Guide to Gift Ideas on Father's Day in Detroit

As might be expected, the Great "Lake" State has plenty of swimming and beach opportunities. From small swimming holes to Great Lake beaches, the Metro Detroit area has it all. When planning your day for Dad at the beach, it helps to look at crowd information, boat rental availability, general descriptions and other amenity information.

Dad goes in for something a little different from mom; he's more about the beer selection and plasma screens. In addition to a hand full of Father's Day brunches in the Metro-Detroit area, there are plenty of restaurants, breweries and sports bars.

Dad loves his sports and baseball is big in the Metro Detroit area. Help him be there when the Tigers catch fire. There are also Class A and AAA ballparks within driving distance of the Metro Detroit area.

Most casinos have a sports-betting parlor, but blackjack and craps are nice alternatives for dad to win it big. He can also take in a show, have a great meal and sleep in.

Happiness is...a tub of popcorn and an action flick. Whether he likes it big and in 3-D at an IMAX theater or dramatic and dark at one of the theaters catering to independent movies, there is a theater in town for dad.

If he's a Trekkie -- and who isn't? -- spend the day with dad at Star Trek: The Exhibit at the Detroit Science Center, where memorabilia from the movies and all of the shows is featured. You can even sit in the captain's chair on the bridge of the Enterprise or experience a faux dematerialization courtesy of the Transporter.

Whether dad is a die-in-the-wool Detroiter or simply home-sick and living elsewhere, there are a lot of great Detroit-inspired and/or Michigan-made gifts to choose from. Options include food items, Detroit-inspired movies, sports merchandise and Michigan-made products. Hey, if all else fails, the movie Gran Torino is out on DVD on June 9th.