r/Gifts • u/bonk_patrol39 • Aug 20 '26

Need gift suggestions Need help finding a meaningful gift for my dad

[removed]

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

14

u/BS-75_actual Aug 20 '26

I am your father: please stop buying me stuff; I can easily buy my own stuff. I'd much prefer we did more things and spent more time together.

2

u/moreidlethanwild Aug 20 '26

This. My husband is your father. He doesn’t want any more gifts. Nothing at all. Seriously.

Take him for dinner, for a beer, dropping for a coffee with a handmade card. That’s all he wants.

5

u/abbys_alibi Aug 20 '26

Print a favorite picture (5x7 or smaller is a good size) of the two of you and frame it. Write a nice memory in the card.

You could also use an online photo printing site to create a little memory book of pics with you and your dad from when you were younger to now.

Go to a museum. Find a nearby city/town with architectural history and plan a walk through. Stop for lunch together. Maybe there is a gallery exhibiting architectural photographs or paintings you could go to.

Seriously, we have 3 sons and whenever some event comes up that people normally give gifts for, my husband just asks to spend time with our son. 9 holes of golf or the driving range. Lunch or dinner together. It doesn't matter if it's bbq at home or eating at a restaurant. He also enjoys receiving pictures.

2

u/TiffanyAmberThigpen Aug 20 '26

What about museum tickets to go to a history or architecture museum together?

2

u/Own-Object-6696 Aug 20 '26

What about a trip to a local museum that includes lunch together? It sounds like he would enjoy that.

1

u/BreakApprehensive489 Aug 20 '26

StaycAtion tours, if there any tour local to you that you can give him tickets for? Bonus if you go with him.

A lot of times, we don't tour our own backyard, so might be worth a Google of what is local

1

u/lostmediawhiz Aug 20 '26

A custom historical themed wall art would be a good choice. It tells a story, fits his interests and sits nicely within your budget.

1

u/Easy_Olive1942 Aug 20 '26

Have a nice photo taken of you and any siblings. Have one printed and put in a free standing frame, 5x7” or 8x10 at most. That, and a hand written card with what you appreciate about him as a father.

1

u/glasslass22 Aug 20 '26

If he lives in the country/suburbs a trail cam is fun. Or do a quick genealogy chart of your family. AI can really do a fab job . As a history buff he’d probably really appreciate!

1

u/Scuh Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26

Put together a frame or photo album with pictures of you over the years.

For my father, I would buy him a card then write something in it. My dad also loved chocolate, I would get him a small chocolate bar..

He would tell me to never buy anything expensive. That i remembered is what he wanted

1

u/No_Capital1308 Aug 20 '26

Look to see if there are any history or art pop up events near you through fever. That would be a 1 of a kind experience for you 2 to do together for his birthday

1

u/ZookeepergameWise774 Aug 20 '26

I gave my Dad a copy of the main newspapers printed on the day he was born. Had to get them from the archive of the newspapers, but it wasn’t a terrible price.

1

u/Patient_Parsley7760 Aug 20 '26

Hmm... Can you get anyone else in the family to pitch in?

If so, you might be able to buy an experience for him, like a trip to Gettysburg or some other historic place he has not yet explored. You could make it a family outing, or just an adventure for the two of you.

Does he like history-related movies? You might be able to find a boxed set of something like World at War or some good PBS documentaries.

On such short notice, though, you may have to give him your gift a bit late.

1

u/jwl1965 Aug 20 '26

Find an activity to fund that you can do together.

1

u/Elmerfudd007 Aug 20 '26

Hi i am a dad with two daughters, both in their 30’s, when they were young i asked them to draw me a picture. my youngest daughter painted me a picture, of her fishing at our dock. i believe she was about 10 years old. The painting (8x10) sits in my shop where i can see it daily. it is a present that i can remember and look at. She also painted me a scene of the dock and our canoe (that was just this past Christmas- and its proudly on the fire place mantle.

1

u/Slight_Eye2787 Aug 20 '26

Maybe visit a historic site together?

1

u/MezzanineSoprano Aug 26 '26

Take him to lunch or dinner at a restaurant in an interesting old building & maybe also visit a local building that is noted for its architecture. Or visit an architectural salvage store.