Unique Father's Day Gifts

No matter how tough, gruff or stoic fathers are, they usually love being celebrated on Father’s Day. But when it comes to gift giving, dads are among the most difficult people to buy for. After all, he has you – what else could he possibly need?

Below you'll find some great ideas for gifts that have just the right amount of practicality, personalization and heart for the number one man in your life.

Crafts

Not all dads like ties, and a guy can only have so many #1 Dad or Best Dad Ever mugs and t-shirts –even if they were made in art class.

Young children love making gifts for their parents, and homemade gifts have come a long way since the days of the macaroni necklace.

Since most men are in charge of the household grill, kids can transform a plain apron into a grill master’s work of art. All you need is a plain apron, fabric paint and stencils.

In keeping with the grill theme, dad may appreciate a personalized spatula, cutting board or a handmade condiment holder for his spices, sauces and tools.

If he enjoys nature, a decorated birdhouse or feeder will bring him great joy for years. Condiment and birdhouse/bird feeder kits, as well as many other DIY kits, can be found in craft stores or online.

Subscription Boxes

Clark Griswold may not have appreciated his jellyof-the-month club gift, but subscriptions are a great way to make dad feel like the best guy all year long.

The type of box you choose will depend on your budget and what he likes.

If dad has an affinity for a certain kind of food, it's pretty much guaranteed there’ll be a monthly subscription box for it. For example, if he loves jerky, there are subscriptions with unique jerkies such as reindeer and snake, as well as boxes that can help him make his own.

If he enjoys a good brie wheel, there are rare cheese clubs that ship small-batch artisan cheeses. There’s nothing like a good cup of joe in the morning and if dad is a bit of a coffee connoisseur, a roasters subscription might be the perfect gift.

For the cook, there are full meal kits to help expand his culinary skills. If he loves to grill all things carnivore, Key Farms Meat and Mercantile on 816 Maple St. in Carrollton, Ga. sells its locally raised beef by the cut, or by the entire cow. The farm's retail store also has grills, grilling utensils, spices, seasonings, marinades, pickles and relishes – all designed to help dad and the whole family eat healthier.

Not all monthly subscriptions are food-based. For the reader or music fan, there are book- and record-of-the-month clubs, which are good for guys comfortable reading/listening to unknown authors and musicians.

Experiences

Crafts are great gifts from younger children, while subscriptions or store-bought presents work well for teens with jobs. Experiences, which can run the gamut from free to thousands of dollars, can be good gifts for adult children to give.

Just like monthly subscription boxes, no matter what dad is interested in, it can be turned into an experience.

For the guy who loves to learn or always wanted to hone a specific skill, try giving him gift certificates for classes in art, baking, beer making, cooking, flying, golf, grilling or skydiving, for example.

For the car guy who drives a family friendly sedan, why not rent him his dream car for the day?

Tickets to concerts and ballgames are always winners, but they can be transformed into an even more memorable gift by getting them for somewhere other than close to home. Dad can even make a weekend of it with a fancy hotel and dinner reservations at a locally famous restaurant. Just make sure you include the hotel and restaurant reservations in the gift, along with the airline ticket –if applicable.

By thinking out-of-the-box, Father’s Day can become more than a day to add another tie to the collection – unless that’s his jam, of course. WGW