What do you buy the dad who’s got everything? 

Well, we live in a spectacular part of the British Isles, so why not treat him to some of its highlights. Give him the gift of a wonderful summer memory!

Yee ha dad

For the yee ha dad how about a cowboy stay in an iconic Airstream thanks to Vintage Vacations on the Isle of Wight? Their gift package includes a two-night stay over Father’s Day with a free ferry crossing and a Cowboy-themed Dad’s Dinner food hamper of local produce like hot dog sausages and smoky beans.

Safari dad

For monkeying around with the kids, you can’t do better than a trip to Longleat Safari Park. And Dads go free over Father’s Day weekend. Take a boat trip to be joined by sea lions and, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot Nico – the oldest silverback gorilla in Europe, who lives on his own island. Waddle with the penguins, go through the Bat Cave and enjoy a spot of lunch before heading back to the car to start the safari. The undoubted highlight of the day will be the cheeky monkeys who love climbing on cars and hitching a lift round the park!

Gentleman’s afternoon tea dad

The Montagu Arms in the New Forest is quintessentially English fine dining but this Father’s Day it’s treating dads to an afternoon tea more fitting to a stylish Gentleman! Expect home made Scotch eggs and beer cake as well as traditional scones. The garden is a delight. After your meal, cross the street and head into Beaulieu Chocolate Studio to pick up a dark chocolate beer to relax with when you get home.

Beach Boy dad

If your Dad loves water sports, the Hayling Island Kitesurfing Armada on 22-24 June is a perfect treat choice. Plan a picnic or a beach barbie, pack the sun cream and head off to the stunning West Beach to watch this spectacle of sea and sail. There’s music, street food, bars and activities, possibly even a world record attempt. You could camp for the weekend for a maximum Beach Boy vibe?

MAMIL dad

If dad’s a MAMIL, give him a break from the long solo rides and get him trundling with the kids instead. Moors Valley Country Park is ideal – stick your own bikes on the back of the car or hire when you get there. Waymarked paths are clearly graded so riders young and old can pedal at their level. To really spend Father’s Day on a high, treat him to a treetop trail at Go Ape!

Arty dad

Head to Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery for an afternoon of art inspiration. There’s always a world-class exhibition on here (normally stemming from the Tate) and the current displays on Virginia Woolf, Sussex, and Modernism will appeal to arty dads! Follow it with an evening dinner at one of the cathedral city’s finest establishments, such as Purchases Bar and Restaurant or the Crab and Lobster at Sidlesham.

Frances Hodgkins, Wings over Water, 1930, oil on canvas, Tate © Tate, London 2018

Brighton up a day dad

Get the family together and head for the coast with a classic seaside day trip to Brighton. Walk out of the railway station and veer right to start off with a pint at the Evening Star pub – birthplace of the city’s Dark Star brewery. Head downhill to browse The Lanes, where a wealth of independent shops is to be found in its mazy streets, including Vinyl Revolution, loved by retro record collectors. Seafront fish and chips and a session in the Palace Pier’s arcades are sure to keep him amused before you head home.

Real ale dad

Ringwood Brewery is 40 years old and is inviting dads to visit on Father’s Day for a free pint of ale and an afternoon of free family fun. There’s a beer festival with 16 ales, free mini brewery tours, shire horses, music and lots of games for all the family. Make sure Dad’s not driving home though!

Outdoorsy dad

Paddle to the pub on the stunning Beaulieu River to Buckler’s Hard and the gardens of the Master Builder’s where the tempo is definitely slow and the views are classic South Sensation, thanks to New Forest Activities.

Petrolhead dad

How about a Hot Rod and Custom Drive-in Day for your dad if he’s a bit of a petrolhead? There’s going to be hundreds of cool, colourful custom cars, live music and entertainment at The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

For bespoke ideas for your South Sensation Dad, just private message us from social media with your dad’s personality and likes and we’ll see what we can come up with for you!

Happy Father’s Day, South Sensation style!