Perfect New England Gifts for Dad

Finding the perfect gift for Dad doesn’t need to be a chore… especially if your dad lives in, visits, or just appreciates all things New England. Whether he’s an outdoor adventurer or the grill-at-home type, these New England gifts will speak to him and prove you do listen when he’s professing his love for the coast or the mountains or cars… or all three. Plus, when you shop these New England brands, large and small, you support their continued ingenuity, and we all win.

Classic Car Dinnerware by Whitney

Gift-giving is easy if your dad (or grandpa) is a car guy. Featuring iconic sports cars from the 1950s and ’60s, the Classic Car collection plates, mugs, and serving platter from Newport, Rhode Island-based porcelain tableware and stationery brand Whitney are just the right speed (and they’re dishwasher and microwave safe, too). Imagine Dad’s delight when you serve Father’s Day brunch using these distinctive pieces, featuring artist Whitney’s detailed pencil drawings of significant antique automobiles. Whitney is a lifelong classic car enthusiast, often in attendance at collector-car events, and her artwork has been selected for the Newport Art Museum Members’ Juried Exhibition six years running. We wouldn’t blame you if you presented Dad with one of these plates to display as art, rather than to cushion his pancakes. Either way, you’re gifting him a trip down Memory Lane.

Crew Neck T-shirts from Goodwear USA

If a T-shirt is your typical go-to gift for Dad, elevate his wardrobe this year with a classic crew neck T-shirt from this New England brand that has been manufacturing clothing in the US from 100% US-grown cotton for 40 years. In business in Essex, Massachusetts, Goodwear USA starts with yarn and manufactures its own proprietary fabrics, ensuring extraordinary quality, weight, and durability. You’ll notice the craftsmanship and attention to fine details, such as no side seams. Even the labels are made in the USA. Choose a Cobblestone or Acid Wash finish, and you can be sure the look is as one-of-a-kind as the man you call “Dad” (or Daddy, Pop, Grandpa, Papa, Hubs, Old Man… you get the idea). Shop with discount code Yankee10 to save 10% on your order. 

Bucket Hats by MountainBlaze

What is the Etsy equivalent of flying off the shelf? These one-of-a-kind bucket hats sell almost as fast as they’re made, so watch for new postings from MountainBlaze, or, better yet, order a custom-designed hat for your dad that suits his outdoor interests. You’ll be supporting a husband-and-wife team of Appalachian Trail (AT) hikers, who run their cottage company from Piscataquis County in northern Maine. Sumiko and Dave, also known by their AT trail names Viewfinder and Slowfoot, handcraft and sell other gear for hikers and nature lovers, too, including ultra-warm, 100% wool knit hats. If keeping Dad (and his car) cool is a higher priority, gift him a MountainBlaze Car Sunshade.

Premier Walnut BBQ Set from Lamson

From the first burger he flips, your dad will know these sleek and sturdy, USA-made BBQ tools from Massachusetts-based Lamson are a cut above. And they really are tools, not utensils: Each is meticulously formed from American stainless steel using state-of-the-art technology and hand finishing. Available as a 3-piece or 4-piece set, the barbecue tongs, two-tine fork, slotted turner, and slotted fish turner have extra-long handles to keep Dad safe while he’s grilling. The thick stainless steel is also designed to handle large cuts of meat (mmm… steak) with ease. Riveted wood and steel construction ensures these tools will hold up season after grilling season, and Lamson, one of the oldest cutlery companies in the country, backs up all of its products with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

SeaSock Water Shoes from Sperry

We’re journalists here at Yankee, so when we read that enduring New England brand Sperry‘s SeaSock Water Shoes for men are made with Adaptive Wave Siping technology, we of course had to know: What is this? Here’s the answer, straight from the company Paul Sperry founded in 1935 after inventing the first non-slip boat shoe: “Tiny, wavy slits in the rubber outsoles, in combination with larger and deeper wavy grooves, disperse water away from the soles and give you incredible grip. Whether your footing is wet or dry, these outsoles will help prevent you from becoming separated from the deck of your boat.” Seems to us like they might help Dad navigate any slippery situation, which makes these shoes a gift he’ll cherish for a long time.

Recycled Sailcloth Vanguard Bifold Wallet from Flowfold

Your dad will never go back to carrying a leather wallet once he discovers this Maine-made alternative that is so lightweight, it actually floats. Flowfold is known for turning recycled sailcloth fabric, one of the world’s strongest and lightest materials, into innovative products with particular appeal for outdoor adventurers. The remarkably thin Vanguard Bifold Wallet still holds all of the essentials: It has a cash pocket, two hidden card pockets for up to a dozen credit cards, and two ID windows. It’s easy to clean and designed to last a lifetime, so next year… you’ll have to treat Dad to another Flowfold accessory, like this passport holder.

Miniature Golfer Baby Gift Set from Simply Chickie

For the new dad or dad-to-be, this Miniature Golfer short-sleeve romper and hat combo is a gift that anticipates shared outings to come and Dad jokes waiting to be told. Rhode Island-based Simply Chickie uses only organic cotton, which is breathable, environmentally friendly, and best for baby’s skin, for its creative products with New England appeal. Organic everything became deeply important to company founder Gwendolyn Gardner after she was diagnosed with cancer and learned she was pregnant in the same week. She’s been delighting parents and babies since 2005, when she launched her first designs.

History Reinterpreted by Patrick Ahearn

Masterful and prolific New England architect Patrick Ahearn‘s second book, released in May 2023, will appeal to any dad who’s fascinated by the building arts, history, or preservation. The pages of History Reinterpreted take readers on a journey of reimagination, as the Boston-based architect transforms the 1871 Myles Standish Hotel in Duxbury, Massachusetts, into a dreamy seaside residence. Known for honoring and reinterpreting historic structures, including more than 200 in the historic village of Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, Ahearn invites fans of his work (he has 143K followers on Instagram alone) into his process, sharing his own hand drawings, blueprints, historic photos, and before and after floor plans and images. The results he achieves are thoroughly contemporary and vibrant, yet ever true to the classic character of this New England landmark.

SEE MORE:
Essay: A Father’s Gift
Perfect New England Gifts for Mom
The Best Public Golf Course in Every New England State

Is there a New England product your dad loves? Let us know in the comments below!