As the middle of June rolls around, the promise of summer is here, the days are longer and everything is open and ready to be explored. So Father's Day, that falls on the 16th June has the best timing! Bringing all of this together, we’ve compiled some of our favourite ideas on how to treat your dad for a day – from barbecues and distillery tours to gaming…
Out on the river
The great outdoors is typically one of dad’s favourite places – and what beats being out on the water? Treat the father in your life with a family paddle along the River Stour near Canterbury, where you can take kayaks from Fordwich to Grove Ferry and back. Alternatively, Canoe Wild offer a range of experiences such as a sunset SUP or paddle, sea kayaking seal tours or a river clean paddle. If you’d rather not commit to the Father’s Day weekend, they offer vouchers to claim a year after purchase!
Out on the seas
As we have just noted, the water is a great escape and can be incredibly freeing, but if you don’t think dad would appreciate having to manoeuver himself, we recommend a Tiller and Wheel boating day out! With a number of sailing experiences on offer throughout the summer such as getting involved in the Thames Barge Match and learning the ropes on a Thames sailing barge, what could be more appropriate for the water loving dad in your life?
Looking to stay nearby and make a weekend of it? The Old Cherry Barn near Faversham from Keepers Cottages sleeps six, is pet friendly, has a beautiful garden and is surrounded by countryside!
Say cheers to dad
Kent is known as the Garden of England, and with that comes a plethora of ingredients which can go into our drinks, and a tour of Kent’s distilleries and breweries would showcase this perfectly. In north west Kent, the Maidstone Distillery offers visitors experiences such as a guided gin making experience and distillery tour and tastings. In Canterbury, The Foundry is home to Canterbury Brewers & Distillers, who offer brewery and distillery tours and tastings of their spirits and beers right in the centre of the city, plus you can have English pub classics for a tasty dinner or lunch after!
Unlock the achievement of being the most thoughtful
We all know that our kids love to get behind the keyboard and mouse or controller and dive into a few hours worth of gaming, but this can also be the dads out there! For those gaming dads in your life, be sure to take a trip to the Medway Gaming Festival across the weekend of the 15th and 16th June at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. What awaits you is VR experiences, retro games consoles, cosplay to Military Simulations…
Can’t make the 16th June? Head to Macknade’s Beer & BBQ Festival!
We know the cliché of dads being good at BBQs, and them not allowing others to participate, but how about a festival at one of Kent’s best food and drink spots, that celebrates the roaring barbecue? On Saturday 6th July, Macknade will open up their Paddock for live cooking demonstrations, brewing masterclasses, live music and much more for free!
A wonderfully technical day out
Over in Thanet, the Wonderworks is a celebration of hobbies such as Hornby and Corgi, but this Father’s Day it opens its doors for the Service Fleet Fayre. Set to take place from 10 am to 3 pm on the 16th June, people who visit can get up close to the likes of mighty Airport Fire Engine, a Crash Rescue Vehicle and a classic Austin lorry. As well as the vehicles on display, there’ll be live music throughout the day from the 2433 (Thanet) Squadron Air Cadets Band, stalls showcasing the RAF museum, J & R Medal Mounting, Hill 112, and a selection of craft vendors. Plus, the blue light on top of the vehicle? It’s free to enter the Service Fleet Fayre!
If you’d like to continue the theme, then just a 10 minute journey away is the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum, which has iconic Battle of Britain fighter planes, Spitfire simulator and coming soon, a Lancaster cockpit simulator.
Golfing on the coast
An afternoon away from everything golfing at one of the big names in the east of Kent, such as Prince’s, Royal St George’s or Walmer & Kingsdown could sound like perfection to the dad in your life. However, you might want to make a family day of it instead, because it’s always better to be together if you can! In Walmer we’d suggest the Roman Landings Adventure Golf, which has no less than 18 holes too, that are all aptly themed for the area. Plus if the day is a scorcher, make sure to keep the kids cool by popping next door to the recently renovated paddling pool.
Looking to stay nearby? The Bay View Apartment from Keepers Cottages sleeps six, has sea views and is situated close to the sleepy town of Sandwich, plus a golf course or two!
A food and drink exploration in Medway
If you’d like the most chilled out day possibly, enticing your food and drink mad dad on a day out, we’d recommend stopping off at Bridgewood Manor Hotel for a no less than four course Father’s Day Carvery, which includes a special gift as well! Once you’ve stocked up, head over to nearby Copper Rivet Distillery, where you can jump on a tour and tasting or a Signature Cocktail Masterclass. That will sure make dads day.
Pass the test of Father's Day with a Twenty20 match
We all know that sitting by a cricket pitch on a Sunday afternoon is a picture perfect thing to do in England, and Kent Cricket is hosting a Twenty20 match on Father's Day vs Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club to bring that wish to fruition. Beginning at 15:30, this match is part of the Vitality Blast Twenty20 series and promises to bring around three hours of fast paced cricket to Canterbury, so you'll be dad's favourite child!
