60Th Bday

I agree that something they can use for their get-away is nice. Also, burning a nice c-d for him with all his favorite songs. Putting together a video with old snapshots is nice too and you can run it on a laptop through the party. We did this for my sister's 50th and it was so cool to see everyone gathered around the laptop from time to time. We tried to find old pictures of most of the people at the party, grandparents, etc...

My one sister did something so fun. She had really nice bottles of wine private labeled with a picture of my sister on them and some clever saying ... "Like fine wine, you just get better with age!". We also had three centerpieces, located in different parts of the party area brimming with all kinds of vintage candy. It became such a conversation starter! You can go on-line to get ideas or perhaps you can go, locally, and someone can order you some bulk candy (i.e. Ferrara Pan was big - boston baked beans, lemonheads, jawbreakers, etc...)
http://candy-crate.stores.yahoo.net/assortments.html

Enjoy your party!

My parents told us they don't want "stuff" so we give them gift cards to restaurants, movie tickets, theater tickets, sports tickets, etc.

If you feel like you have to give him something, what about the family going for a portrait? Or you could have a friend take it at your mom and dad's house and you could blow it up and frame it? I don't know what size family you have so it could be a nightmare. I live in Chicagoland, have a sister in California and some siblings in St. Louis, so we have to plan that stuff way far ahead.

I don't know if the vacation is a surprise, but you could give them something that they can use on their trip.

Another idea, is a digital picture frame. My parents have one and they love it.

since you mentioned giving him something, and you already have such a big trip planned how about one or more of the following:

1) Fodor's Guide to where they are going
2) Buy him one of the books that "displays" the quarters. You can get them online for a reasonable price, just search on Quarter Books.
3) Hallmark stores carry "Grandparents" journal books where it asks him to tell you about his life. Each page asks a question like "What is your fondest childhood memory?" Then it provides blank space for him to write his answers. They are really cool becuase eventually he can "gift it back" to you when it's complete. It gives a lot of details that you probably never knew about him.
4) An MP3 player or iPOD, even off eBay, filled with music for his trip.
5) A gift certificate (you can make it on your computer) to help him make a "photo book" after his trip is over. You can help him get started. MyPublisher has amazing options at reasonable rates. Then he and your mom will have a real "book" of their photos from their trip - not just photos "stuck" in the digital world or in a scrapbook. Being a guy he'd probably LOVE the technology and having a cool new way to present his pictures to friends and family.

I hope these suggestions help.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes!

I don't know how your parents are, but mine never really wanted much stuff. Often, the things that parents enjoy is some quality time with you as you are getting older. If your father is a collector, then something for his collection is totally appropriate. If he is a reader, I saw a neat idea at a nearby library, they were featuring books from the year their library was formed. Perhaps a book that was on the popular reading lists from the year he was born; or maybe something he has mentioned in passing about a hobby or something he would like to try.

If you're not sure what to get, I find consumable gifts are the best. A collection of good jellies or a nice bottle of wine or a case of good beer. As a gift we signed up my dad for the Beer of the Month club and he loved it!