Are you looking for something fun to do for Dad this Father's Day?
We have a great way to celebrate Dad and create a fun adventure for the whole family to enjoy! Plus the best part, you can create this "mystery adventure" in no time at all and on any budget!
The first thing you need to do is decide if you want a structured day or an "anything goes" kinda day! Then follow the instructions below!
For a scheduled/structured day grab a bunch of envelopes and paper.
- Brainstorm the entire day for Dad. Did he say he wanted to do something special for Father's Day? What does he like to do? Should we be gone all day exploring or should we give him downtime to rest and relax? Do you have restaurant reservations? Brunch plans? Did you get him a gift? Does he want to go on a hike? This is completely customizable to the Dad in your life.
- Write down all the activities you have planned in the order you want the day to flow. It might look like this: 8 AM Brunch at El Tio Alex - 10 AM Hike at Etiwanda Preserve - 12:30 PM Backyard BBQ Lunch - 2:00 PM Family Swim - 4 PM Open Gifts - 5 PM Happy Hour with Dad's Favorite Snacks & Drinks - 6:30 PM Dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse 8:30 PM Dessert and Late-Night Movie. If you are on a budget, think of things you can do at home. If you have kids that need to go down for naps, then add that to the list - Naptime for the kids and a mini at-home date for the grown-ups. This could be a charcuterie board and drinks, play a game together, get some of his favorite drinks to do a beer/wine tasting, watch his favorite show, work on a project, or just sit and talk.
- On the front of each envelope, list the time for each adventure. Each adventure gets its own envelope.
- Transfer each activity to a slip of paper and place it in the corresponding envelope for that specific activity.
- Seal the envelopes.
- Bundle them all up together and give them to Dad first thing in the morning or display them on a string, clipped up with clothespins as part of your decorations.
It's such a fun way to take a planned out day but still create a sense of surprise and fun for the whole family!
For an "anything goes" kinda day, grab some paper and a cute jar - lid optional.
- Brainstorm things Dad likes to do. Did he say he wanted to do something special for Father's Day? What does he like to do for fun? Should we head outdoors to explore or should we give him a day of downtime to rest and relax? What are his favorite foods? Hobbies? What does he like to do with the family? Did you get him a gift? Does he want to go on a hike? This is completely customizable to the Dad in your life. *NOTE: Keep the ideas to doable activities for the day and your budget.
- Write down all the activities! This includes meals and opening gifts/cards. Next to each activity write down how long each one could take. Then narrow your list down to just a few activities for that day. If you have more activities than you can do, it's ok! You can always add the rest of the activities to the jar later. Then you'll have a family fun jar ready with fun activities when you need it!
- Your activity list might look like this: Breakfast in bed (1hr) - Hike at Etiwanda Preserve (3hrs) - Backyard BBQ Lunch (1.5hrs) - Family swim (2hrs) - Nerf Gun War (1hr) - iFly adventure (2.5hrs) - Water balloon fight (1hr) - Bike the Pacific Electric Trail (1.5hrs) - Open Gifts (30min) - IPA Tasting at Local Breweries (2hrs) - Board Game Challenge (1hr) - Dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse (2hrs) - Draw Dad a picture while he naps or watches TV (1.5hrs) - Cook dinner together as a family (2hrs) - Family Movie (2.5hr) - Take a Family Photo or Selfie & ask Dad his favorite thing about being a Dad. Print the picture, write Dad's answer below the picture and frame it with the date (1.5hrs) - Family Dance Party (30min) - Visit Dad's favorite local store - be specific on what store (1hr)
- Once you have decided all of your activities for the day, start writing them on little slips of paper. To make sure your meals aren't too far apart or close together, you can pick colored paper for each meal so you know which paper to pull at specific times for meals. If there are any other activities you need to do at specific times, fold the papers, tape them shut, and write the amount of time the activity will need to be completed on the outside of the slip of paper. If you have several activities with set time activities, you may want to do the scheduled day above. The fun of an "anything goes" kind of day is there is no plan. Spontaneity is the key to the fun!
- Put all the slips of paper in the jar and label it "Dad's Mystery Adventure!"
- Give the jar to Dad first thing in the morning! Then get ready for a fun-filled day of Dad-approved activities!
This is such a fun way to create a planned, yet spontaneous family fun throughout Father's Day and celebrate the Dad in your life!
Want to head outside out and explore, but not sure where to go? Check out our Family Fun events calendar for ideas!
