Fun for dAdZ: An A-to-Z activity and gift guide for Father’s Day

If Dad is No. 1 in your book, then the No. 1 thing you can do for Father’s Day is spend time with him. But rather than provide, say, a Top 10 list of suggested activities, we’re offering 26. We hope our alphabetical guide helps you plan a special day or jogs your brain to come up with ideas of your own.

American Graffiti – Take the Historic Graffiti Cruise Route downtown Modesto walking tour. The loop of G to K streets and 10th to 11th streets is dotted with sidewalk markers and information kiosks. See www.modestocruiseroute.com.

Bicycling – Ride the newly expanded Virginia Corridor path or one of Modesto’s other bike paths. www.modestogov.com/prnd/recreation/bikeways.asp.

Croquet – It’s a family-fun classic. If you don’t already have a set, they’re easy to find, and the game can be played on the grass at home or a park. It’s doesn’t even matter if the grass is green or brown!

Dean, James – The Modesto Film Society is presenting the 1955 James Dean classic, “Rebel Without a Cause,” at the State Theatre. Showtime is 2 p.m. thestate.org.

Exercise – Grab a football, flying disc, soccer ball, badminton set, whatever floats your boat, and head to your favorite park.

Father’s Day car show – Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 1600 Carver Road, has a car show starting at 10:30 a.m. that is open to new, classic and muscle cars, and motorcycles. Sticky chicken and ribs will be sold, and there will be a bounce house for kids.

Gold panning – Try your luck at Matelot Gulch Mining Co.’s Hidden Treasure Gold Mine in Columbia State Historic Park. www.columbiacalifornia.com.

Hiking – Explore the Stanislaus River Parks. Trails in the Knights Ferry, Goodwin Canyon, Orange Blossom, Valley Oak and McHenry Avenue recreation areas offer short tours of “lush river woodlands,” according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ice skating – At the indoor rink in Stockton’s Oak Park, a public skate will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.visitstockton.org/directory/oak-park-ice-arena.

Jump – This one’s pretty wide open. You could buy some trampoline time at Rockin’ Jump; jump into a pool, reservoir or river; jump rope (c’mon, Dad, double dutch!) or see what kind of hops you have on the basketball court.

Kites – OK, this is on Saturday, but it’s still Father’s Day weekend: Pacheco State Park’s annual Kite Day features kite flying, a “make your own kite” activity, face painting, and pie-eating and bubble-gum-blowing contests. It’s from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Pacheco State Park, 38787 Dinosaur Point Road, Hollister. $10 park day use fee. Call (209) 826-1197. Or you could just go fly a kite anywhere there’s a breeze Sunday.

Lanes – As in bowling. McHenry Bowl and Yosemite Lanes are sure bets if knocking down pins is right up Dad’s alley. And there’s air conditioning!

Museums – There are plenty, near and far. Unfortunately, a lot of them, such as the Great Valley Museum and the Oakdale Cowboy Museum, aren’t open Sundays. But for starters, you have the McHenry Museum in Modesto, Castle Air Museum in Atwater, the Haggin Museum of art in Stockton, the Murphys Old Timers Museum, museums at Columbia State Historic Park and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, and the Sonora Fire Museum and the Tuolumne County Museum in Sonora.

Nuts – The Nuts take on the High Desert Mavericks at 1:05 p.m. at John Thurman Field. modestonuts.com

Open – As in the U.S. Open. Plunk down next to Pop on the couch and let him bask in the final round of what many consider the biggest golf tournament in the world.

Picnic – As simple or as fancy as you want to make it. Pack PB&Js, deli sandwiches, fried chicken (keep it cold!) or your lunch of choice, take some lawn-game equipment and head out to a shady spot.

Quilts – Check out the “A Stitch in Time” show at the Gustine Museum. The quilts on display span more than 125 years and tell stories of the town’s people and the times in which they lived.

Rafting – Inflate your own rafts or tubes for a gentle ride down the Stanislaus River, or contact a company such as River Journey Adventures or Sunshine Rafting.

Sharks – You’re gonna need a bigger screen. If you’ve never seen “Jaws” on anything but a TV, here’s your chance. Turner Classic Movies is bringing the greatest of great whites back to theaters for the movie’s 40th anniversary. Shows are June 21 and 24 only, in select theaters. There are screenings in Merced, Manteca and Tracy. Get tickets at www.fathomevents.com/event/jaws.

Tennis – There are public courts to be found all around town. Try to get out early to beat the heat (and beat the old man!).

Ultimate Frisbee – Gather family and friends to play this field game, explained at sites including www.whatisultimate.com/what-is-ultimate and ultimatefrisbeerules.org.

VFW breakfast – Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3199 has a breakfast each Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Modesto VFW Hall, 2801 W. Hatch Road. Cost is $8. Call (209) 537-3360.

Wine tasting – You can sample “wines for Father’s Day” at O’Brien’s Market on Dale Road from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, or wines at Stewart & Jasper in McHenry Village and in Patterson, or make a whole day of it along Main Street in Murphys.

X Fest – Gift Dad with tickets for the Aug. 22 music party in downtown Modesto. Join him if you’re 21 or older. www.xfestmodesto.com

Yosemite – The glorious national park pretty much in our own backyard easily provides a day – a weekend, a week! – of outdoor beauty and fun.

Zip lining – Try the twin zip lines at Moaning Cavern Adventure Park in Vallecito, Calaveras County. www.caverntours.com/MC_zip_line.htm

This story was originally published June 18, 2015 at 10:44 PM with the headline "Fun for dAdZ: An A-to-Z activity and gift guide for Father’s Day."