Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Dads of Any Age

Why is it that holiday shopping for women is so easy, but finding gifts for men is so difficult? Fathers are especially challenging to shop for. Got a few hard-to-shop for dads on your holiday giving list? Here are the top 10 gifts that are sure to please Dad.

One of the difficult parts about shopping for dads is that some of them say, "I don't need anything for Christmas." You and he both know that you are still going to get him a gift, however. So take him at his word. Buy him a gift that he doesn't need, just for fun. The secret to holiday gift-giving for anyone, especially Dad, is to buy something special, unrelated to work and a little frivolous. Most dads don't buy many luxuries for themselves. Spoil dad a little. I don't mean that you should give dad a useless gift. Remember "Billy Big Mouth Bass," the singing fish plaque? That's not what I mean; give dad a gift which will be a special treat and still useful.

Explore your Dad's hobbies and interests. Does he enjoy baseball, fishing, swimming, football, poker, hunting, archery, microbrews, cooking, antiques, vintage airplanes, motorcycles, skiing, history, automobiles, model airplanes, coin-collecting, travel, model rail-road building? What are Dad's favorite books, movies, music tastes, magazines? Talk to your dad about his interests and listen. Talk to your mother, your aunts and uncles, your grandparents and his friends. If he doesn't have a hobby, get him interested in one. It might be that he is interested in various things, but just doesn't have the time to pursue them. Make a list of at least three hobbies that will interest your father. Find out what things he may already have and what he needs for his hobby or collection.

Use your father's interests to buy him one of these top 10 gifts for dads:

1. Books. Give your dad a new book by his favorite author. Coffee table books about his interests are also excellent choices. For example, my husband loves British motorcycles. Each year, he gets a new British motorcycle guide for his collection.

2. Movies. The next movie in Dad's favorite series is a sure-to-please gift choice.

3. Music. Dad will love his favorite artist's newest CD, or if he has an MP3 player, you can get him a gift card to purchase music online.

4. Television series. Try giving dad the latest season episodes of a favorite TV show.

5. Magazines. Give Dad a specialty magazine subscription based on his interests

6. Tickets. To give Dad a gift you know he'll love, get him tickets or a season pass to an event or game, such as sporting events, Broadway Theater guild, local music line-up, college sports season tickets for his Alma Mater or favorite university, an annual museum pass, tickets to an amusement park, local festival tickets or a state park vehicle permit.

7. Restaurant or bar gift cards. Restaurant, brew pub and wine bar gifts cards are great holiday gifts. Choose a favorite place or a place you think he might like to try. Our children gave us a gift card to a local brew pub for Christmas. We would not have spent the money on ourselves, but we completely enjoyed their gift.

8. Gift baskets. Give him a gift basket filled with favorite specialty foods (make sure that dad doesn't have any dietary restrictions) such as summer sausage, mixed nuts, various cheeses, chocolates, specialty beer, wine, micro brew, liqueurs, coffee or exotic tea. Fill a basket with gourmet foods and spices if dad loves to cook.

9. Hobby supplies. Give Dad supplies for his favorite hobby, such as camping equipment, sports equipment, fishing tackle, grill accessories, binoculars, car accessories, boating or yachting supplies, board games, gardening tools, card games, motorcycle gear, hiking gear, athletic shoes or supplies.

10. Homemade items. Don't overlook the joy of a handmade gifts, either. Knit dad a blanket for deer hunting. Crochet him a hat for outdoor sports. Design a work of art for his office or den. Bake him a batch of his favorite dessert.

Spend as little or as much as your budget allows. Although dads may be hard to shop for, one very special thing about gift-giving for fathers is that they are generally very easy to please.