Have you heard the Trace Adkins song, “Just Fishin'”? In case you don’t love country music the way I do, it’s about a dad taking his daughter on a fishing date. The daughter is just having a good time; playing, talking, fishing- but the whole time the dad is thinking about how they are making memories. Time is ticking and his daughter is growing up.

she ain’t even thinking bout what’s really going on right now
but I guarantee this memory’s a big one
and she thinks we’re just fishing

Raising three girls, these lyrics have a tendency to leave me gutted.

As for daddy/daughter dates, I don’t think a structured event is typically what dads and daughters need or want. They just want some quality time together while doing something simple they both enjoy.

In our family, my husband takes our older two daughters on weekly one-on-one dates. That means husband takes our oldest on a short hike that ends in a swimming hole. Sometimes they go to our community pool and swim laps in side-by-side lanes. Other times they head straight for smoothies or ice cream. Our middle daughter shares his love of hot wings, so often times they take off to grab chicken smothered in spicy buffalo sauce. Once in a while they go to a park. Every now and then they’ll see a movie.

Usually their activities involve something outdoors and/or food. It’s always something easy and spontaneous; an activity they are both interested in.

Here are some of their favorites to do with daddy, targeted to the 4-8 year-old daughter crowd:

• Geocaching (download the app to find a geocache near you)
• Milkshakes at Hopdoddy Burger Bar
• Hike Bull Creek, Lost Creek, or Twin Falls
• Visit a book store (Book People, Barnes and Noble)
• Laura’s Library (check scheduled events here if you’re looking for structured activities)
• Terra Toys
• Visit Mayfield Preserve (the hiking trails behind Mayfield Park)
• board game shops (Dragons Lair, Emerald Tavern, Mothership)
• Paddle boarding at Town Lake

Our four-year-old recently requested to go to Macy’s and buy a gumball from the machine upstairs in the children’s section and follow it up with a shuttle ride from one side of the Domain to the other, so… it seems like kids don’t seem to mind if it’s simple.

No matter where they end up, or what they end up doing, most importantly they’re spending time together and they’re creating memories. After all, like the song says, it’s not about fishing.