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Booze, BBQ, and Golf: Vacation Ideas for Dads Who Need a Timeout

Dads deserve a break too. That's why we're taking the first step for you with this list of vacation ideas for dads who need a timeout.

Being a dad is hard. Be it driving laps around the block with a crying toddler in the backseat, slicing celery sticks for a lunchbox or sporting a clown costume to a kid’s birthday party on more than one occasion, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart.

Dads have a lot on their plate and sometimes they need some time for themselves, be that a day out on the golf course or a night out with some cold craft beer.

Dads – you’ve earned a break. Below are eight vacation ideas for dads who need a timeout, so you can start planning an adventurous weekend away with your buddies. Remember – you deserve a little fun, too!

Rock Out in Cleveland

ThisIsCleveland.com

I know the heart of the Rust Belt might not sound like the most exciting place to spend a weekend away, but Northeast Ohio isn’t as rusty as you once thought it was. Like other industrial cities along the Great Lakes, Cleveland is experiencing a renaissance. Besides, Northeast Ohio boasts three things that speak to the core of most men – rock and roll, football, and craft beer.

Rising above the sparkling shores of Lake Erie, like Jimi Hendrix lifting his guitar to the music gods, is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It’s a great place to wax nostalgic about the music you grew up listening to whether it’s bands of your generation or your parents’ (and remember, Pearl Jam is considered classic rock these days).

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Where to Stay in Cleveland

Stay at the Metropolitan at The 9, where you and your buddies can party underground in the century-old bank vault that’s been converted into a swanky cocktail lounge called Vault or on the hotel’s rooftop at Azure Rooftop Lounge.

Metropolitan at The 9 - Autograph Collection

Top rated
Cleveland
9.0 Excellent (1482 reviews)

Craft Beer Galore in Asheville

ExploreAsheville.com

Speaking of craft beer, the mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina is a perfect place for a beercation. In fact, it’s such a hot beer spot that national craft breweries like Sierra NevadaOskar Blues, and New Belgium have set up shop in town. And while those are all worth visiting, the real fun is exploring the neighborhood breweries that put Asheville on the map.

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Where to Stay in Asheville

To complete your weekend in Asheville, book a stay at The Omni Grove Park Inn and finish with some time at The Spa at Grove Park Inn, a Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Resort Spa in North America. Your body will thank you after a weekend of punishment.

The Omni Grove Park Inn

Asheville
9.0 Excellent (2488 reviews)

Adventures Awaits in Alabama

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Gulf Shores is the place you’ve never considered visiting but absolutely need to add to your bucket list. It’s raw, unpretentious, and full of activities our wives would snub their noses at. And, when we tire of fun on the Bayou, there are plenty of beaches to lounge around on with a cooler full of cold ones from Fairhope Brewing.

The party begins in Mobile where the bars stay open all night long. Start the evening with beers and oysters at Wintzell’s Oyster House. Then, pop on over to Callaghan’s Irish Social Club – one of Alabama Shakes early music venues – and see if there’s a band playing. If not, still stick around for their old-school style burgers and neighborhood feel. After, bar hop around downtown with stops at LODA Bier Garten for a great selection of craft beer, Haberdasher for cocktails, or Alchemy Tavern for off the chain fun.

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Where to Stay in Mobile

Complete your time in Mobile with a stay at the Admiral Hotel. Jimmy Buffett played some of his early shows at the hotel’s bar, Corner 251.

Hotel The Admiral

Mobile
8.4 Very good (2062 reviews)

All Along The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

www.kentuckytourism.com

Bourbon. Do I even need to write anymore?

The bourbon trail itself covers a rather large swath of land in Kentucky, so plan to spend more than just a weekend drinking some of your favorite whiskeys from the source. Proper planning usually starts with a night in Lexington, a night someplace in the middle, and a couple of nights in Louisville.

Lexington is quite the party town. Not only is it on the Bourbon Trail, it also boasts a Brewgrass Trail to highlight the local craft beer scene with many brewers incorporating local bourbon traditions into their product. In fact, one of the stops, Kentucky Ale Works, is a brewery and distillery in one.

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Where to Stay in Lexington

Book a stay at the 21c Museum Hotel Lexington. It’s a short walk away to Town Branch Distillery on the Bourbon Trail, but it’s also home to Lockbox led by executive chef Johnathan Searle, who proudly showcases a menu dedicated to highlighting local, Kentuckian ingredients.

21C Museum Hotel Lexington - Mgallery

Top rated
Lexington
8.8 Excellent (1579 reviews)

Where to Stay in Louisille

Stay at 21c Museum Hotel Louisville. It’s pricey, but it’s a top-rated trivago property for a reason. Not to mention it’s right in between both the Louisville Slugger Museum and Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, just a block away from each, and the bar at Proof on Main, onsite, is a local favorite with over 120 Kentucky Bourbons in stock.

21c Museum Hotel Louisville - MGallery

Top rated
Louisville
9.4 Excellent (2150 reviews)

Dive Into The Legendary Florida Keys

Haig Jacobs / Florida Keys News Bureau

While Key West is the final destination on any adventure to the Florida Keys, it’s not the destination itself. The proper way to experience Key West is to fly into Miami, rent a convertible (bonus points if it’s a Jeep Wrangler), and drive the overseas highway. As you gaze out over crystal clear waters, you’ll constantly ask yourself if you’re still in the United States.

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Where to Stay in Key West

The Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel is a great place for you and your crew to stay in Key West. Its quiet location provides ocean views and a sparkling pool when you need a break from the fray of Duval Street.

Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel

Key West
8.4 Very good (2471 reviews)

Music and Barbecue in Austin

Faith Davis, Unsplash

Somewhere along the way of transitioning from being single to married with children, going to see live music on the regular went to the wayside. Get all the live music fill you want in Austin, Texas. Plan to stay in downtown Austin so you have easy access to 6th Street – the hub of the city’s live music scene.

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Where to Stay in Austin

The Driskill is a recommended hotel not only for its central location but also for its old-world Texas charm.

The Driskill in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Top rated
Austin
9.0 Excellent (2309 reviews)

Party Like The Hangover in Phoenix

Hot Air Expeditions / Visit Phoenix

For a metropolitan vibe with plenty of inventive restaurants, bars, and breweries, and a mix of desert adventures and golfing, Phoenix is quickly becoming a favorite mancation destination.

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Where To Stay In Phoenix

Because of its year-round dry climate, there are several world-class resorts that turn the dry climate into a desert oasis, like the Arizona Biltmore. Party like the crew from The Hangover in one of the hotel’s private villas and enjoy two challenging golf courses.

Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

Top rated
Phoenix
8.6 Excellent (2306 reviews)