For dads who have plenty of ties and coffee mugs, an experience - especially one that includes you - makes for the most memorable Father's Day gift. Lucky for you, the Chattanooga region boasts several unique opportunities for good times with your old man.
Imbibe Wine Club
For dads with an insatiable thirst for experiencing new wines, Imbibe's wine clubs allow members to explore wines from different regions and producers accompanied by detailed tasting notes. You can choose between three tiers: the Premier Cru, which typically features a white and a red from a different region each month; the Grand Cru, offering six wines from a particular region each month; and the Bubble Club, focusing on sparkling wine and growers of Champagne, with one of each featured per month. Plus, Dad gets 5 percent off wine purchases and 15 percent off case purchased during his membership.
$29.99-$69.99 per month imbibechattanooga.com
DJ for an Hour at WUTC 88.1 FM
If your dad is the type who rarely listens to a song without offering up a piece of related music trivia, chances are good that he would love the opportunity to share his knowledge as a DJ for an hour at Chattanooga's nonprofit NPR station, WUTC 88.1 FM. He can bring in his own music or pick from the station's wide selection, which ranges from blues and jazz to punk and jam bands, rock and reggae and everything in between. Staff is present to work the controls, so all Dad has to do is sit back and share his favorite tunes. Time slots are available weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings, and the station will provide a recording of the hour on CD so he can bask in the sound of his silky-smooth radio voice, or send copies to friends and family who missed the show.
$288 donation to WUTC; call 423-425-2377 or email Rabbit-Zielke@utc.edu
Membership at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
A dad with a green thumb or who loves to be outdoors will enjoy the unlimited access to Reflection Riding he'll get with his membership, as well as the opportunity to be among the first to choose from the selection of native plants from the center's fall and spring sales through presales open only to members. Through the American Horticultural Society and Nature Center Administrators Reciprocal Admissions Programs, Dad will also gain free admission to 300 gardens and 150 nature and science centers all over the country. If you spring for Adventure membership, he'll also get free use of the Nature Center's canoes.
$65-$90; reflectionriding.org
Off-Road Adventure
Amped Super Sports, located 30 minutes from downtown in South Pittsburg, allows you to drive your own off-road vehicle on a two-hour adventure. You will follow an experienced guide in your own vehicle on Amped's 400-acre course. The price includes use of a Utility Task Vehicle (Polaris RZR), as well as helmets, goggles and fuel. The only skills necessary are the ability to drive a car; Amped takes care of everything else. Since the two- and four-seater vehicles allow passengers to ride side-by-side together, off-roading is also a fun activity for fathers and kids to do together.
$108 per adult or $78 per child for two hours; ampedsupersports.com
Good seats for the Lookouts
Baseball fans will love season tickets to the Lookouts, which offer Dad the same great seat for each of the team's 70 home games, as well as admittance to events just for season-ticket holders. He can also enter the ballpark early, use the express line for season-ticket holders at concessions, and receive a discount at the gift shop.
Another option is to rent one of the air-conditioned luxury suites for a game. Each suite has 24 seats and an adjacent outdoor patio, and waitstaff to provide food and drink service.
$295-445 for season tickets, or $375 to rent a luxury suite for a game; 423-267-4TIX (tickets) or 423-267-2208 (suite)
Drive an exotic car
If Dad has a favorite car he's always dreamed of taking for a spin, you may be able to give him that chance through Xtreme Xperience's Supercar Driving Experience. He can choose from options including a Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 GT3 or Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 to take three laps around a real racetrack with no speed limit. The Xperience is available in Charlotte, North Carolina's Charlotte Motor Speedway June 17-19; at Atlanta Motorsports Park Nov. 11-13; and year-round at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Starting at $99 (NOLA) or $219 (Charlotte and Atlanta) for three laps; thextremexperience.com