Father's Day gift guide

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By Katie Leslie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If ever you have felt as though buying a gift for Dad is the hardest present on your list, join the club. In our experience, men buy what they need, leaving their loved ones little options for the perfect gift.

But don't fret. You don't need to spend another dollar or another year on the classic socks, ties and golf ball gifts. Instead, consider these hip gadgets, grills and experiences we hope will make your dads and ours smile.

Up your Dad's cool factor with eco-friendly electronic accessories. iWave's headphones, earbuds and cases (iPhone and iPod compatible) are made from sustainable materials such as wood, bamboo and plastic and everything from the products to their packaging is fully-recyclable. The "Grass Roots" collection of wood-grain finished products range from $19.99-$29.99 and are available at www.iWaveAudio.com. -- Katie Leslie

Picture-loving pops might like Kodak's new "Easyshare M580″ digital camera. Using its share button on the back, dear ol' Dad can easily upload images onto Facebook, Flickr or e-mail them from the camera. The camera also has a face recognition feature, instantly tagging up to 20 pre-registered faces. Goes for $199.95, available at www.Kodak.com and national retailers. -- Katie Leslie

Give your thrill-seeking dad an adventure he'll always remember. The Georgia Aquarium offers "Journey with Gentle Giants," daily dives and swims in its 6.3 million gallon tank filled with ocean life. The experience lasts about 2 1/2 hours, with 30 minutes in the water swimming (or diving) alongside the world's largest fish -- a whale shark -- or the largest ray -- the manta ray. Eight people are allowed in each time slot and must be ages 12 and older. No experience necessary. Equipment is provided. A dive costs $325 and a swim is $225 and includes admission to aquarium, T-shirt, certificate of participation and photo. To sign up, call 404-581-4000 or visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/swimordive -- Katie Leslie

Tech-savvy and direction-challenged dads will appreciate the Garmin Nuvi 1250 ultra-thin GPS. The device has preloaded maps, announces streets by name and even calculates the most fuel efficient route with ecoRoute. The Garmin Nuvi 1250 is available at select Macy's locations for $170. -- Nedra Rhone

For the dad with a bright future, a pair of shades makes a great Father's Day gift. Try the King Kahuna Navigator Sunglasses featuring lightweight metal frames, nose pads and UVA and UVB protection. The shades, in the color "brew," are available for $148 at Tommy Bahama in Phipps Plaza. -- Nedra Rhone

Dads who love new toys will dig this slick portable grill designed by Paul Teutul Jr., star of TLC's "American Chopper." The Coleman grill is inspired by Teutul's custom motorcycle-building background and has a black finish with chrome accents, diamond-plate side table inserts for stability, adjustable burners and more. The grill also has a fold-up stand and wheels for on-the-go grilling. Available at Dick's Sporting Goods, Home Depot and online for $229. -- Katie Leslie