50 Unique Experiences & Goals to Include in Your Bucket List

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How to create a bucket list and what to put on it

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA Reviewed by Katie Stolp

Last Updated: September 18, 2025 Fact Checked

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Bucket List Ideas

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What is a bucket list?

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Making a Bucket List

A bucket list is a list of things you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Sometimes, though, it can be a bit difficult to figure out exactly what you want. Don’t worry—we’re here to help! We’ve gathered 50 of the best bucket list ideas, and we’ll explain what a bucket list is and how to create your own so you can live life to the fullest!

Great Bucket List Ideas

Go on a wildlife safari
Study abroad
Learn to sail
Climb a mountain
Start a business
Run a marathon
Go to a music festival

Section 1 of 3:

50 Things to Include on Your Bucket List

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Fill your bucket list with ideas that excite and inspire you. Your bucket list is unique to you. Think about which activities and achievements will make you feel most fulfilled, and set out to achieve them. Consider including categories like travel, personal growth, and relationships to ensure your bucket list includes things that are important in every aspect of your life.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Katie Stolp
Master Certified Coach

Expert Interview} Here are some examples:^{[2]
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- See the Northern Lights
- Go to college
- Visit New York City for New Year’s Eve
- Go skinny dipping
- See elephants in Thailand
- Go skydiving
- Write a book
- Swim in the ocean
- Run a marathon
- Sleep at an ice hotel
- Drive a sports car
- Take your family to Disney World
- Learn how to rock climb
- Take up woodworking
- Visit a hot spring
- Attend a Super Bowl
- Donate blood
- See a cabaret show
- Plant a garden
- Host an outdoor movie night
- Learn the constellations and go stargazing
- Get married
- Design a board game
- Ride a roller coaster
- Sleep in an igloo
- Climb a mountain
- Perform in front of a crowd
- Start a business
- Go surfing in California
- Learn a new language
- Take a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef
- Start a family
- Drink champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower
- Buy a house
- Visit all 50 United States
- Retire early
- Host a dinner party
- Learn to sail
- Feed a giraffe
- Visit a lighthouse
- Gamble in Las Vegas
- Go ziplining
- Invent a holiday
- Learn how to SCUBA dive
- Take a dance class
- Volunteer for a cause you care about
- Get a tattoo
- Go on a cruise
- Be an extra in a movie
- Go on a wildlife safari

Section 2 of 3:

What is a bucket list?

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A bucket list is a list of things you want to experience in your lifetime. The term was popularized by the 2007 film The Bucket List and comes from the phrase “kick the bucket,” which means dying. The experiences and accomplishments included on a bucket list are unique to each individual, so no two bucket lists will be exactly the same.^{[3]
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- Having a bucket list allows you to reflect on your values and goals so you can live a life with hopes and aspirations.
- Bucket lists aren’t always used in the context of death, as some people make bucket lists for certain events, like their senior year of high school.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Make a Bucket List

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Reflect on your goals and dreams. Before making your bucket list, take some time to reflect on what you value and what you want to accomplish in life. Consider what activities and experiences make you feel fulfilled and what can help you grow personally.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Katie Stolp
Master Certified Coach

Expert Interview} Ask yourself if there’s anything you’d regret not doing at the end of your life. If you could do anything, what would it be?^{[5]
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- Choose goals that truly reflect what you want to do, not what you feel like you’re expected to do.
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Be specific. You may be tempted to write down broad ideas, like traveling the world, but take time to think about what you really want. Which countries do you actually want to visit? What experiences do you want to have while you’re there? Being as specific as possible will help you set realistic goals and make it easier to take steps to accomplish them.
- For example, instead of “travel the world,” you might choose “visit Japan” or “take a cooking class in Italy.”
It can sometimes be overwhelming trying to figure out everything you want to accomplish in your lifetime. To make things a bit easier, try separating your bucket list into different categories, like travel, career, relationships, and personal goals. Then, it’s easier to reflect on what you want in each category. You may even come up with ideas you hadn’t thought about before.^{[6]
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Make a plan to accomplish the items on your list. Remember, your bucket list is for things you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Don’t rush and feel like you need to complete them all at once. Determine which goals are short-term, mid-term, and long-term to set deadlines and decide how you want to go about completing them.
- For example, learning a new language is something you can start working on immediately, while planning a trip to Japan will take more time, money, and planning.
Your bucket list isn’t set in stone. Feel free to add to or remove from it as you please. We’re constantly growing and changing as people, and you may find you’re no longer interested in certain goals. Your bucket list should be a reflection of what you truly want to accomplish, so don’t waste time and effort doing things you’re not interested in.^{[7]
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