By: Fiona Moriarty, Hipmunk
Dad. Daddy. Pops. Pa. The Old Man. Whatever you call him, his day in the sun is just around the corner. And what better way to honor the man than the gift of travel? Whether he loves sports, brews, adventures or some good old-fashioned arts, culture and relaxation, we found six hotels that will be sure to make dad smile this Father's Day.
1. MGM Grand
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is a perennial vacation destination for good reason: There's always something going on. At the heart of the action sits the famous MGM Grand, boasting world-class dining, nightlife, gambling, and, perhaps most importantly, boxing. The Grand Garden Arena has a full line-up of matches this Father's Day weekend, including a showdown between Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter on the eve of the holiday. If he's more of a gourmand than a sports fan, treat dad to the tasting menu at world-renowned Joël Robuchon instead, or unleash his inner super sleuth with the interactive CSI: The Experience.
Milwaukee, WI
Named for the trains that pass nearby and for the motorcycles favored by its patrons, the Iron Horse caters to H.O.G. enthusiasts and will happily arrange a rental. Each room is a modern, suite-sized loft with thoughtful design elements that pay homage to the 100-year-old former warehouse building. Father's Day guests can dine inside or al fresco, opt for the Brew City add-on package for a tour of Milwaukee Brewing Co. and a (full) growler, and indulge all their motorcycle fantasies with workshops and tours at the Harley-Davidson Museum across the street. Stay the week after the holiday to catch some music at Milwaukee's Summerfest... nothing says Father's Day in America like a Harley, a brew, and the Rolling Stones.
Louisville, KY
Don't be put off by the huge, golden version of Michelangelo's David outside the entrance to the hotel's restaurant -- 21c just wears its hip, artsy heart on its sleeve. Boasting a museum in the lobby and decked throughout with contemporary art, this trendy spot is perfect for art-loving dads and is centrally located in downtown Louisville, making it convenient to activities for pops of all persuasions. Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum next door, hit up the Bourbon Trail, don a bow tie and place some bets at the historic Churchill Downs racetracks, or get adventurous and explore the Louisville Mega Cavern -- a gigantic tunnel system that runs under the city and houses an entire underground zip line and bike park.
4. The Sentinel
Portland, OR
What better way to say "thank you" to Dad than to take him to the Beer Capital of America? With 83 breweries in the Portland metro area, there's no better place for craft beer lovers to geek out over hops and malts. The centrally-located Sentinel encourages boozy city exploration with their Books & Brews package, which includes a brewery map, six pack of local beers, two transit passes for safe and easy brewery-hopping, and a $20 gift card to a local bookstore (we can only assume all that small-batch ambrosia really gets the intellectual juices flowing). Visitors can also opt for a more structured Beer City experience through tour companies like Brewvana.
Hot Springs, VA
A ski resort in the winter and a mecca for outdoorsy activities year-round, Omni Homestead Resort sits in the idyllic Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. Manly-man activities abound, including skeet shooting, horseback riding, golfing on the resort's two courses, fly fishing, paint balling, or even learning falconry. Yes, that's right: falconry. Meanwhile, the kids will be entirely distracted by the on-site water park, and parents can also sign them up for structured "Adventure Camp" or babysitting services. Two mineral hot springs help guests relax, and Father's Day eve brings a special dinner where each course pairs with a different beer from a local brewery.
6. Travaasa Experiential Resorts
June is "Man Month" at this activities-focused boutique with locations in Austin and on Maui's lush eastern shore. Unconvinced? They even have a special website dedicated to the Mancation. All guests get unlimited access to a packed calendar of activities grouped into categories like Adventure, Culinary, and Culture. Dad can start the day in Austin taking on the Prickly Pear Challenge Course and finish it out learning how to smoke meats with the best of 'em. Or, he can learn Hawaiian throw net fishing techniques from the locals in beautiful Hana Bay before honing his mixology skills back at the resort. Families be warned: except for certain suites at the Hana location, these resorts are currently 16+ only.