‘Father and son’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

I’m a lucky girl to have a Dad like mine. He’s generally hilarious, he is very easy to talk to, and likes to do fun things. Can a girl ask for anything more? And lucky for me, he’ll be in town on Father’s Day, this year! So I started researching all kinds of good things to do in the city with my Dad and figured I’d share, just in case you all were looking for fun things to do with your Dad for Father’s Day (or whenever he in town next).

We’ve got sporting events, places for the history buff, outdoor activities, manly museums and more. So in no particular order, here are some fun suggestions of things around DC to do with the man who loved you first.

‘D.C. Tennis’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Sporting Events: Well this is an obvious category, right? My dad is a tennis fan, and plays it himself, too. I think it would be fun to head out to a Kastles match, DC’s very own professional tennis team. You can catch Serena Williams, along with the rest of the team, starting in July when the Kastles play pretty regularly. Grab tickets for your Dad online, they will run you anywhere from $25 to $65. And if your Dad isn’t super passionate about gong to sporting events where the teams actually win, take him to go see the Nats, for even cheaper. While the highlight of watching the Nats may be the Running of the Presidents, you can share a beer and a half smoke with your dad for some quality bonding time.

‘Key Bridge, Georgetown, and Potomac River’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Get Outside: My Dad, like most Dads, likes outdoorsy stuff. It would be fun to take him to visit Roosevelt Island, in Rosslyn, with a few easy hiking trails and a very gorgeous monument of Roosevelt hidden in the center. I also love the views of the Potomac and Georgetown from the island’s shores. Up the GW Parkway, a little farther away from the city, we could head out to Turkey Run Park. With miles of scenic trails, we could pack a picnic or grill and take a hike. Or, head out on the Potomac, by going kayaking. Rent a kayak from Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown.  Kayaks will run you $8 an hour, and you can paddle around the waterfront.

‘Spy Museum’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

Museum It: The International Spy Museum is perfect for Dads with a flair for adventure. I would take my Dad to do the Operation Spy interactive experience. After checking it out during Spy at Night,  I think it’s a fun family activity, and myDad would probably like the challenge. If he’s not up for spying, the Air and Space Museum, either on the mall or out near Dulles would be fun. DC’s most popular museum, we could even snack on freeze-dried ice cream. And last but not least, known around DC as more of an amusement park than a museum, the new National Museum of Crime and Punishment could be interesting, with exhibits on criminals like pirates.

‘U.S. Botanic Garden’
courtesy of ‘tzk333’

Plants: My Dad really likes to work in the yard. Like, a lot. I never learned how to mow the lawn (not complaining! at all!) cause it is practically a religious experience for him. So taking him to see some well manicured lawns around the city might be fun. First up, Hillwood Museum and Gardens, maybe not so much for the frou-frou inside house and jewels, but for the outside gardens and landscaping. If he’s not down for that, it is a bit girlie, there’s always the US Botanic Gardens near the Capitol. Free admission also makes it easy on the wallet for those offspring with tight wallet situations. Last but not least, we could head out New York Avenue to the US National Arboretum. With Azaleas, Asian and dogwood sections, my Dad might be into all the types of foliage the US Dept of Agriculture plants.

‘His Sacrific’
courtesy of ‘rgb48’

History, All Around: The Mount Vernon Estate, former home of George Washington, is ripe with activities for the history buff, not to mention great views of the Potomac. Closer to the city in Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks has a great garden and history. Known for its cherry blossoms in the spring, there are still garden-loving and history-loving crowds year round. Finally, stop by Arlington National Cemetery, and head up to Lee’s house for all kinds of history and great views of DC.

‘”And that big thing over there is the Washington Monument!”‘
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Play Tourist: So if you’re like me, your parents aren’t in town, but visit pretty frequently. (Yay!) They’ve been around the block a time or two here, but  sometimes it’s still fun for us to play tourist a little bit, so for Father’s Day it would be fun to drive around and float around on a  DC Duck Boat. On the duck boat you can see the sites both on land and in water without changing vehicles. Traveling in original WW II DUKW amphibious vehicles, you’ll roll past the capitol straight into the Potomac. If it’s too toasty outside for a duck boat tour, maybe try a double decker tour bus? DC Hop-on-Hop-off buses travel all over the city, and you could just stay put, seeing DC from the air conditioned beauty of the big red bus. If you’d like a more personal way to travel, say, maybe individual, you could even try a segway. My dad loves segway tours (we’re dorks, or something, okay, but they are REALLY fun. Stop laughing. It’s true.) so you can head out with your helmet and roll around the mall area. There are a few different tours and companies to choose from, here are my favorites: Segs in the City and City Segway Tours.

Katie

Katie moved to DC in 2007, and has since embarked upon a love affair with the city. She’s an education reform advocate and communications professional during the day; at night and on the weekends, she’s an owner here at We Love DC. Katie has high goals to eat herself through the entire city, with only her running shoes to save her from herself. For up-to-the-minute news and reviews (among other musings), follow her on Twitter!