6 ways to celebrate dad on Father's Day even with social distancing

Father's Day is this Sunday. Most years, that might mean a morning spent shopping for the best gifts, dinner out and maybe a barbecue with friends to celebrate the dads among us. This year will look a little different.

Posted 1:00 a.m. Jun 17, 2020 — Updated 1:00 a.m. Jun 17, 2020

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

Father's Day is this Sunday. Most years, that might mean a morning spent shopping for the best gifts, dinner out and maybe a barbecue with friends to celebrate the dads among us.

This year will look a little bit different for many families. While some are eager to get out and about, already shopping at the mall and making reservations for dinner out, others remain mindful of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They want to celebrate, but with plenty of social distancing in place. Here are a few options for everyone.

Get him some meat

Shh ... don't tell my husband, but I'll likely be splurging on some of his favorite cuts of meat this Father's Day. My family loves The Butcher's Market with locations in Raleigh, Cary and Holly Springs. The stores offer a curbside menu, so you don't have to go into the shop. Faye over at the WRAL SmartShopper offers up a list of other butchers and meat markets across the Triangle.

Go pick blueberries

Local blueberry farms across the Triangle are open with bushes bursting with the berries. Take dad for a morning out picking blueberries — or leave him at home for some alone time while you take the kids out for berries. At home, whip up one of these blueberry treats for him.

Blueberry Picking: 12 places to pick blueberries across the Triangle

Sign up for a ropes course

Reserve a spot at a local ropes course for a high-flying adventure that will include all kinds of obstacles and zip lines up in the trees, along with protocols to help keep people safe during the pandemic too. TreeRunners Adventure Park is open now. Go Ape will open on July 4. Both are in north Raleigh.

Check out the animals

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, about 90 minutes from Raleigh, will open to the public on June 15 after being closed since mid-March. And Carolina Tiger Rescue also is open for small tours. Both have new safety measures in place to limit crowds and help ensure social distancing.

Take him for a hike

We recently featured Triangle Land Conservancy's local nature preserves, which offer plenty of places to explore. Or check out one of the region's family friendly hikes.

Credit: Christine Wilson
Courtesy: Triangle Land Conservancy

Go camping

North Carolina's state parks are open for camping. Just know that all reservations must be done online these days. Don't have the gear required? Camp Like a Mother, a local Cary business, is renting everything you need. Don't want to make it a trip? Why not camp in your backyard — or at least do the fun part like s'mores making and walking around at night with a flashlight. Dick's offers up some backyard camping tips.

Find fun at home

Maybe the dad in your life just wants a few extra hours to sleep in during the morning. Or he'd relish a family game night. Or he's really looking forward to a special brunch made by the people he loves. Or he'd love to binge watch his favorite childhood movies with his own kids. Or he could really use the entire family's helping spreading all that mulch he just got. Make it happen.

Happy Father's Day!

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