What delights dad on Father’s Day?
It used to be the gift of a necktie or hankie, so we’re told. And maybe a round of golf plus a beer. While there’s nothing wrong with any of that — to each dad his own, of course — here we are in the enlightened 21st century, we hope, when the real diversity of American dads has grown far past stereotypes.
(Show of hands, dads yearning for Father’s Day ties? Necktie dads? Anyone?)
You don’t have to go far to find all sorts of fun for Clark County dads this Father’s Day weekend. Sports and beer dads are covered as always, no problem. But so are arts-and-culture dads, sepia-toned history dads, train dads, doggy dads — and even those green, outdoorsy, make-the-world-a-better-place dads. No matter what type of dad you’ve got, there’s a local way to delight him this weekend.
• Bike dad: This just in — Bike Clark County, the Vancouver nonprofit agency and shop that takes road safety seriously, has a fun side too. BCC just launched a bike rental program that aims to send you rolling around town at the affordable rate of $20 for half a day or $35 for a whole day (plus a hefty but refundable deposit). Bike Clark County’s “Community Hub” shop is at 1604 Main St. Call 360-450-7145.
• Art dad: June 17 is Dad’s Day at the Gorge’s grandest, unlikeliest fine arts outpost, the Maryhill Museum of Art. Take a scenic 100-mile drive to visit chess sets from around the globe, American and European paintings, sculptures by Monet, Native American arts and crafts and a photographic history of the Columbia River Highway. On June 17 all dads get free museum admission and a free beer or other beverage with lunch at the museum cafe at 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale. Visit www.maryhillmuseum.org.
• Theater dad: Magenta Theater’s latest cultural comedy, a French farce of the swinging 1960s that’s been adapted into English, opens tonight. In “Boeing Boeing,” a Parisian playboy tries juggling Italian, German and American fiancées — three beautiful, smart airline hostesses with frequent stopovers at his apartment. What could possibly go wrong? Tickets are $22 at the theater door at 1108 Main St., Vancouver. The Magenta box office is at 360-635-4358; visit www.magentatheater.com. “Boeing Boeing” ends its run on June 30.
• Baseball dad: Harmony Sports Complex in east Vancouver is the site of the Father’s Day Slugfest, a youth baseball tournament drawing teams from far and wide. The event begins at 5 p.m. June 15 and runs through June 17 at Northeast 18th Street and Northeast 192nd Avenue. Game times vary; visit www.wcptournaments.com for details.
• Sky dad: Pearson Field Education Center is open and free every Saturday with all sorts of flight-related stuff, both scientific and historical: a flight simulator lab and a vertical wind table, glider building and tinker/maker space, and of course Pearson’s collection of historic airplanes and other artifacts. Call 360-992-1800 or visit the center at 201 East Reserve St., Vancouver, or pearsonfieldeducation.org.
• Volcano dad: The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center hosts hourly ranger talks every day, and 10 a.m. Silver Lake walks on Sundays only, at its Castle Rock locations a few miles east of Interstate 5 on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. Or, continue on the route (52 miles) into the blast zone to visit Johnston Ridge Observatory, where you can experience still more of what the 1980 eruption was really like. Both sites charge admission fees. Visit parks.state.wa.us/245/Mount-St-Helens and www.fs.fed.us/visit/destination/johnston-ridge-observatory.
• Choo choo dad: Did you know that Clark County hosts a tourist-excursion train that traverses seven miles of beautiful countryside, and a dramatic 330-foot-long rock tunnel, between Yacolt, Heisson and Yacolt Falls? The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad’s 1929 steam locomotive departs at noon and 2:30 p.m. on June 16 and 17 from the station at 207 N. Railroad Ave., Yacolt. Adult tickets are $20 via tickets.bycx.org. There’s also a special wine train on June 16 starting with tastings and snacks at 4 p.m. at Moulton Falls Winery, then a 5 p.m. train ride, and then a 6 p.m. barbecue dinner with music by Woodstock-nation cover band Echoes of Yasgurs. Tickets for this event are $50 at the winery, 31101 N.E. Railroad Ave.
• Doggy dad: The Columbia Agility Trials, where cunning canines conquer obstacle courses, is free and open to everyone June 15, 16 and 17 at the Clark County Events Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Details at www.clarkcoeventcenter.com/events/2018/columbia-agility-trials.
• Classic car dad: The 11th annual Touchmark classic car show — featuring vintage, restored and unique vehicles — and barbecue is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 16 at 2911 S.E. Village Loop. Everything is free, and donations are gratefully passed along to charity.
• Clean-the-beach dad: Some dads dislike not being productive, even on their own holiday. If your dad always wants to work, take him to the Wintler Park beach cleanup set for 9 to 11 a.m. June 16 on Southeast Beach Drive in Vancouver. Training, gloves, tools, water and snacks will be provided by the city of Vancouver. Dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and RSVP beforehand at www.cityofvancouver.us/cmo/webform/volunteer-fathers-day-beach-clean.
