wall-sized maps of the world, and this would be an awe-inspiring gift to put up in his library or study. You could supplement this gift with a few amusing travel memoirs to get him geared up to hit the road.
Sticking with the traveling theme, if he already has a trip planned, why not put together a trip-inspired gift? If he's traveling to a foreign country, pick him up the Rosetta Stone software so he can start learning the language. Water bottles, passport holders, expensive hiking socks, the ideas are endless for this creative gift.
If you'd like to give him a memory that will last a lifetime, why not take him on a mystery trip for the day? Don't tell him anything that you'll be doing, and you make all the arrangements. Whether it's a picnic in the park and then an afternoon of bowling, or hitting the bookstore to hear a local writer speak, chock it full with things that he would love to do. He'll never forget it.
If your dad has a favorite photograph, why not bring it to a camera shop that can print photographs on canvas? They can be mounted on wood just like a work of art and blown up to almost any size. Whether it's a picture of the family on vacation or a gorgeous sunset over the lake, he'll be touched that his favorite picture is now a treasured work of art for everyone to enjoy.
If you're tech savvy, why not spend some time combing through the family home videos? You can take funny clips and weave them all together to create a new home video just for him. He'll be left with the primo clips, and if you put it all to music it can be a hilarious, treasured keepsake he'll watch again and again.
As you can see there are plenty of great, unique gifts you can come up with to show your dad how much he means to you, and they certainly all don't have to cost a fortune. What counts far more is the obvious time and consideration you poured into the gift idea, and he'll definitely appreciate your thoughtfulness for not getting him yet another tie!
Karen Fusco has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Fitness and Family. Karen Fusco is co-founder of which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. She is also co-founder of. Karen Fusco's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.