You’ve done soap-on-a-rope, the tie, the basket of beer. Gifting guys can be tricky and frustrating. To do it right for Father’s Day, you’ve got to think like a man – your man. Dudes who crave new experiences and testing their limits will want to hit up these epic man-escapes close to Calgary.
Golf Safari
Whether Dad likes a challenging course to test his skill or he’s after a casual weekend on the greens, the golf in Central Alberta is top shelf. The best part is that it’s easy to book. Golf Central Alberta has brought together some of the finest golf courses and local accommodations to create golf packages fit for golfers of all abilities.
Pick your course and your accommodations and they’ll make all the reservations – including booking the tee times. Packages start at $119 per person and include a round of golf for two people.
Remote Wilderness Lodge
Get off the beaten path and head to a backcountry lodge in Northern Alberta. Grande Rapids Wilderness Adventures is the real deal. They offer multi day jet boat, canoeing and fishing excursion for outdoorsmen along the Athabasca River.
Set in the heart of the Boreal forest, guests reel in big walleye and northern pike, as they make their way through untouched wilderness. The log cabin accommodations are kitted out with all you need for self catering or you can opt to have hearty home cooked meals served to you.
City Slickers
Edmonton is once again a cool city. It sports festivals galore that are sure to please the man no matter what their inclination. My top recs would be tickets to Folk Fest in August or paddling the North Saskatchewan River. Anytime of year, the Neon Sign Museum is worth checking out. Best of all, it’s free!
For gents who prefer the finer things in life, schedule some time at The Boardroom Salon for Men for the ultimate grooming experience. Then, head to La Tienda Cigars to learn about and sample some of Cuba’s best, followed by scotch tasting at The Bothy wine and whisky Bar.
Need more inspo? Here are 20+ things to do in Edmonton.
Mountain Man
We live so close to the Rockies, but how many peeps have actually scaled a peak? Yamnuska Mountain Adventures offers Experiential Rock Climbing programs and if you’ve never scaled the Via Ferrata at Mount Norquay, you’re missing out. (Read about my experience here).
Alternatively, you could recognize the cave man that he is and pony up for a spelunking expedition deep inside the limestone cave at Grotto Mountain. Afterwards chill at High Rollers, a hip bowling and beer hall before bedding down at Mount Engadine Lodge.
Mount Engadine Lodge is an all-inclusive backcountry resort that you can drive to. In winter there’s fat bikes and snowshoes to borrow. In summer you can go mountain biking and hiking in the Rockies. It’s situated about a 30-minute drive from Canmore in Kananaskis Country.
Best is that it’s an all-inclusive property so your breakfast, packaged lunch, afternoon tea and dinner is included in your accommodation rate. Don’t forget your bathing suit! There’s a sauna you may want to visit.
Staycation
Can’t steal away from Calgary? Indulge their inner warrior and sign them up for a spot of axe throwing at AXE Throwing Calgary.
If you want to ease him gently into this manly man activity, spend a night at Azuride, a swish estate hotel in Priddis. They’ve got an axe throwing range on their grounds, plus a butler, spa and top notch dining room.
If you suspect arms will be sore afterwards, book in for a session at one of those float immersion pools. It sounds weird, but here people float in individual tanks filled with 1200 pounds of epsom salts. Dudes love it (I couldn’t believe how many were there when I went) and not just hipsters. Dads who rock mom jeans are also big fans.
Along the same vein, you could drop dad off into the Harmonic Egg at Vie Universoul in Marda Loop. The Harmonic Egg is an energy therapy device that looks like a futuristic pod. You step in, sit down and veg out for an hour, letting sounds and colour wash over you.
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What do you recommend for guy getaways?
