The May long weekend unofficially kicks off summer, leading to Father’s Day and all that comes with it – ties, mugs, golf gear and barbecue accessories.
But maybe Dad has had enough of all that stuff and would enjoy something a bit different this June. What about travel? Adventure travel, even bucket list must dos are increasingly popular, according to Carrie Arbour, leisure travel manager at St. Albert’s Vision Travel. She points to active holidays that can involve cycling or hiking – a growing trend among fathers and grandfathers of all ages.
“Everyone is more fit and health-conscious today, and men tend not to want to just sit on a beach,” said Arbour. “More often, they’re asking, ‘where can I go with my kids and, especially, grandkids?”
Arbour said adventure travel can be anything from a busy Disney cruise with the grandkids, to a more refined European river cruise, to a week-long bike tour or even a small walking tour as part of a vacation in Cuba. “You don’t have to be a marathon runner or a triathlete to enjoy an active holiday,” she said.
A recent survey by InterContinental Hotels Group showed that most Albertans – 84 per cent – don’t consider a weekend long enough to unwind on a vacation and, among those 55-plus, 81 per cent said a vacation should be three nights or more. But even if you want to gift Dad with a getaway that’s a few days long, it may be a good start to check author Robin Esrock’s book, The Great Canadian Bucket List.
For close to home adventures, Esrock points to wildlife-watching all around Alberta, such as the bison of Wood Buffalo National Park or moose and elk in Jasper and Banff National Park. For science-loving dads, Esrock offers Canada’s very own Dead Sea, close enough for a short jaunt for Albertans. Little Manitou Lake, 116 km southeast of Saskatoon, has a mineral density three times saltier than the ocean. This well-kept Saskatchewan secret is unique in the northern hemisphere, according to Esrock – a place swimmers flock to each summer.
“Sure, there are crazy experiences people seek – spending a night in an ice hotel, floating on a salt-laden lake, adventures in the high Arctic – but there are many accessible and affordable things close to home too. Experiences on a bucket list don’t have to cost anything,” Esrock said.
Esrock’s book The Great Prairie Bucket List will be on the shelves next winter – an idea for next Father’s Day, perhaps?
If you do send Dad off for an extended weekend away, or longer, InterContinental Hotels Group offers the following tips: live like a local (exploring cities by public transit), don’t over-schedule your day (allow time for spontaneous down time), challenge yourself to something new to make exciting memories, and explore your own backyard – think festivals, museums, etc. Buy Dad an admission pass to the folk festival or Fringe festival, the art gallery, a concert at the Arden or Winspear and throw in a green onion cake – you’re all set.
