Ties That Still Bind: A Father's Day Road Trip

Father’s Day is more than just a date on the calendar — it’s a moment to pause and honor the quiet strength, steady presence, and deep, enduring love that fathers and father figures bring into our lives.

It’s about the shoulder rides to see over the crowd. The firm grip of a hand when things felt uncertain. The first bike ride, the first tie knot, the quiet lessons in how to show up with courage and kindness — even when no one’s watching.

For many, the day is filled with cookouts and laughter, last-minute handmade cards, and stories passed down like well-worn heirlooms. For others, it’s a day of remembrance — for dads who are no longer with us — or appreciation for the mentors, stepfathers, uncles, and friends who stepped in when it mattered most.

With the holiday just around the corner, we sat down with our social media manager, Austin Hojdar, who shared memories of their road trips out west, life lessons from his dad, and why the classic necktie still holds up as a Father’s Day gift.

FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

The Tie Bar: What’s your favorite memory with your dad?

Austin Hojdar: I don’t know if I can pinpoint one specific thing right away, but I feel like he was always really involved in a lot of the activities I did as a kid. I’m specifically thinking about how he coached my baseball teams, my early basketball teams — stuff like that. He was always super supportive of whatever I was interested in and really tried to get me involved in things.

There were definitely a lot of times when we were just at basketball practice, or on the way to practice, or doing something related to that. And yeah, I feel like those moments were always really special.

TTB: Do you remember the first time he taught you how to tie a necktie?

AH: I mean, I grew up going to a private school, so starting in sixth or seventh grade, I had to wear a tie every single day. And I feel like it was probably around then that my dad was like, “Okay, you’ve got to do this yourself.” So I learned how to tie a tie back then, but honestly, I’d just loosen it at the end of the day, hang it up, and throw it back on the next morning.

That definitely influenced where I am now. It’s kind of ironic — my dad does blue-collar work, so he never wears a tie anymore — but he has this huge collection of ties from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Even now, I’ll go through them and pick some out to wear. So I guess that really did inspire me to get into more interesting ties — and honestly probably sparked my interest in this job in the first place.

TTB: Have you ever taken any style tips from your dad as you’ve gotten older? If so, what stuck with you?

AH: I feel like he has a very outdoorsy, rugged kind of style, whereas I’ve leaned more into a slightly preppier, tie-inspired look. But I definitely take a lot from him — like mixing jeans into more corporate outfits or wearing a loose tie. He also loves hats; he’s a big hat collector. And I feel like I’ve kind of followed in his footsteps there too — for better or worse, especially for my wallet.

TTB: What’s your dad’s signature look — and has he ever switched it up?

AH: Well, I’d say 99% of the time, my dad is wearing a baseball cap — usually a San Francisco Giants hat. And that’s been true for decades — there are pictures of him in college wearing the same hat.

He almost always pairs it with a button-up shirt — something like a fisherman or hiking shirt, even though he doesn’t fish. That’s kind of his thing. He’s very much a uniform guy; he has a look and he sticks to it.

TTB: Any memorable life advice from the old man that still guides you today?

AH: One thing my dad has been saying a lot — like, especially over the past five years — is “always look up.” And he kind of means that in a few different ways.

I’m from Cleveland, but we lived in the suburbs. When I moved to Chicago, it felt like, you know, a big city — buildings everywhere. In one sense, “look up” just means pay attention to your surroundings, kind of in that overprotective-dad way. But in another sense, it’s about literally looking up — taking in the skyline, noticing the architecture, and appreciating the fact that you’re in this moment, in this place.

Every once in a while, that phrase will pop into my head and remind me. You can kind of forget where you are, and how cool it actually is. So sometimes I’ll pause, take a step back, and just appreciate it — like, “Oh right, I’m in Chicago. This city’s awesome. And I get to be here.”

TTB: Are there any Father’s Day traditions your family does to celebrate him?

AH: He loves the outdoors — going on hikes and things like that. There's not necessarily a specific tradition, but I grew up pretty close to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. 

We’d usually end up there or at one of the local Metroparks near our house to go for a walk or a hike. On those days, he definitely doesn’t love being the center of attention, but we try to go out of our way to do something he enjoys — and that usually means a hike.

TTB: You and your dad recently took a trip out west — what was that experience like? 

AH: The experience was awesome. He actually drove to Chicago first, and then from there, we drove together to the Grand Canyon. We made stops along the way — in places like Utah and Colorado. It was incredible. I’d never really seen the desert before, so just being surrounded by that kind of landscape the whole time was amazing.

And yeah, getting to do it with him made it even better. I do go back home every once in a while, but since moving to Chicago, I haven’t had as much time with my parents as I’d like. So, having a full week where it was just us hanging out felt really special.

We had actually talked about doing a trip like this back when I graduated from high school. The original plan was to go the summer before I left for college. COVID hit, and we just didn’t feel comfortable traveling at the time. So it’s kind of been this loosely discussed idea for the past five years.

Last year, I finally said, "Okay, if we’re going to do this, let’s just do it." Thankfully, we both managed to get time off work. We considered flying out there and maybe driving back, but then we thought — if we have the time, we should really make the most of it. So we drove the whole way and tried to see and do as much as we could. I think we were both really happy we made it happen.

TTB: And finally, why do you think the necktie still stands as one of the best Father’s Day gifts?

AH: Well, I think this especially makes sense if your dad — or you — isn’t someone who wears ties all the time. Ties tend to come out for special occasions or moments when the whole family is usually together. So, giving a tie as a gift can feel meaningful — like it's part of a special moment or something you and your dad might share. 

I think that’s a really cool thing, especially if it’s a tie you're excited about or something that reflects his specific taste. It shows that you’ve been paying attention to what he likes and what he wears. It’s just a thoughtful way to show you care.

FATHER'S DAY GIFTS