Anyone celebrating Father’s Day and new graduates this year knows choosing a thoughtful and functional gift can be challenging. Luckily, for all the nature-loving outdoor enthusiasts and travelers out there, the weather is just warming up for some fun and useful gear.
Whether celebrating dad, honoring graduates or just preparing for an active summer yourself, this list of functional, versatile and thoughtful travel accessories can really up the ante.
For all the tubing, kayaking, rafting, camping and outdoor-you-name-it, the YETI Hopper Sidekick is just that — the nature enthusiast’s new sidekick. It wears like a fanny pack, but acts like a cooler by keeping water and intruding summer weather out and cool temperatures and drinks in. Grab a matching ice pack and belt hook to ready the adventurers in your life for activity and refreshments. YETI offers several convenient accessories for outdoor travelers, like travel mugs, large coolers and everything in between.
Road Trip Journal
Gift adventurers in your family with a journal they can document their time on the road in. Having a journal for an epic hiking expedition or longer journey off the grid without WiFi is a great way to remind explorers to take note of all the stories along the way, and maybe even think of you while they travel. Go with a classic leather-bound book for a traditional look, or something waterproof f
or all-weather travelers.

Photo: Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com
A little less tangible, but, oh so useful, a Premium Spotify account is something you can gift for friends, family and yourself. Whether traveling internationally, in poor connection areas or up in the air, Spotify Premium works even without WiFi, saves your music and even learns your taste and can introduce users to new music. Users can go offline and still listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks. Some packages come with a subscription to Hulu, Showtime or a variety of cable channels, so you can treat yourself while gifting the kids.
Travel Bags
Dads and grads may be traveling this summer, starting a new job, or both — they’re going to need a bag that can keep up. A secure, sturdy and professional bag that can go with you in a moment’s notice can be a gamechanger, like the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack. This water-resistant pack can handle heavy-duty travel, tech and more, but appears crisp and professional.
Read This Next
5 Family-Friendly Museums in Charleston
Destinations / North America
Aug 22, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Jul 9, 20265 Places to Have a European-Style Vacation Without Leaving the Country
Flying isn’t cheap, especially for a whole family. Luckily, if you want a European vacation but it just isn’t in the budget, you can get creative with your destination and have a European-style vacation without ever leaving the country.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / Latin America
Jul 9, 20268 Savannah, Georgia, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Savannah, Georgia, with us.
Hotels
Jul 9, 2026Refreshed Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Elevates Family Getaways
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, a 560-room resort in the Greater Palm Springs area, recently completed a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar renovation. With the updates come new resort experiences, a Kids Eat Free package, new pickleball courts, upgraded poolside cabanas, the debut of Seven Olive Modern Gastropub and Topgolf Swing Suites, and more.
Destinations / Europe
Jul 8, 2026A Trip to London: Exploring the South Bank
Courtesy of a night spent at London’s Sea Containers hotel, I had the opportunity to explore the South Bank neighborhood. Let’s dive into some family-friendly highlights:
Destinations / North America
Jul 8, 2026Summer Fun Awaits in New Hampshire’s Lakes
When you’re traveling in New Hampshire, you’re never far from water. Although its Atlantic coastline is short, lakes — including New England’s largest — are scattered throughout the state, so family travelers will have plenty of opportunities for swimming and water sports.
ShareThis