101 Unique Bucket List Ideas to Get You Excited about Life Again

 

Before you think bucket lists are full of must-do’s before you die, (although I guess that’s kind of what they are! 🤷‍♀️) I view them through a slightly different lens.

Bucket lists inspire you to live intentionally and meaningfully now so you can get excited about your life again.

In my own life, a bucket list has been an essential tool to improve my mental health. Thinking of and adding to my list provides a much-needed escape from the daily grind. Just dreaming about all the things I want to do gives me something to look forward to!

On the flip side, crossing things off this list boosts my self-confidence and reminds me that life is beautiful and full of infinite possibilities.

If you’ve thought about making a bucket list, but need some help getting started, here are 101 unique bucket list ideas that will inspire you to dream again.

Travel Bucket List ideas

1. Visit all 63 U.S. National Parks
2. Visit 100 countries (like Kara & Nate!)
3. See Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks
4. See the northern lights
5. Go on an African safari
6. Ride in a Gondola in Venice
7. Walk the Great Wall of China
8. See grizzly bears catch salmon at Katmai National Park
9. Hold a koala bear in Australia
10. Go whale watching
11. Go on an airboat tour in the Everglades
12. Take a selfie with a quokka in Australia
13. Ride a camel in the desert
14. Float in the Dead Sea
15. Fly first class
16. Go leaf peeping in New England
17. Attend Mardi Gras
18. Stay in a 5-star resort
19. Attend the Olympics
20. Go to a Luau
21. Visit all 50 U.S. states
22. Go on a Caribbean Cruise
23. Go on an Alaskan Cruise
24. Go on a Mediterranean Cruise
25. Visit a ghost town (Bannack State Park is a favorite)
26. Drive Route 66
27. Drive the Oregon Trail
28. Be in four states at once (Four Corners)
29. Ride a helicopter into the Grand Canyon
30. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway

Bucket list ideas for couples

1. Stay a night in an ice hotel
2. Kiss under the Eiffel Tower
3. See a show on Broadway
4. Dress up for the Kentucky Derby
5. Learn how to fence
6. Watch baby seas turtles swim into the ocean
7. Go stand-up paddle boarding
8. Take a hot hair balloon ride
9. Go horseback riding
10. Sleep in a historic castle
11. Soak in a hot spring
12. Watch a movie in a drive-in theater
13. Attend a film premiere
14. Make an actual gingerbread house
15. Take a cooking class
16. Kiss in NYC on New Year’s Eve
17. Try axe throwing

Adventure Bucket List Ideas

1. Ice climb a glacier
2. Hike a volcano
3. Go cliff jumping (my video here!)
4. Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef
5. Mush a sled dog team
6. Run a 5K
7. Run a 10K
8. Run a half marathon
9. Run a marathon
10. Hike a 14er
11. Learn how to surf
12. Chase a tornado
13. Go bungee jumping
14. Complete a thru-hike
15. Do a polar plunge
16. Go white water rafting
17. Climb Half Dome in Yosemite (or you could try this epic hike instead!)
18. Swim in the four major oceans
19. Bike the Tuscany Trail
20. Hike the Presidential Traverse Trail
21. Go skydiving
22. Ride a zip-line
23. Learn how to ski or snowboard
24. Swim with dolphins
25. Rope swing into water
26. Hike the Grand Canyon in one day
27. Go snowshoeing
28. Learn how to rock climb
29. Go sand boarding

Creative bucket list ideas

1. Learn a new language
2. Write a book
3. Make your own soap
4. Learn how to play an instrument (did you know I play piano?!)
5. Make a font out of your handwriting
6. Learn how to crochet or knit
7. Create your own flower arrangement
8. Make your own candles
9. Read a classic novel
10. Get a tattoo
11. Write your own song
12. Sew something you can wear
13. Play an extra in a movie
14. Start a blog
15. Book a professional photo shoot
16. Cook every dish in one cookbook

Acts of Kindness bucket list ideas

1. Pay for someone’s food order
2. Buy groceries for a homeless person
3. Give up your seat to someone
4. Donate to help an endangered animal
5. Do a charity walk
6. Give blood
7. Send a care package to a soldier
8. Foster a shelter animal
9. Participate in Operation Christmas Child

How to Make Your Bucket List a Reality

Sometimes, the perfect opportunity to complete a bucket list item will fall in your lap. Like when we were camping near Crater lake and I decided to go cliff jumping!

But more often than not, you have to plan to accomplish what you want.

My book, Practical Dreamer, helps you apply a plug-and-play Six-Week Sprint framework to any bucket list item that feels a little too big to accomplish alone.

I receive emails almost every week from readers who have applied this framework themselves are are opening Etsy shops, decluttering their closets, and more!

Your bucket list is here to motivate you and keep you moving forward.

There is power in writing down what you want out of life. I can’t wait to see you make those dreams a reality.

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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