LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Finding the right gift for Father’s Day fills some with dread. Do you get him another tie? A briefcase? Some new gadget? Though these ideas are old-fashioned, sometimes the old ideas are the best.

And sometimes not.

A reporter in 1978, who jokingly gifted his mom a bridge for Mother’s Day, had a high-flying idea he thought his father would really enjoy.

WATCH the video to see what far out gift he wanted to get for his dad.

If you need more inspiration, we’ve compiled a list of some of Amazon customers’ most-loved Father’s Day gifts, including unique products for the adventurous dad, the techie dad, the sporty dad, the hard-to-shop-for dad, or gifts that every dad will love.

Can’t get enough? Here are some more blasts from the past to indulge your nostalgia.

WATCH: Teens decode slang from 2001 like 'tight,' 'oasis'

Do you feel me? Bling blinging? A dime piece? If you're scratching your head, you're not alone. This is just some of the esoteric slang that kids used back in 2001. One reporter was stumped about their meanings herself. She enlisted the help of some “super hip” high school seniors to help decode the cryptic jargon.

WATCH: Horse gives birth to zebra in 1984

Scientists were looking for ways to bolster the zebra population when they had the idea to get a helping hand from a cousin. A quarter horse named Kelley gave birth to Zebra E.Q. on May 17, 1984, at the Louisville Zoo. It was the first successful embryo transfer from an exotic to a domestic equine.

Retro History Find: 1997 device promised ability to talk to your dog decades before viral TikTok trend

Ever wonder what your dog was trying to tell you? A company in 1997 invented the HERO, a canine communication device. It aimed to bridge the gap between barks and words, improving the owner-dog relationship.

Americans are expected to spend more than $20.1 billion on gifts and other items for Father’s Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The NRF's projection is based on an annual survey and the organization says total spending for the holiday is estimated to surpass last year’s record of $17 billion.

The NRF says the roughly 75% of Americans who plan to celebrate this Sunday is a number consistent with previous years. And of those celebrating, about half plan to buy gifts for their dads, a quarter plan to buy gifts for their husbands, and around a tenth plan to buy gifts for their sons.

The NRF also says consumers plan to spend a little more to treat their dads this year, with the survey showing the average amount being spent on Father’s Day items to be $174. That’s $26 more than last year.

Those ages 35 to 44 years old will be this year’s biggest holiday spenders, the NRF projects.

The organization says the top gifts for Father's Day are greeting cards, clothing, special outings like dinner or brunch, gift cards, and personal care items.

The survey the NRF based its information on looked at 7,971 consumers and was conducted in early May. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.