“Oh my god, it’s Chris Martin!” My Sister shouted at the top of her voice. The young guy a few steps in front of me, dressed casually in a blue t-shirt and jeans, certainly from behind a striking resemblance to the Coldplay frontman, and surrounded by an entourage of five or six equally casual-looking young guys, turned laughing.
Briefly, our eyes met and I gasped. It’s not Chris Martin. It’s Mark Zuckerburg!
These days I think I would prefer to meet Chris Martin (sorry Mark), but back then I was in the throes of building a very successful Facebook-based business, so happening to run into Mark Z on the Great Wall of China of all places while on our annual Sisters on Tour trip was mind-blowing!
My sister & I had just been discussing, at length I would add, whether we were going to tackle the fairly steep steps up to Tower One. She wasn’t keen, and I was teetering on the edge (of my decision). I quite fancied the challenge but just as easily could be dissuaded for a shorter route and a cup of hot chocolate.
However, after seeing Mark & his entourage casually half jog past us up the steps towards Tower One, I turned on my heel and started to shoot up the steps.
‘I’m doing it Nat’, I shouted behind me. ‘I’m gonna make it to Tower One. Be back soon!’.
My Sister, looking slightly confused and equally unimpressed, simply shrugged her shoulders and turned to explore some less strenuous parts of the great wall.
I, however, was on a mission! I was determined to catch up to Mark, thank him for giving me the opportunity to build a lifestyle business using his platform, (which incidentally is why I happened to be in the very fortunate position of visiting the Great Wall of China), shake his hand and get a quick piccy.
What actually followed should absolutely be re-enacted in a future Will Ferell film. Entitled something like, ‘Extremely unfit middle-aged woman almost passes out trying to chase Mark Zuckerburg up the Great Wall of China.’ Perhaps something a little catchier but you get my drift.
If you’d like to read the full story, please do so here – ‘Meeting Mark Z on the Great Wall of China.’
Hasten to add – ‘Visiting the Great Wall of China’ was on my bucket list. ‘Meeting Mark Z’ was not. He was just an added bonus.
What is a Bucket List?
The term itself is from the old saying ‘to kick the bucket’, in other words, ‘don the old wooden overcoat’, ‘push up the daisies’, ‘pop your clogs’ or ‘peg it’. You get where I’m coming from.
It was coined by screenwriter Justin Zackham in his screenplay for the 2007 film ‘The Bucket List’ starring Morgan Freeman & Jack Nicholson.
In the movie Freeman & Nicholson star as two terminally ill men, who make a list of things they want to do before they die (or kick the bucket), hence the term Bucket List. It’s actually a great film & I highly recommend it if you enjoy light-hearted sentimental comedies.
But that’s basically what a bucket list is. A list of things you’d love to do before you die. Or, as that’s a touch morbid, simply a big old list of stuff you’d love to have a go at, places you’d love to visit, dreams you want to explore, people you want to meet, experiences you want to have, etc.
And please take note. This list doesn’t have to be SMART goals set in stone, nor is it a list of things you must achieve to prove your worth or beat yourself over the head with when you don’t achieve them.
A bucket list is what you make it. But my definition means it should be fun. It should be visionary and it should be full of dreams! And if you make sure it’s visible at all times, a great motivator for living your best life!
Why Create a Bucket List?
Do you remember when you were a child, your teacher would suddenly shout really loud, throw a ruler or smack your desk, shocking you out of whatever trance you were in? (Just me?)
You might have been knee-deep in a magical adventure, dreaming of lions and dragons, or princesses and castles. Perhaps you were thinking of a project you were working on with your siblings, dreaming of an upcoming holiday, doodling about ‘that girl, or boy’, or thinking about what you and your friends were going to do when you escaped on your bikes after school.
Whatever you were thinking and wherever you were in your mind, you were daydreaming.
Something that was passionately discouraged in my childhood. And what a shame that was.
If you think about it, the world we live in is built on people’s dreams. Dreams of human flight, dreams of entertainment in every living room, dreams of a home PC in every bedroom, dreams of a global communication network that could connect the world instantly, dreams of space travel, dreams of electric-powered self-driving cars, dreams of decentralized banking, and the list goes on.
Dreaming unleashes the creative in all of us and should be actively encouraged! And it’s the skill of daydreaming which creates the best unique bucket list ideas!
It’s time to revive the child, my friend. It’s time to ignore all the naysayers through life who told you, you couldn’t, can’t, won’t or to ‘keep your feet on the ground and get your head out of the clouds.’
My old Grandmother (God rest her soul) used to ask me ‘when are you going to grow up and stop daydreaming?’ ‘Champagne taste and beer money,’ she would mutter as she walked away.
Never! Thankfully I never stopped daydreaming and it’s those dreams which have allowed me to create financial freedom in my life!
It’s those dreams which have given me the opportunity to travel the world, raise my daughter abroad, experience new cultures, make friends across the globe and spend my days doing what I love to do!
A bucket list is quite simply a list of dreams or experiences that give us something to go for; something to aspire to and something to look forward to, in a world where very quickly the minutiae of life can shout, throw a ruler, or smack our desk and shock us back to reality a little too fast.
How to Create a Bucket List
So let’s have a look at some fun ways to go about creating your bucket list and then below I have loads of crazy, whacky & wonderful ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Pick the right environment
The chances are you won’t create a full bucket list all in one go. It will be an ever-changing, fluid, movable list, as you grow, change and adapt as a person.
However, as with everything, the first step is the hardest, and so being in the right environment and frame of mind to dream, and envision different experiences will help the process.
For me, it’s always being by the ocean. Whether on a beach, a boat, or a clifftop. The ocean always seems to unlock my frontal cortex and unleash my creativity!
For you, it might be sitting in the garden, curled up on your sofa, or sitting in an outdoor cafe in the middle of a bustling city. You might have a cuppa, a glass of wine or be listening to a playlist you love.
Whatever works for you. But when you get started don’t just have ‘create my bucket list’ as the 5th ‘to do’ today in a list of 20 things. Be intentional and take a morning or afternoon to go somewhere to start really considering your ultimate unique bucket list ideas.
I know I’m sounding pretty serious about this, but creating a bucket list you’re truly excited about is potentially life-changing. It could be the starter motor for all sorts of amazing journeys in your life, so if you’re a big thinker and want some big things to happen, take the time to dream about it!
Have a Bucket List Brain Dump
How many times might you scroll through Instagram, see an incredible landscape or scene and think ‘I would love to go there/visit that’.
Perhaps a friend talks about an amazing restaurant with a 6-month waiting list they’ve recently visited or you see an activity on TV you’d love to try at some point.
There is a deluge of information coming at us 24/7 and our minds can’t possibly remember everything we experience each day, so carry a bucket list brain-dump with you at all times.
I use Evernote and have a notebook dedicated to my unique bucket list ideas. I add images, links, notes, anything I think I might want to add to my main bucket list at some stage.
Evernote is just one option. You could use the notes app on your phone, create an album and take photos of all the ideas you see, carry a physical notepad with you, start a Pinterest board, whatever works for you.
Create Some Quick Wins
It’s very easy to create your bucket list and then forget about it. To build some momentum early and keep it top of mind, it’s a good idea to include some quick wins.
Try that new class, eat at that fancy restaurant, go paintballing, etc.
When people think of ‘bucket list ideas,’ they usually immediately think exotic travel, which if that’s your jam can absolutely be part of it. But it might take a while to achieve any exotic travel goals, especially in the current climate.
So create some achievable bucket list ideas that you can do right now as opposed to in the years to come.
As humans, we are wired to feel a dopamine rush when we have a sense of achievement so make it easy to tick off some of your bucket list ideas, by creating yourself some quick wins.
Review Regularly
You will change over time and as such so will your goals and dreams. When I recently looked over my bucket list ideas from my teens & twenties, there were a lot of items that just aren’t important to me anymore (or even relevant) such as;
- Star in a music video (top of the pops style!)
- Buy my Dad a Rolls Royce (he sadly passed before I achieved that goal)
- Get a Guinness world record (in what I don’t know!)
- Build my own house (absolutely no desire to that anymore)
- Run the London Marathon (never gonna happen with my cruddy knees)
- Make a record (a record! Remember them? – yep I’m talking vinyl & showing my age)
There were also a fair few I’d already achieved;
- Live in an open plan beachfront apartment (have now lived/stayed in many during our travels)
- Drive a car around a grand prix track (with STIG! My husbands birthday present to me a few years back)
- Have a ride in a hot air balloon (Beautiful Bagan, Myanmar)
- Spend a New Year in Sydney (watched the fireworks from a boat in Sydney harbour)
- Watch the Epcot fireworks with the man of my dreams (my lovely husband and beautiful daughter – double whammy there, who knew I’d have a daughter when I set that goal!)
- Go for a trip on the Nile (one of the first romantic trips myself and my hubby took, A cruise down the Nile)
- Visit the 7 wonders of the world – so, there’s a lot more than 7 as the list has developed over the years and I’m not quite there yet, but definitely heading in the right direction!
The key is however, don’t cling to old goals. Review your bucket list on a regular basis and update your list ideas for where you are in your life right now.
Make It Fluid & Fun (Don’t make it a weapon)
I mentioned in the ‘what is a bucket list’ section, not to use it as a list to beat over your head when you don’t achieve some of your goals.
It’s so important to retain your bucket list as an aspirational, movable, fluid list of dreams which changes and grows with you. If it becomes a list of hard goals with absolute deadlines, it won’t be long before you start to ignore it as it will just become a reminder of the things you haven’t done.
As often as you feel is relevant, pull out your bucket list, review your dreams and goals, add to it, take away from it, create some quick wins, add some long-term targets or some goals with friends, family, etc.
Gamify it if you like or create a picture board. Whatever it takes for it to become a source of inspiration and motivation.
Create an Active Bucket List
I found my old bucket list in an obscure folder I must have saved from an old computer in a file I would never have looked at if I hadn’t been actively searching for a list I knew I had created back in my 20’s!
No good there! I hadn’t looked at it for twenty years!
Interestingly I had achieved some of the things on the list. Many were now irrelevant or no longer important and some were a reminder of some things I haven’t achieved in my life.
Hence the importance of creating an ‘active bucket list.’ Make it visible. Make it part of your everyday life. Put it up in the kitchen, create a screensaver, have it as a note you look at each morning (rather than reading the depressing news or scrolling Insta).
Don’t just have an afternoon of inspiration, write a big list and then file it away never to be seen again. Your time is precious. If you’re going to put the effort into creating your bucket list, be sure to continue your efforts to review, update and keep dreaming!
Take Massive Action (TR)
Tony Robbins always said ‘never leave the scene of a decision without taking massive action.’ Pick one of your bucket list items and make it happen as soon as is humanly possible
Create some momentum! Kick things off positively and most importantly be sure to tick off your list ideas as you achieve them with a big fat marker pen!
So without further ado, let’s have a look at some awesome and unique bucket list ideas you can add to your own bucket list!
199 Unique Bucket List Ideas
Cultural Bucket List Ideas
1. Get a backstage tour of Sydney Opera House
I first visited Sydney Opera House back in the early 2000s and just so happened to be working in the theatre/concert world myself at the time and so managed to wangle myself a private backstage tour which was fantastic! These days though you can actually book a backstage tour and if you’re a music lover I highly recommend it!
2. Get some ‘creative’ Taj Mahal pics from the Mehtabh Bagh park
OK so the Taj Mahal might not be such a unique bucket list idea anymore, (although it’s an amazing site to behold, especially once you know the story behind it,) but having a park guard take creative pics of you with it in the background from the nearby park is an experience not to be missed!
The Mehtabh Bagh park (aka Moonlight Garden) is a beautiful square garden conveniently placed opposite the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River (which is also well worth seeing). Once inside just head towards the river with the breathtaking views of the Taj Mahal and look out for the guard who for just a few rupees, will happily spend 10 minutes guiding you into creative poses and taking your photos!
3. Ride a camel at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt
This was one of the scariest things I have ever done! Yep even more so than heart stopping upside down roller coaster rides (which I love!) Camels are uncomfortable, unpredictable and extremely unstable. I may be smiling in this photo but I couldn’t wait to get down. Still, a bucket list idea not to be missed!
4. Road Trip Italy & Climb The Leaning Tower of Pisa
I’m not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was a lot smaller than I always thought it would be. Italy however is immense and well worth a road trip! Be sure to stop off in Florence and try their gelati. It’s so good, words fail me! Taking a Gondola ride in Venice is still on my bucket list as is visiting the Amalfi Coast, so we will be back Italy!
5. Take a Self Guided Walking Tour of Rome and visit the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and all the amazing sights of the City!
While in Italy be sure to visit the iconic city of Rome, take a trip to the Vatican, see the Sistine chapel and of course take a tour at the Colosseum. Rome is quite possibly one of my favorite cities in the world. Steeped is so much history and so many sights to see. It’s amazing just to walk around it, so get your shoes on and see as much of it as you can by foot!
6. Meet Mark Zuckerburg on the Great Wall of China (Great Wall of China was the bucket list item, MZ just happened to be there!)
The Great Wall is a sight to behold! It’s grandeur, it’s majesty, it’s…. Celebrities??? Not usually unfortunately, I was just in the right place at the right time (or wrong place at the wrong time depending on your views) to literally bump into Mark Z who passed me heading up to Tower 1 with his entourage. However, even with the added celebrity bonus, the best part of the Great Wall is the luge ride down! That is a must add bucket list idea! So much fun!
7. Visit Tiananmen Square
The day we headed to Tiananmen Square, the weather was cold, the skies grey and smoggy and the atmosphere was characteristically oppressive. We hadn’t had a brilliant time in Beijing, the folks we’d met weren’t so friendly and the smog was at an all time high permeating the streets and skies and making everything feel grey and lifeless. It’s a tragic place to visit, but it’s so important to see and feel these sites so we can continue telling the stories and ensure atrocities such as what happened here aren’t repeated.
8. Watch Belly dancing on a Nile Cruise
Be prepared if you take your husband or boyfriend ladies! My hubby and I went on a Nile cruise in the very early stages of our relationship and he couldn’t keep his eyes off the belly dancers! The relationship very nearly didn’t get off the ground! (LOL) Seriously though, a Nile cruise is well worth the money, especially if you have an amazing storytelling guide as we did (we love you Sayeed!)
9. Explore The Valley of the Kings
May as well while you’re there, right? (It’s ah-maz-zing!)
10. Witness a real Voodoo Ceremony in Benin
11. Visit the very interesting Penis Park in Korea
12. See the street art in Old Georgetown Penang
13. See the body piercing and firewalking at the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand
We’ve lived here on and off for over 9 years and I still can’t bring myself to look up when they start stabbing themselves in the face with spears and forks and all sorts! One year we witnessed what seemed to be a spiritual possession of a young girl who I just wanted to take to the hospital, but it’s best we farang’s just don’t get involved in odd strange traditions. It’s the weirdest celebration to witness!
14. See The White House, Eiffel Tower and London Bridge in Shenzhen!
16. See the sunrise on the Holy Ganges in Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the most magical places in the world. Unfortunately I was only there for 2 nights and 1 day, which was not enough and I can’t wait to go back, but I was fortunate enough to see the sunrise and the accompanying ceremony and also the sunset and accompanying ceremony. An absolute must do bucket list item!
17. Take a cruise between two continents!
18. Climb To the Summit of the Eiffel Tower!
And have a beer! That’s what I did 🙂
19. Marvel at the Northern Lights in Iceland
21. Hunt Down the Loch Ness Monster
22. Feel The Mist of Niagara Falls
23. “There She Blows!” See Old Faithful Erupt at Yellowstone
24. See the Blue & White & Temples & Strange Black House in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand was never on my travel bucket list. But after being invited up by a friend for a weekend we decided to take a day to sightsee. No matter if you’re completely ‘templed out’ the temples in Chiang Rai are worth seeing. They’re unique, beautiful & unusual. While there make sure to take a trip to the top of the massive Goddess of Mercy also! The inside of her head is simply stunning!
25. Visit the killing fields in Cambodia
Not for the faint hearted, Cambodia’s recent history (just a generation ago) is absolutely tragic & learning its story and meeting the Cambodian people, has had the biggest impact on how I view life, of any country I have visited. Open your eyes & your mind so as to understand this incredible country but be prepared to shed a few tears.
26. See the Khmer Rouges Circus show Cambodia
Such an important part of their history creatively presented. Not to be missed.
The Chinese equivalent of Cirque Du Soleil, I have never seen people do to their bodies what these performers can do. Quite extraordinary!
28. Try Crocodile & Kangaroo meat on a river trip down the Margaret river
Clearly not for the veggies amongst you! This trip includes kayaking around the mangroves, crawling through tunnels (and losing your bikini top, oh yes, highly embarrassing moment) and trying the local fare prepared and served by your guide!
29. Hot air balloon ride – Bagan Myanmar
One of the highlights of my life! This is an amazing once in a lifetime trip over a magical wonderland of temples & stupas! Follow it up with an electric bike ride around Bagan and you’ve got a bucket list trip made in heaven! (At the time of writing, sadly Myanmar might not be the best place to visit, but keep it somewhere on your own bucket list for a time in the future when things settle down.)
30. Visit Pearl Harbour then go straight to Hiroshima!
I get it, a pretty long trip but well worth it to see both historical icons one after the other. While Pearl Harbour is certainly a sobering experience, nothing can prepare you for the horror stories of Hiroshima.
31. Stay up all night on Charles Bridge, Prague
Charles Bridge in Prague is undoubtedly beautiful at night, but I’m not sure why staying up all night on it is a thing. Perhaps someone was joking with me, but stay up all night we did! A bit chilly in the morning. Nothing a wee dram of whisky didn’t fix!
32. Visit the chocolate hills in Bohol
And get a great guide who will take lots of silly photos with you!
33. Take the tram up to the peak Hong Kong
34. Take a swim in Lake Atitlan surrounded by volcanoes
35. Take the Trans Siberian Express from Moscow to Mongolia!
A good female friend of mine did this solo and stayed with a family in a Mongolian Yurt. She had the time of her life and highly recommends the trip. I’ve certainly added this to my bucket list ideas.
Action & Adventure Bucket List Ideas
36. Do a flyby of Everest in Nepal
Unfortunately this is weather dependent and you might be unlucky with lots of cloud cover, but on a good day this trip is stunning! We flew Buddha Air for this 90 minute round trip and were allowed into the cockpit to take photos!
37. Helicopter into the Grand Canyon
And have a champagne picnic!
38. Bungee Jump on a Beach in Faliraki, Rhodes
Not sure if they still do bungee jumping in Rhodes, but if not just find another beach to bungee over! Scary but fun.
39. Learn to Ski – Avoriaz
Great place to learn to ski, drink beer and eat goat’s cheese salad!
40. Go to the Grand Prix – Singapore
A live grand prix is an interesting event as you only see the cars for a second at a time as they zoom past you, but the whole event includes a concert, lots of food & drink stalls and all sorts of things going on. Well worth adding to your bucket list!
41. Take a seaplane over HaLong Bay in Vietnam
This is a must do to add to your unique bucket list ideas list! It was quite by accident that we took a sea plane. We were planning to train & sail to reach our destination but the hotel recommended a far faster route via seaplane and we thought ‘why not’? It was a fantastic decision! What a way to see the amazingly stunning HaLong Bay!
42. Cycle Safari in Hells Gate National Park
43. Spend a Night with the Maasai Warriors
44. Swim the Devils Pool overlooking Victoria Falls (Adrenaline Junkies Only!!!)
45. Never mind Snowboarding… Sandboard the highest dunes in Africa
50. Go “Tipsy Tubing” in Vang Vien, Laos
51. Set up camp for a weekend of NASCAR at Talladega Racecourse
52. Take a surfing class at Mission Beach San Diego
53. Bobsled the Mystic Mountain
54. Go on an Icebreaker expedition in Antarctica
55. Jump on a Quad Bike Desert Safari in Abu Dhabi
56. Segway around Sentosa Island, Singapore
Sentosa Island Singapore is such an amazing experience, especially if you have kids! Universal Studios, the Luge, Segways, Zip Lining! You name it, it’s got it!
57. Take a Jet Ski Tour around Langkawi
58. Luge down the tracks of Rotorua, NZ with a peg on your nose
It won’t take you long to get used to the rotten egg sulfur smell of Rotorua! We had an absolute ball and definitely want to go back one day.
59. Zipline somewhere big
60. Walk the strip in Vegas at 6.30am
The sights you’ll see as people are still coming out of bars and casinos after drinking and gambling all night! An interesting perspective of Vegas most won’t see!
61. Look for drop bears along the great ocean road
If you’re an Aussie you’ll know exactly what a drop bear is. If not, ask an Aussie friend. My buddies thought it would be a fun idea to introduce me to the concept during my first trip to Oz when I was already freaking out about camping with snakes & spiders! Hasten to add they’re trickery worked and scared the life out of me!
62. Join the mile high club
Can’t speak from experience on this one – yet!
63. Take some flying lessons
Either small plane or helicopter, maybe even a seaplane! I had helicopter lessons years ago which was pricey but so much fun! Not sure I’d be brave enough to do it now.
64. Hike a volcano in Guatemala & roast marshmallows on the lava
65. Hike a volcano at night & staring into the lava abyss – Nicaragua
66. Shark Cage Diving
Just putting this out there, this is NOT on my bucket list!
Nor is this!
68. Go white water rafting in New Zealand
69. Bungee jump off Stratosphere, Vegas
This is 100% on my husband’s bucket list!
Gastronomic Bucket List Ideas
71. Eat a Belgian Waffle… In Belgium!!
72. Eat Buffalo Wings… In Buffalo!
73. Visit the Hershey factory in Pennsylvania
74. Eat witchetty grubs – Darwin
75. Dine at an Ice Restaurant in Lapland
76. Eat Octopus balls in Japan!
Not actually Octopus balls! They’re called Takoyaki and my sister & I thought they looked and smelled lovely while walking through Tokyo. How mistaken we were! Not great seafood lovers, we hadn’t realised they contained Octopus.
77. Dine in an Underwater Restaurant – Hurawalhi island – Maldives
78. Eat Chicken with Mole in Puebla, Mexico
79. Dine in the dark – Vietnam
Noir restaurant – Ho Chi Minh City is a truly unique experience! When I say dark, I mean pitch black! All the waiters & waitresses are visually impaired and the whole experience is extremely well done. Very deserving of being on your list of unique bucket list ideas.
80. Dine in the Sky in a Gondola at the Top of Queenstown, NZ
81. Dine in a Treepod in Thailand
82. Visit one of Thailands most famous rooftop bars
83. Dine in the Sky in one of the most unusual restaurants in the world
84. See amazing views of Moscow while enjoying meals cooked by Moscow’s most famous chef
85. Bask in the view of Mont Blanc in a restaurant only accessible by cable car or gondola
86. Take a dinner cruise in Dubai
87. Visit The Rock Restaurant, Zanzibar
Literally a restaurant on a rock in the ocean
88. Visit Chok Dee Restaurant here in Phuket!
Only accessible by boat, you have to moor close to the island and either dinghy or swim in! A beautiful little restaurant on a small rock in the middle of the ocean, they even have snorkel kits available for people who want to explore the seas before food! A fabulous experience!
89. Visit the Floating Restaurants here in Phuket
Before I leave the wonderful island of Phuket, Thailand, the floating restaurants are also a must. Set on wooden flatbeds in the sea and only accessible by longboat, the fish are caught and cooked in front of your eyes!
90. The Labassin Waterfall Restaurant, Villa Escudero Resort, San Pablo City, Philippines
91. Share Breakfast With A Giraffe, Giraffe Manor, Langata, Kenya
92. Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant In Kenya Set In An Ancient Cave And Illuminated Entirely By Candlelight
93. Get your meal grilled over a volcano, El Diablo, Lanzarote, Spain
94. The World’s Only Hot Air Balloon Restaurant, Culiair, Netherlands
95. Dine in a cave on a cliff in Italy!
96. Dine on a Tram in Melbourne
97. Try a traditional Chinese restaurant in ShangHai
Think you love Chinese food? Perhaps your favorite restaurant does the best crispy beef or pork fried rice? Think again when you’re actually in China! Think ducks necks, pigs testicles, bat wing soup (Covid anyone!) I was distinctly unimpressed by traditional Chinese food, apart from their toffee covered strawberries!
98. Have a mobile BBQ in the sea caves Cyprus
In our early travel days we lived in a beautiful spot called Coral Bay in Cyprus. With an apartment just above the sea caves we would head down to the natural sea pools as the sun was setting with a mobile BBQ & some sausages for a swim and a sausage sizzle! Heaven!
Drinkers/Musos/Festival Lovers Bucket List Ideas
99. Have a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel – Singapore
100. Oktoberfest in Munich… need I say more?
101. Become a Rum Connoisseur In Puerto Rico
102. Dance in The Carnaval of Rio De Janeiro
103. Dress Up for the Burning Man Festival in Nevada
104. Get your dancing shoes out for Coachella
105. Get covered in tomatoes at La Tomatina!
106. Immerse yourself in a ‘Tangled esque’ atmosphere at Yi Peng Lantern Festival (Thailand)
107. Remember your loved ones at the Dia De Los Muertos Festival – Mexico
108. Prepare to get dirty at the Boryeong Mud Festival – South Korea
109. Hold your breathe at the Florida Keys Underwater Music Festival
110. Discover the future at the Tomorrowland Edm Festival In Belgium!
111. My kind of festival – Beer Floating Kaljakellunta – Finland
112. Get your vitamin C at the Battle Of The Oranges Festival – Italy
113. Hailed as the best street party in the world, visit the Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago
114. Immerse yourself in the magical Festival Of Lights (diwali) – India
Athletic Bucket List Ideas
115. Do a Tough Mudder, Patayya, Thailand
I never thought I’d find myself doing a tough mudder anywhere in the world let alone in Thailand. You’re more likely to find me in a bar than climbing ropes! But I trained hard for a year and took the plunge! 26 obstacles over 7.5km. If I can do it, anyone can so I highly recommend the challenge.
117. Hike the Kokoda trail – Papua New Guinea
This one’s on my husband’s bucket list as he’s Australian and hundreds of Australians died here fighting the Japanese in WW2. However no matter where you’re from, if you’re a jungle trekker and want a challenge this is the trail for you!
118. Do an ultramarathon in Durban, South Africa
My husband & I would love to do this event but you have to be on the ball as no sooner they open for bookings than it’s sold out every year! If you fancy climbing Everest without actually climbing Everest, this is the event for you!
120. Hiking in the Dolomites
121. Trek Nepal
122. Do a huge sporting event for charity – Poland & Thailand
I cycled 100 miles across Poland in my 20’s for Great Ormond Street hospital for children and 600km across Thailand in 2019 for various children’s charities here in Phuket. A great incentive to get fit while helping others!
123. Go whale watching in a kayak
A fantastic thing to do in Australia. Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales on our trip which involved a 7km kayak! But imagine a huge whale surfacing in front of your kayak! How thrilling would that be! Will definitely try again in the future.
124. Hike the waterfalls in Yosemite
One of the most beautiful places in the world! Thankfully I’d just trained and ran a half marathon, so I was quite fit when we went. Thank goodness as the treks up to the waterfalls are not for the faint hearted!
125. Hike Mount Kinabalu Borneo
Just before we left for Kinabalu I had a flu jab and consequently went down with the worst bout of flu I’ve had since I was 15! So I missed this one, but my hubby went and said it was amazing!
126. Try the Swissotel Vertical Marathon, Singapore
127. Have fun with the Paganello Ultimate Frisbee, Italy
128. Get hot & dirty in the Marathon des Sables, Morocco
129. Put on a few pounds while entering Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, New York, USA
130. Strengthen your relationship (or not) with the Wife Carrying Contest, Finland
131. If you love trampolining and volleyball you’ll love Bossaball!
132. Enter the World Thumb Wrestling Championships
Seriously, google it!
133. Go Cheese Rolling in Gloucester!
134. Be part of a Human Tower in Spain
Fun Bucket List Ideas
135. Get married on a beach – Phang Nga
When I say get married on the beach, I mean on the beach! All our friends were encouraged to wear bikinis & board shorts and the entire day was out of this world! Topped off by a spectacular Thai fire show in the evening, lots of fun was had by all! I highly recommend you add this to your list of bucket list ideas!
136. Go on a Reindeer Sleigh Ride at Santas Grotto in Finland
When my daughter was young we took her to Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi for the Christmas trip of a lifetime! She was super poorly throughout the trip and pretty much missed the entire thing. I did however convince my aging Mother to take a trip on a reindeer sleigh with me! What a thrill that was. We’ll be back, Santa’s Village!
137. Visit Hobbiton in New Zealand/Guatemala
We visited the New Zealand version which was rebuilt from the actual film set, however a friend told me there’s also one built by a Hobbit fanatic in Guatemala, so you choose which side of the world you want to go to! Great fun if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan.
138. Gamble in Macau
I love gambling in Macau! The Chinese who visit have so much money it’s heart stopping to watch asa guy just casually loses thousands of dollars in one hand. I’m a blackjack girl myself although I can’t calculate my numbers as fast as the croupier can deal em’, hence I’m not that good at it, but it’s just so much fun!
139. Walk the Glass Floor at Mahanakhon Building – Bangkok
The Mahanakhon building first caught my eye from a boat on the river where I could see it’s strange lego-like form in the distance. Officially the tallest building in Bangkok, it’s a great place to view this amazing city and the glass roof is a little unnerving to say the least!
140. Stay at the Grand Marina Sands & Swim in the Rooftop Pool – Singapore
A must do!
141. Stay in an over water hotel room – Maldives
My sister & I stayed at the Oluvelhi Resort in the Maldives for 4 nights and got a cracking deal! Don’t think the Maldives is out of your reach financially as there are deals to be done and it’s absolutely worth visiting and seeing. Unless you’re honeymooning however, going on a dive trip or looking for the ultimate in tranquil relaxation, 3 – 4 days is enough!
142. Stay in a sleep pod – Sydney (or various airports around the world)
Looking for cheap accommodation for a New Year in Sydney we found ‘sleep pods’ (not that cheap on New Year in Sydney by the way). Super comfortable and extremel;y convenient, as long as you’re not claustrophobic give them a go!
143. Get hurled abuse at Dicks Restaurant in Vegas
144. Take a ghost tour of the haunted The Round Schoolhouse in Hokkaido
145. Take a bath in Sake, Wine, Green Tea or Broth!
146. Rollerblade Downtown at Night in Paris!
147. Play Chess… In the bath! (Only in Budapest)
148. Get a tuk tuk ride in magical Nepal
149. Have a Massage in Cambodia
In fact, try to have a massage wherever you go in Asia. Most are totally above board and they rock at giving massages!
150. Swim in the Arabian Sea in Kochi
It’s actually one of my bucket list ideas to swim in as many oceans and seas as I can around the world! This was a fabulous experience though, the water was warm, the sun was setting and the people in Southern India are so darn friendly!
151. Take a Big bus tour around Hong Kong
A great way to see any city!
152. Jump on a 2 or 3 day cruise anywhere (preferably warm)
My husband & I are not cruise people really. Too confining for us. However, we wouldn’t have known that if we hadn’t taken a short 4 day cruise up the Australian coast. It was great fun and well worth a try if you haven’t been cruising before. (You might want to wait until after the pandemic however)
153. Go to Universal Studios, Japan
Quite possibly the most efficiently run theme park in the world, Universal Japan is awesome! A definite must to add to your bucket list ideas!
154. Experience Fireworks on a boat in Dubai
155. Join a Zumba class on the Main Street in Ho Chi Minh city
156. Hire an RV & travel down the coast of Australia, America, Europe, anywhere!
157. Enjoy hot springs in Costa Rica
Underwater Bucket List Ideas
158. Dive the Great Barrier Reef – Oz
The world’s largest coral reef, I highly recommend you visit this natural wonder before it’s completely bleached and destroyed!
159. Swim with Sharks in Bora Bora
You only need snorkel gear for this thrilling experience. We were surrounded by reef sharks at one point, so much so that it became a little overwhelming and I swam off leaving my husband in the middle of them!
160. Swim With Black Mantas, Bali/Hawaii
One of the most thrilling and beautiful experiences I’ve had. Mantas are graceful and curious and gentle creatures. Being able to swim alongside them is a blessing from nature!
161. Night Dive – Similans / Maldives
I’ve done several night dives around the world now, each one is very different and the activity underwater is abundant with life at night! If you love Scuba diving, a night dive in some of the most beautiful dive spots in the world is well worth the experience.
162. Scuba Dive in the Red Sea
164. Swim with Stingless Jelly Fish!
165. Get up close & personal with a trigger fish Koh Tao
166. Spike your foot on a sea anemone in Krabi
Not actually recommended! Krabi is a beautiful spot for snorkelling as there is so much going on, however don’t put your feet down!
167. Scuba in the Maldives
168. Swim with turtles in Maui
No wonder it’s a hotspot for shark attacks, Maui is teeming with turtles! Don’t miss the chance to watch them gliding gracefully by, as you snorkel around the rocks.
169. Swim with Stingrays in Grand Cayman
170. Swim with dolphins in Monkey Mia
171. Touch North America & Europe at the same time!
172. Try Freediving
173. Go Sea Trek Helmet Diving
174. Go on a Mini Sub Adventure in Mexico
Nature Loving Bucket List Ideas
175. Miss the Cherry Blossom in – Japan
Ok don’t miss it like we did! Unfortunately we got the dates wrong and arrived a week too early to see all the beautiful cherry blossoms adorning the trees and streets of Japan! Usually around late March, be sure to keep checking the websites to double check your dates.
176. Go Hippo watching in the Okavango Delta
177. Walk with the gorillas in the Bwindi Forest
178. Hot Air Balloon Safari over the Serengeti
180. Go on a Night Safari at Singapore’s World Famous Zoo
181. Swim with a 5 meter Croc (in a cage of course)
183. Take the bridge between the Banyan Trees
184. Chew on Coca Leaves (don’t worry… NOT cocaine!)
185. Get Fertile in The Temple of the Moon
186. Check out an EVERLASTING lighting storm
187. Get a selfie with a Quokka (better knows as the worlds happiest animal!)
188. Swim with the pigs in Nassau
189. Night trek into Costa Rican jungle
190. Try the Hanging Bridges at the Monteverde Cloud Forest
191. Swim at the Rio Celeste Blue Lagoon Waterfalls in Costa rica
Shoppers Bucket List Ideas
192. Window Shop at Takeshita Dori in Japan
I’m certainly not a teenager and the style & fashion of the Harajuku culture is way out there for me, but walking down this street is amazing!!! So vibrant and colourful. Well worth a visit.
193. Experience the Old Delhi Spice Market – Old Delhi
This was one of the highlights of our India trip. Being driven around on a rickshaw through the tiny streets of Old Delhi, we were dropped off to explore the spice market on foot. You have never seen so many bags of spice in your life, all different colours and smells. Hasten to add we came home with a couple of treats for future home cooked curries! This definitely deserves a place on anyone’s list of bucket list ideas!
194. Wander through the Dubai Gold Souk
I felt extremely safe in Dubai even though it was a little daunting for my long blonde haired teenager who shop owners constantly referred to as ‘Shakira’! But wandering around the souk, there were so many sights to see, including shops dripping with gold which was to be expected. A little less expected were the amount of guys trying to sell knock off iphones just outside the marketplace and looking very shifty indeed!
195. Head to the largest market in Cambodia’s capital – Phsar Thmei
196. Try the sumptuous food from the Floating Markets – Thailand
An age old tradition in Thailand, you’ll find floating markets all over Thailand wherever there’s a river and a community!
197. Watch the stalls fold away in front of your eyes at the Maeklong Railway Market
Staying in Thailand for the moment, the Maeklong Railway Market is a sight to see! As you pull up in the train, all the stall holders fold away their stalls in super fast time to allow the train to pass and then unfold as the train stops at the end of the line! A crazy concept and a must see for your bucket list ideas!
198. Feel the Christmas spirit at the Leidens Floating Christmas Market
199. Experience Art Nouveau at the Central Market of Valencia
200.Feel the atmosphere of the old silk road at the Hotan Sunday Market
201. Live the Christian Nativity Scene all year round at the Via Dei Presepi
202. Explore Turkey’s largest market, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
203. Pull a Julia Roberts on Rodeo Drive
“Big Mistake. Huge!”
Summary
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this humongous post of unique bucket list ideas as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it! I’m honestly quite shocked at how many I’ve experienced myself over the years, and with so many more to see!
If you like, you can bookmark this post and check back regularly for new bucket list ideas as I hear about them or discover/experience them myself!
In the meantime, have a ball, enjoy yourself and make it happen!
