How many times can you give your dad a tie or a golf club for Father’s Day? Shake things up this year with a gift that is completely off the beaten path: off-road driving.
On Saturday, June 20, Northeast Off-Road Adventures offers a Father’s Day Beginner class that covers all the basics of off-road driving on natural terrain trails. Your old man finally has the opportunity to make the most out of his Jeep’s capabilities (street-legal, of course) and to get some mud on those tires. Located in the heart of the Catskills in Ellenville, the training facility is ideal for an off-roading experience.
Dad doesn’t need to be Jeff Gordon 2.0, either. The class is designed for those with little to no off-roading experience, so all driving is at low speeds and supervised by experts. (Hear that? It’s the collective sigh of moms everywhere.)
 |
The day begins at 9 a.m. with a seminar covering important safety aspects of off-road driving, along with a Vehicle 360, covering the crucial parts of the vehicle and how they work. The real fun begins with the instructor-led trail ride, where you and Dad will get to navigate through a wide variety of terrain obstacles on the private 68-acre trail network — trails groomed enough to be safe, yet challenging enough to be thrilling. And don’t worry about food: NORA has you covered with lunch provided by local vendors.
Beyond these standard beginner class features, the Father’s Day class comes with a few special perks. Each extra family member that comes along for the ride will only cost $25, and Dads go home with a complimentary NORA hat. This coincides with NORA CEO Scott Trager’s emphasis on family participation. “Off-roading is an adventure,” says Trager, “but it is also a great time to spend with the family.”
 |
Related: More Father’s Day Ideas
Though required to sign a personal and property liability waiver to attend the class, Dad and his ride are in good hands; every instructor at Northeast Off-Road Adventures is certified by the International Four-Wheel Drive Trainer’s Association. Small class sizes — 10 student vehicles maximum — allow for close, personalized attention.
Prior registration is required to attend classes, which are offered spring through the fall. Classes cost $295, but gift certificates are available all season long. Guests are encouraged to bring their own vehicles — so long as they have front and rear frame-mounted recovery points and four-wheel-drive low gear — but you can always rent a vehicle for an extra $150.
So gear up! It’s truly a family adventure that Trager calls “an adrenaline rush at just three miles per hour.”
If you go…
Northeast Off-Road Adventures, Ellenville
​845-514-9895; www.nyoffroaddriving.com
