Top 10 Adrenaline Rush filled activities that will be a hit for Dad in New England
When we were very young, on Father’s Day we gave Dad a crayon drawing of the two of us together, holding our stick-figure hands and smiling. When we got older, someone advised us to think of Father’s Day gifts that were about his interests, so we signed him up for a golf magazine subscription or took him to Fenway. Somehow, year after year, it always feels like we are giving him the same gift, over and over. This is a different year though – after everything we’ve been through last year – what if we made this year special? What if this year you give him a gift he’ll never forget – the gift of an adventure experience that he can share with you.
With mountains to the north and west, and the ocean to the east, the New England area is loaded with opportunities for day-long adventures or overnight adventures – all you need to do is pick one! Some of these will really get his heart pumping, so choose wisely!
Here are our top ten picks for Father’s Day Adventure gifts:
If Dad loves the thrill of an adrenaline rush, he’ll love the rush of a zipline! Alpine Adventures in Lincoln, New Hampshire – just 2 hours north of Boston. There are three levels of zipline experience to choose from, ranging from the Tree Top Canopy Tour of six shorter runs up to the 3 ½ hour long Super Skyrider Tour. The Super Skyrider Tour is not for the faint of heart – speeds of up to 75 mph may be reached as the zipliners fly 200 feet above the forest floor! If Dad’s not up to the physical demands of a zipline tour, look into their “Safari of the White Mountains” – 1 hour to 1 ½ hour off-road tours in their exclusive 6-wheel Swiss Army transport Pinzgauers vehicles. Enjoy the panoramic views, and don’t worry - you’ll remain safely strapped into your padded bucket seats no matter how difficult the terrain!
· Speaking of safaris, I know it’s a stretch – but if you’re willing to drive the 4 ½ hours up to Greenville, Maine, you can go on a 3 to 4 hour Moose Safari with Young’s Guide Service. It’s the experience of a lifetime as you come up close and personal to the Northeast’s largest land animal. Young’s boasts of a 90% moose sighting rate! Their tours are small, in comfortable 4x4 vehicles, and led by experienced guides with a lifetime of moose spotting experience. It’s suggested that you book online as far ahead of time as possible, as tours fill up fast. It’s handy to know that if you make a reservation at a nearby hotel, they will pick you up and drop you off right at the door.
Almost in the same neighborhood (about a half hour closer to Boston), Dad could have one of the biggest adrenaline rushes of his life in a whitewater rafting adventure with Three Rivers White water of West Forks, Maine. They offer overnight accommodations ranging from rustic cabins to comfortable hotel rooms so you and Dad can hit the river early for the ride of your lives. All-inclusive packages including accommodations, rafting,
· meals, and wetsuit rentals are the way to go – and don’t forget to buy the photo of you and your dad as you white-knuckle your way down the rapids!
C-Devil II Sportfishing· If Dad took you fishing when you were little and taught you everything he knows – it’s time to take him fishing now – ocean sportfishing! C-Devil II Sport fishing at Point Judith, Narragansett, Rhode Island is just 1 ½ hours south of Boston and it’s the #1 charter boat company in the region. The comfortable 37-foot vessel will zip you out to the best fishing grounds just 30 minutes offshore, then the guides will help you get started. The crew really know what they’re doing – after all, they’ve been in business for over 30 years. All the tackle and bait is provided and up to six people can reserve the boat, so tell Dad he can bring a friend and you’ll be hearing them swap fish tales for the rest of their lives.
· Closer to home, just 45 minutes north of Boston, adventure awaits on the 7 Seas Whale Watch boats. Gloucester’s newest 108-foot long whale watching vessel, The Privateer IV, has plenty of room for passengers to stretch out and enjoy the sights – it’s designed for 300 passengers but only carries 149 on the trips out to Stellwagen Bank. It’s modern and streamlined in design and Dad will love the panoramic views from the rooftop sundeck. The experienced crew knows where the whales can be found – they have a record 99% sighting rating over the past 30 years, so you have a very good chance of seeing several different kinds of whales. It will be an exciting and memorable trip, especially if you let Dad pick the restaurant for dinner. Gloucester is loaded with excellent seafood restaurants and wonderful New England fishing village scenery.
· New England’s seacoast is studded with adventures and thrills, but there’s none so thrilling as a schooner sail along the Maine coast. Portland, Maine is just two hours north of Boston and the sleek schooners of the Portland Schooner Company are waiting to take you and Dad out to sea! All you need to do is choose the date and time – there are 2-hour sails offered throughout the day, but my favorite is the evening sail departing at 6 pm, because you get to see the sun set over the water. Dad will love the feel of the wind in his face and the smell of the salt sea – he might even get to help to haul the on the line to raise the sail. Portland has become the foodie capital of New England and has many excellent restaurants to choose from, as well as beautiful new hotels all over the city, so this could make a great overnight trip as well.
· Dad always has his head in the clouds, so can you imagine a better adventure than taking him on a balloon ride at dawn over the hills of the New Hampshire countryside? High Five Ballooning is just 40 minutes north of Boston in the beautiful town of Derry. These ballooning experts have been in business since 1999 and they know that the best time of day to fire up their big balloon is pre-dawn, so you’ll be treated to a sunrise like you’ve never experienced in your life. Don’t worry, there are plenty of choices of accommodations nearby so you can roll out of bed and drive out to the launching point! After you gently descend from the 2 to 2 ½ hour balloon ride, you’ll be shuttled back to your departure point for a champagne toast.
· For a somewhat milder adventure, head to the very tip of Cape Cod for a beach buggy ride through the Provincetown dunes. Just 2 hours south of Boston, artsy Provincetown is truly a world away from the city. Art’s Dune Tours offers a variety of tour options for your beach buggy tour through the beautiful natural landscape that so few people get to see – the huge expanse of Cape Cod National Seashore’s stark and stunning dunes. After your tour through the dunes in a comfortable SUV, you might want to walk around downtown and enjoy the eclectic vibe of this arts and culture center of the Cape before heading home.
· Just 1 hour and 45 minutes to the south of Boston in Mystic, Connecticut, there’s a one-of-a-kind adrenaline adventure at Mystic Boat Adventures. I’ve never seen boats like this in my life, but imagine two surfboards side by side with seats on them, and a big old Evinrude motor strapped to the back that you control with hand controls. There’s a mandatory safety training, of course, and it’s a guided tour, but you do get to control your own boat as you tour the Mystic River for miles in this unique adventure.
· Is Dad a daredevil at heart? Would he take a dare? Would he enjoy the life-changing thrill of skydiving? Now you can make his adrenaline dreams come true at Skydive New England - just 1 hour and 35 minutes north of Boston in Lebanon, Maine. This adventure, of course, requires some extra safety precautions so there’s a 30-minute mandatory training before the tandem leap out of the plane with an experienced skydiver. It’s a quick 15-minute flight up to 14,000 feet, then just a step out the door to enjoy 60 seconds of free fall at up to 120 mph! If that doesn’t get his heart pumping, I don’t know what will!
Life can get pretty crazy – we mean to do so many things, but time is short and we have so much to do every day. We know how it is – you keep meaning to get a family portrait. Don’t let another Father’s Day go by without booking a family portrait session. Make this the year of reunion for your family – the year you document your dad and you, your dad and his kids, your dad and his grandkids. You can trust us to take care of all the details so your photo session will not be an adrenaline rush – it will be a calm, casual and enjoyable family reunion. A gift of your family portrait will be the highlight of Dad’s year, and the best gift you could give. Contact us today to get started.
Remember, the place you are now, the people you are now, the moments you’re sharing now – they are all changing with time. You’ll never get today back! Capture your memories now, don’t put it off any longer. When you come to Seraphine Photography We guide you each step of the way and help you redesign your space so it feels fresh and rejuvenated for spring. We help you fall in love with your space all over again by creating portraits of the people you love the most.
Wondering what to wear for a spring portrait? Picking clothes that have complimentary colors or clothing that are in the same family usually works very well but all in all it depends on the location of your portrait session.
Considering your location where your portraits will take place is just as important as selecting your wardrobe. Would you like outdoor portraits or studio portraits. As your photographer I will help you determine the Best locations for portraits in the Boston area as well as the South Shore. As a Boston and South Shore family photographer I can help you determine the best locations to have your portraits taken.
Reach out to me and I can help you with the planning out your attire we’ll find something that suites you and or your family and outfits that are timeless so you will be sure to enjoy them for years to come.
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