With Father’s Day right around the corner, you might be struggling to find gift ideas for dear old dad. At this point, he probably has all the ties he’ll ever need, and one more electronic gadget will only add to the clutter. So instead of buying him a generic greeting card and another thing, try spending your money on a different kind of gift this year.
Invest in Something Deeper
There’s something that speaks to the deep need for connection between fathers and their daughters. Unfortunately, between career and family obligations, and all the other responsibilities that come with a full life these days, there’s just not much time left over for that sort of thing.
So why not use Father’s Day as a handy excuse for reconnecting with your dad by planning an unforgettable experience you both can share? One that lends itself to long conversations and plenty of father-daughter bonding — like a long road trip.
Here’s what the ultimate father-daughter excursion might look like.
Start by Gearing Up
When you hear road trip, you probably think about traveling by car. But for this dream trip, you and your dad are renting an RV and traveling in style. No grubby roadside motels or greasy spoon diners here. Instead, you’ll be cruising around in your home-away-from-home, complete with it’s own kitchen and bathroom.
Don’t forget to stock up with the road trip essentials you’ll need for your trip, like plenty of beef jerky, bottled water and beer for the campfire. Then, once your mobile pantry is stocked and the gas tank is filled, you’re ready to hit the road.
Your trip begins in upstate New York with a pilgrimage every true sports fan should make. According to myth, baseball was invented right here, in the small village of Cooperstown. In the years since, the town has embraced the sport, hosting the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum and its annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Walk just two blocks down the road and you’ll arrive at historic Doubleday Field — considered the birthplace of the game — now home to concerts, ceremonies, and baseball tournaments. Throughout the summer months, there’s also a regular slate of youth and college summer league games being played throughout the town, so you and your dad will kick off this once-in-a-lifetime road trip with a healthy dose of all-American nostalgia.
Just don’t forget to have that catch before you leave.
From Cooperstown, you and your dad will travel southeast down I-88 towards Pennsylvania. As you cross over the border, join up with I-81 and drive through the heart of the state until arriving at the second stop in your father-daughter adventure: the Gettysburg National Military Park.
For three days in 1863, soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies fought here in what would become the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. The Union Army ultimately prevailed, and historians now consider the Battle of Gettysburg to be a turning point in the war. In an effort to preserve this hallowed ground, The National Park Service took control of the site in 1933 and it’s been open to the public ever since.
Today, visitors to the park can tour many of the battle’s key locations with the help of one of Gettysburg’s many Licensed Battlefield Guides. They can also visit the David Wills House, where Abraham Lincoln put the finishing touches on his Gettysburg Address and take a virtual tour of the National Cemetery where many of the battle’s dead are buried. No matter how you spend your day, this spot is sure to spark some important conversations.
Leaving Gettysburg, you’ll spend a long day in the RV traveling through Maryland, the mountains of West Virginia and into Louisville, Kentucky for the next portion of your trip. Lousiville is the state’s largest city, and birthplace of famous Americans like Abraham Lincoln, Muhammad Ali and George Clooney. It’s also home to many of the finest bourbon distillers in the world, which should come as no surprise. In the late 1700’s, a baptist preacher named Elijah Craig invented this new take on whiskey in nearby Fayette County, and Kentucky distillers have been busy perfecting his original recipe for more than 200 years.
Once you’ve arrived in Louisville, stretch your legs during a tour of one of the city’s fine distilleries like Angel’s Envy or The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. You can also visit many of the city’s best bars and restaurants — each dedicated to the heritage and culture of the state’s native spirit — by following Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail. You can pick up your trail map at The Louisville Visitor Center.
One thing’s for sure, after a day or two spent sampling America’s only native spirit, you and your dad will be true bourbon experts — at least compared to your family and friends.
Now that you’ve passed the midway point of your trip, it’s time to indulge dad’s love of the great American sports car. Catch I-65 south out of Louisville to Bowling Green. After about two hours, take exit 28 and you’ll find the National Corvette Museum.
Dedicated to the proud history of this iconic car, the Corvette Museum sits inside a 115,000 square foot facility and features 80 different models, one-of-a-kind concept cars, as well as photos, videos and other memorabilia from the brand’s storied history. If simply looking isn't enough, the museum also offers a more hands-on experience at their nearby Motorsports Park. Visitors can test drive their own cars on the motorsport racetrack, or borrow one of the park’s Corvettes for a few hot laps.
After ogling some of the most beautiful cars ever made, you’ll jump back on the open road with a bit of gasoline in your veins, and primed for the final stop on this ultimate father-daughter road trip.
Just an hour outside of Bowling Green sits Nashville, Tennessee — known as “Music City” and the final stop on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. There’s so much to do in this amazing city, that it’s hard to know where to start. You can’t go wrong, however, with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. There, you’ll learn the history of this all-American form of music and how it’s formed the backbone of this All-American town. Then, hit a show at the Ryman Auditorium or the historic Grand Ole Opry.
After you’ve had your fill of music, stroll through the restaurants and shops in one of Nashville’s neighborhoods like Hillsboro Village or 12South. You’ll get a great view of how the locals live in this one-of-a-kind place.
No trip to Nashville would be complete without sampling the city’s most famous dish: hot chicken. This extra-spicy style of fried chicken is a Nashville delicacy, and no place does it better than Prince’s Hot Chicken. Just don’t forget to order a cold drink with your meal, because you’ll probably need it.
Home Now, and Closer than You Were Before
Your road trip’s finished and together, you and your dad have traveled more than 1,000 miles through six different states while visiting five iconic American locations, sharing an experience unlike any other. Along the way, you’ve laughed, talked long into the night, reminisced about the good old days and hopefully made plans for the future. Most importantly, when you return to your normal lives at home, you’ll be closer than you were before you left.
Of course, not everyone will be able to take this exact trip. But hopefully you’ll still use this Father’s Day as an opportunity to connect with your dad on a different and deeper level — even if it’s just sitting on a porch swing while enjoying a cold beer.
Author: The founder and CEO of Allstar Coaches, the largest luxury RV rental company in the U.S., Rob Tischler is committed to helping Americans experience the perfect road trip adventure.
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