30 Best Father's Day Experience Gifts for Dads Who Don't Need More Stuff

When I sold my book, my wife got me a Cameo from a Philadelphia Zoo zookeeper and a red panda, my favorite animal. It’s a charming keepsake experience I watch over and over when I’m feeling stressed and sad. If your dad has a favorite athlete, actor, musician or celeb (like the famous Times Square Naked Cowboy, for example, or wrestling Hall of Famer Kurt Angle) they may be on Cameo and will create a personal video message that he’ll love. Prices vary based on who is doing the Cameo.

I’ve done Airbnb Experience walking tours in Reykjavik and Athens, but there will be tours local to you in your closest city, too. Whether he loves cats, beer, food, ghost stories or history, there’s a walking tour experience gift for the dad in your life. Prices vary by tour, but they go as low as $15 and most stay under $100 per person.

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Expert stylists can help update Dad’s fit to have him runway-ready (or at least convince him to stop wearing gym shorts everywhere). Want to pair the advice with some IRL shopping? Book an appointment for an in-person experience at a J. Crew store, and get him some of the clothes they pick out. Virtual appointments are also available.

Help Dad tell his story with my guided journal that digs deep into his experiences as a child and adult, as well as his emotions, beliefs, and hopes for the future. The result of this guided journal experience will be a gift for his kids and grandkids to cherish forever.

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Turn to a page, scratch off the box and reveal a fun activity Dad can do with the whole family. Each activity tells you how long it'll take and if it'll cost money (and how much).

If he loves nothing more than a great book, get him a one-12 month subscription of Audible. He'll be able to listen to thousands of books, including classics and new titles.

Dads often want to get better or be the best at everything. With lessons from legends like Neil Gaiman, Herbie Hancock and Thomas Keller, MasterClass can help dads hone their skills or try something brand new, like fiction writing, jazz piano playing and fine cooking. Plans start at $10/month, and then go up if you want Dad to be able to use more than one device or learn in "offline mode."

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Not only will he get tickets for him and a guest, but this experience includes drinks and popcorn, too.

This simple at-home veggie kit will allow Dad to grow cherry tomatoes easily, indoors or outdoors, whether he has a green thumb or not. He'll be amazed at what he can grow — and he'll have extras for his salad.

Some experiences require nothing more than opening a box and exploring a country through their snack foods. A monthly Universal Yums subscription will deliver the world to your Dad and his taste buds. Subscriptions start at $16 for a box of five to sevens snacks, and go up from there if you want to give Dad more goodies.

Has the dad in your life dreamed of dazzling friends and family with sleight of hand tricks? This affordable one-hour class with an elite magician will pull back the curtain and teach him the secrets to performing his own magic. You can opt for just the lesson, or add in a set of the playing cards, too.

If three hours on a cool, crisp night beneath an ocean of stars sounds like your Dad’s idea of fun, this REI guided hiking experience will be the gift he’ll talk about for years. They even provide the headlamp/flashlights!

Giving the gift of travel can be cost-prohibitive, but Dad can taste the world through this ingenious coffee club that sends him single-origin coffee as whole beans, grounds or Keurig or Nespresso Pods from countries like India, Columbia, Costa Rica, and more. Each bag arrives with a postcard from the country with stories about the place to help transport him far away while sipping his morning Joe. The subscription costs $55 for three months and goes up to $189 for the year.

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Dads can learn to play guitar or sharpen their skills can do it with bite-size video lessons from Fender instructors. The class subscription costs $80 for six months or $150 for a year.

For the foodie dad, a meal kit subscription gift will give him a myriad of new recipes to try and new foods to eat. And best of all, you’ll get to sample all of the delicious meals and desserts! It’s a win-win! Plans cost around $10 – $11 per meal, plus $11 shipping, and you can get them for two to four people.

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There’s a better than 50/50 chance that your Dad is stressed, tired and could use a weekend away from it all. Getaway lets you plan the perfect weekend anywhere in the United States in a cozy cabin that is off the grid.

Whether dad wants to skydive, fly a plane, take a helicopter ride or experience a hot air balloon, Virgin Flying Experiences will scratch his daredevil itch. Experiences, which are offered at different locations across the country, range for $59 for an indoor skydiving session to more than $400 for those who want to learn how to fly a helicopter.

Mental health is the defining issue of our time. Give Dad the gift of having someone to talk to, resources for stress, and access to learning about healthy sleep habits and self-care. There be no better and more important experience. Gift subscriptions are $38.99 for three months or $69.99 for a year.

This 90-minute online class with a hip Brooklyn bartender will transform any Dad into an at-home mixologist with the skills to shake and stir for his friends and family.

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Bring the flavors and aroma of Indian cuisine into Dad’s kitchen with this 75-minute online cooking class by a chef from Delhi. He’ll teach how to make authentic samosas and a coriander chutney that will become staples of Dad’s meal-planning.