50+ Bucket List Ideas You Have to Complete [2020]

You know all of those things that you want to do in your life? Well, go do them! But before you do, it’s helpful to create a bucket list. Bucket lists can help you evaluate what is really important to you as well as motivate you to make those dreams a reality. While I am sure you that have your own bucket list ideas and personal goals, this list will help inspire new plans and adventures!

Spend a week camping off the grid

Disconnect to connect (cheesy, I know). But the saying is true. Spend a week camping with friends and disconnect from all of your devices. Camping is a perfect summer activity and should be on any summer bucket list! In addition, there are so many fun things to do while you are camping. You can swap scary stories, make s’mores, hammock, go kayaking, go on hikes, sing campfire songs, and so much more.

Bake bread from scratch 

It’s incredibly easy and delicious. You can make your own sourdough starter or just use active dry yeast. Honestly, it’s fun to try to make a few things from scratch. Some other ideas include granola, hummus, and pesto.

Be in a parade float

Were you always slightly envious of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off parade scene? Same. This bucket list item might be slightly hard to accomplish, but next festival see how you can get involved with a local or student organization and jump in on their parade float! Or you could always just start singing Wayne Newton’s “Danke Schoen” and hope that a parade float will let you hop on…

Explore Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. It is most famous for its sophisticated dry-stone walls. Furthermore, it is a World Heritage Site and the pride of Peru. These sights will truly take your breath away.

Start a book club

If you are a bookworm, then starting a book club should 100% be on your bucket list. Gather some close friends and pick out a good book to read and discuss. If you need inspiration, check out these celebrity book clubs.

Learn how to drive a stick shift

Driving stick is intimidating, but can be an interesting part of your bucket list journey. If you need help starting, check out this guide that has 9 easy steps to follow.

Plant and tend to a vegetable garden

Think sustainably and start planting herbs and veggies that you grow yourself. It is fun to watch these little plant babies grow and know that you helped them thrive.

Go skydiving 

Skydiving is a fantastic summer bucket list experience. This extreme sport will surely push you outside of your comfort zone and hey, you will probably get a fantastic skydiving picture for social media.

Ride a mechanical bull 

Try not to fall off! That is the best advice I have for you here.

Journey to the Grand Canyon 

This National Park in Arizona is best known for its layered bands of colorful rock and immense depth and length. The Grand Canyon is a sight that you should see with your own eyes.

Swim in the Great Barrier Reef

Located in Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is famous for its breathtaking beauty as well as the fact that it is the world’s largest coral reef. At the Reef there is swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing. However, the Reef is in danger and you can help save endangered marine species as well as find solutions to major threats facing the Reef like coral bleaching. You can donate here.

Visit Cape Town, South Africa 

Cape Town is a port city on South Africa’s southwest coast. The city is best known for its harbor and for landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Travel with some of your best friends and let the city sweep you away.

Ride in a hot air balloon 

Riding in a hot air balloon is another bucket list activity that will push you outside of your comfort zone. Explore great heights and enjoy your breathtaking balloon ride!

Paint a piece of art and hang it up in your home

Make a painting or take a photograph and then hang it up in a prominent part of your house. Maybe this is on your life list of creative endeavors that you hope to accomplish. Whatever it may be, this fun activity will help you tap into your artsy side. If you are not an artist that is ok. You can always do a paint-by-numbers.

Check out a natural hot springs

What is a natural hot springs you may ask? Well, it is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermal heated groundwater that comes up from the Earth’s crust. There are many to visit throughout the world. Check out this list of 10 amazing hot springs.

Try an extreme sport like bungee jumping

Nothing will get the heart pumping and the blood flowing like bungee jumping! Not only is this a fantastic outdoor activity, but it will also be an experience of a lifetime.

Take a cross country road trip 

Whether this cross country trip will be your own adventure, an adventure with friends, or with your person, this kind of trip is worthy of any bucket list. Think of all the fun sights you will see!

Attend a large festival 

You could go to a famous festival like Coachella or Burning Man or perhaps some lesser known festival. Regardless, you will feel like you have stepped out of reality and entered into a dream.

Hike the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States. It extends between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. With fun trails to walk on, this is a great hike in summer months.

Shark cage diving 

Maybe this won’t be on your own list… but if you are feeling particularly daring you can give this a try! Shark cage diving is an underwater diving or snorkeling activity where you remain inside a protective cage, which is designed to prevent sharks from making contact with you. Plus, this is probably as close as you can be to safely seeing great white sharks in person!

Check out the Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. If you want to learn about the fascinating history of the Taj Mahal, read here.

Learn a new language 

Get started on a new language today! You can start learning for free here. As a human person, learning multiple languages is incredibly helpful.

Visit all seven continents 

Six of them counts too. Antartica is a bit tricky.

Go to New York City and be in the Saturday Night Live audience

“Liveeeee from New York, it’s SATURDAY NIGHT!” Just imagine hearing that in person. Plus, going to New York City is always a wonderful and fun idea.

Adopt a rescue animal

You don’t have to be a kid to love and want to play with animals. Better yet, adopt a rescue animal for yourself!

Swim in the five major oceans 

Quick review: the five major oceans are the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Ocean. Dip your toe or take a full on dive.

Stand in awe at the Northern Lights 

Seriously, you will be in awe. The Northern Lights are a natural light display in the Earth’s sky, which can predominantly be seen in the high-latitude regions.

Learn a new sport 

Indulge your competitive side and learn a fun new sport. Some examples include, ultimate frisbee, badminton, archery, or water polo.

Go on a wildlife safari

If you love animals and you love outdoor activities, then a wildlife safari is for you. This will be a great addition to your bucket list!

Attend the Olympics

What is better than watching the best athletes in the WORLD compete? This for sure is one of the top bucket list ideas.

Explore the Colosseum in Rome, Italy

The Colosseum, or the “Icon of Rome,” is one of the capitals most remarkable monuments. It is worthy to be a key bucket list item.

Swim with wild pigs in Exuma, Bahamas

Also known as Pig Beach, this beach allows you to swim with the pigs that inhabit the island. I promise you, it’s a cute as it sounds.

Go vegetarian or vegan for one month

Try mindful eating and focus on going vegetarian or vegan for a month (or longer!). As a refresher, vegetarians do not eat any meat (yes, including fish) where as vegans do not eat any meat as well as any animal byproduct (like dairy, eggs, and honey).

Try yoga, reiki, acupuncture, or another type of relaxing therapy

Doing one of these relaxing therapies is honestly just a good life idea. Doing these practices might help you learn how to be a more patient and grateful person as well.

Learn how to code

This is certainly on my bucket list, coding is a cool and challenging new skill that everyone can play around with.

Learn how to play an instrument

It’s okay if it is the cowbell or triangle. No judgement.

Go to a psychic and get your palm read

Go in with an open mind and just see what the palm reader says. Maybe they will actually have an accurate reading…

Go gambling in Las Vegas, Nevada 

BET. IT. ALL.

Learn to play chess

Maybe you learned as a kid. If not, it’s not too late to add this strategic and interesting game to your bucket list.

Run a marathon, half marathon, or 5k 

These events are a great way to physically challenge yourself and train with others. You have no idea how far you can push your abilities until you try!

Take a glass blowing class

While you may not be a glass blowing expert after one class, I’ve heard at the start you get to make a phenomenal paper weight. And who doesn’t need a nice paper weight in their life?

Backpack through Europe

Just you and one backpack and some friends. It’s really that simple. Pack minimally and make sure to add this one to your bucket list.

Visit all US states

A cross country road trip will really help with this bucket list item.

Learn how to ride a horse

Horse back riding (especially on the beach) is definitely worth including on your bucket list. While it is a journey to get comfortable riding a horse, you know what they say when you fall off the horse? You get back on!

Try knitting something cute 

You can knit something for you or for your favorite person. Regardless of who it is for, knowing that you made it yourself will surely keep you or someone close warm during those cold winter months.

Take a self-defense class

Knowing how to defend yourself is a key life skill and should not only be on your bucket list, but your life list as well.

Go wine tasting at a local winery

There is something truly exquisite about drinking a glass of wine at the winery in which it was made. Ah, wonderful.

Go on a pub crawl

Whether it’s a themed pub crawl like ones usually hosted on Saint Patrick’s Day or Halloween or just a pub crawl for the hell of it, it is great to visit new bars and try their local beers.

Visit a farmers market

One of the simple joys in life is visiting a farmers market, buying fresh ingredients and then really treating yourself to a homemade dinner. You deserve it.

So there you have it. Hopefully these bucket list ideas will inspire you to either create your own bucket list or add some items to your existing one. In case you are feeling overwhelmed right now by all of the things you still haven’t accomplished yet, you can try creating a reverse bucket list. What is a reverse bucket list you ask? It is a list of all the things you HAVE DONE so far in life. It shows you have much you have already experienced and enjoyed.