From Gifts to Grub - Celebrate 2008 Father's Day in San Diego

Father's Day typically falls on the 3rd Sunday in June and traditionally we honor these brave men by giving them clichéd gifts of greeting cards, world's greatest dad paraphernalia and the ever-present necktie.

Spice it up this year and show dad how special he really is by giving him something he really wants.

From good gifts to entertainment and food, here are a few ideas for 2008 Father's Day in San Diego.

Year-round dad
Because he's a year-round dad, doesn't he deserve a year-round gift? Give him the gift that keeps on giving with a Beer of the Month Club. This membership gift is also available in Bacon of the Month and Cigar of the Month. Check out beermonthclub.com, gratefulpalate.com, and cigarmonthclub.com.

NASCAR dad
Take him for a ride he'll never forget. He'll be strapped into the seat of a real Nextel Cup Stock Car around the speedway of your choice (the closet is in LA) where he will experience what it is like to make a real qualifying run, reaching speeds over 175mph. Check out the details at experiencedays.com.

Golfing booze-hound dad
Golf is a great escape for many dads, and for many of those dads, alcohol greatly improves their game, at least their enjoyment of it. The Electronic Drink Caddie from Brookstone looks like any ordinary regulation driver, but it has a secret one button-dispensing pump. It keeps 54 oz. of dad's favorite beverage at the optimal temperature for hours and at the push of a button. Grab this gift quick at brookstone.com.

Quality time dad
Gifts are nice, but I don't know a dad out there who wouldn't prefer some quality bonding with their kid. Here are some San Diego entertainment ideas to help you make memories with pops.

For those San Diego residents that planned ahead, or fell into a convenient hook-up, there really is no better entertainment idea for Father’s Day than the US Open at Torrey Pines. If you’re one of the lucky children that gets to re-live the glory of the Best Father’s Day Present Ever, congrats and enjoy the US Open as it concludes its first run in San Diego. For the rest of you, let it go, and keep reading.

It just so happens the San Diego County Fair opens this weekend. You and your dad can be among the first to sample this years batch of fried Twinkies, cheer for the pig races, and fear for your lives on the carnival rides (are they supposed to creak like that?) Special events for Fathers Day include: Turkey Stampede, Ostrich and Camel Racing, a corn husking contest, a worm race and a meet and greet with Charger Shawne Merriman. FYI those are all real.

There's not much that can compete with fishing when it comes to father/child bonding. Take your old man on a Hemingway Excursion deep-sea fishing trip. Just call up H&M landing in Point Loma and make a reservation. They'll even rent you the equipment and clean your catch on the way home. You do need to check to see if your permit is included in the price - it varies per trip. For all the details, visit hmlanding.com.

If you don't feel like catching your meal, you could always just go out for a nice two hour cruise around the bay and a Father's Day Beer Brunch Cruise aboard one of three Hornblower cruises. Unlimited beer and champagne included. Check out hornblower.com.

Speaking of food, if you're working with more of a traditional dad, take him to one of these San Diego restaurants on Father's Day:

Red Marlin in Mission Bay - Day at the Docks Brunch
House of Blues Downtown - Hearty Gospel Brunch
George's Ocean Terrace in La Jolla - Sunset Dinner on the Cove
Gaslamp Strip Club in Gaslamp - Grill Your Own Steak Dinner
The Fleetwood in East Village - All American Fine Dining

Indulgent dad
For the sweet-toothed father, check out the Eclipse Father’s Day Chocolate Barbeque, a five course chocolate tasting dinner. Although chocolate may seem like only a hit for Mother’s Day, no dad will be able to resist the Cocoa Nib-Smoked Pulled Pork Sammie with White Chocolate Slaw.