Things to Do with Dad on Father's Day: Pop's Day Adventures!

We think of Father's Day as something that's been around forever, like our dads. In the United States, Father's Day didn't become a national holiday until 1972, though people celebrated it in individual communities around the country as early as 1910. Now, the third Sunday in June is officially designated as a day to celebrate the accomplishment, perseverance and patience of dads everywhere.
Here are five suggestions for Father's Day activities that cover a wide range of interests, ages and budgets.
First, decide what kind of a dad you have.

Is your dad:

Indiana Jones? Did you know that the national Parks Service always has archaeological digs in progress around the country and that most of them are open to the public? Visit nps.gov for rules and locations, then download a map from googlemaps.com to plan your expedition. You'll find the Indiana Jones fedora at thinkgeek.com.

If your budget is a bit smaller, consider outfitting Dad as Indy and heading to the nearest natural history and science museum. Take canteens of water and camp food in backpacks so everyone feels like part of the "expedition". Mmmmm....beef jerky and kool aid....

Papa Hemingway? Is your paterfamilias longing for a day of fishing? Visit fishing.com on the web to get the low down on every type of fishing - freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing- and links to every detail of fishing equipment, suggested locations, bait tips and lodging. If you live near a coastline, party boats are a great idea. They supply the boat, helpful deckhands, poles, bait and knowledge of the best "fishing holes" in the area.

Fishing guides and charter boats are a bit more expensive, but if your dad's yen is for big time sport or deep sea fishing, they're worth the price. The best parts of a fishing trip are quiet time to bait and bond, fresh air, and , if you're lucky, a fish dinner at the end of the day.

The Fonz? If your dad is the 50's drive-in type, here's an up-to-date twist on a by-gone classic. Ask all the dads in your family or neighborhood to dress in their best mid-century gear - cuffed jeans, white tee shirts, pompadour hairstyles - and ask all the girls to put on their bobby-soxxer look - pony tails, men's over-sized shirts over rolled up jeans and saddle shoes, or poodle skirts and cardigans. Stoke up the backyard grill, but keep it simple; serve hot dogs, hamburgers, bake French fries, serve cola with a soda fountain touch like vanilla or cherry syrup, or malts with straws.

As the sun goes down, have everyone gather around a television and DVD player or VCR brought out to the backyard using heavy gage extension cords. You can use a collection of folding, lawn or comfy chairs, or just build a gigantic pallet out of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows. While everyone's favorite double feature plays, be sure to serve lots of popcorn.
Here are some suggested titles: "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "House of Wax", "The Thing", or for more contemporary tastes, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "Batman", "Back to the Future" or "Star Wars".

James Bond? If your dad is an international man of mystery, get the family dressed up in their best evening wear, serve him a gourmet meal, either homemade or catered by a local chef or restaurant, then turn the kitchen table into a casino (unless you already live in Vegas or Monte Carlo) and play your favorite game of chance (Go, Fish, anyone?) while quoting your favorite Bond film lines. The ideal gift for this dad is, of course, Spy Camera Sunglasses. They have 1 gig of storage, remote control for picture taking, mp3 player with ear buds and USB 2.0 connection to transfer pictures to the computer. You can find them at thinkgeek.com.

Papa Bear? If you're a young family, celebrate dad as the leader of the pack by watching kid classics like "The Lion King" or "Finding Nemo" and extend the theme to the rest of the day by taking the whole family to the zoo or an aquarium.

For laughs, make your own video telling Dad all the reasons he's the best and load it on YouTube for all the world to see. While you're there, check out a great video parody by First Hour Movies called, "Reservoir Dads", for all the fathers out there who are Quentin Tarantino fans.

These are merely suggestions and the best idea is always to figure out what activities your dad likes and design a day around him as a big "thank you!" for everything he does for his family all year long.