Father’s Day Gift Guide in Merrimack

Your father, husband, son or anyone else you plan to celebrate this Father’s Day may be similar in taste and personality, or worlds apart. Either way, it's time to start contemplating what to give your 2013 honoree(s).

While a tasty restaurant meal should never be ruled out, the men in your life might prefer spending the day outside with friends and family—with a new outdoor grill or barbecue equipment, of course.

Sports enthusiasts would likely welcome fishing lures, ski gloves or golf balls and tees. For those preferring to enjoy the great outdoors right in their own backyard, there is always croquet, badminton, bocce, or bean bag games.

• Brown Village Depot at 454 Daniel Webster Highway for a great selection of merchandise, including fishing gear, grilling tools, floats, games, and clothing.

• Merrimack Jewelers at 7 Continental Blvd. See their website: Merrimackjewels.com

• Merrimack Premium Outlets has a wide range of stores in its shopping center.

Gift certificates to a local restaurant always produce smiles, too. Click the Merrimack Patch food and dining directory here for some great options (a great plate from Buckley's Great Steaks, perhaps?)

Men need pampering too.

Men are certainly known to partake in the occasional mani-pedi, but a relaxing shave or massage could also help reduce stress—and provide a temporary furlough from the "honey-do" list.

If the work really needs to get done, hire an assistant to help or, even better, outsource the project completely. If Dad actually revels in the honey-do list and refuses to shirk his domestic responsibility, upgrade his tool set. Don’t know a wrench form a circular saw?  Then try a gift certificate to the local hardware store. 

Just relaxing works too. 

For quiet time, everyone has their reading medium of choice, whether it's a book, Nook, Kindle, iPod, audiobook, or magazine. 

Finding free time isn’t always easy. Dad may even enjoy a simple day off at home—doing absolutely nothing.