I've always had a kind of running bucket list in my head — a list of all the things I would ideally like to do before I die. It's a long list. Probably an impossible list to actually complete, especially since my list only seems to get longer the more I travel. But it's always good to have goals and dreams, right?
So here follows my ever-growing bucket list. It may look different next week, but that's the point of a work in progress.
If you can help me out with any of the items on this list, please let me know!
The U.S.
Adventures to have
- Visit all 50 states
Take a U.S. road trip (2011, 2013, 2016)- Do a cross-country trip by train
- See wild grizzly bears in Alaska
See a Broadway play on Broadway (x3 “Phantom of the Opera,” “Wicked,” “Lion King”)- Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the White House
- Climb to the crown in the Statue of Liberty
Ride a cable car in San Francisco (2012)Go to Disney World and have fun as an adult (2016)See live improv in Chicago (2011)Be a geek at Harry Potter World- Go island hopping in Hawaii
- Visit Roswell, NM
Take an air boat tour in the Everglades in Florida (x2)- Experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Have a Voodoo Donut in Portland (2017)- See the Kentucky Derby live at Churchill Downs
Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge in SF- Go to a really weird/random local festival
- Drive the Pacific Coast Highway through California
Swim with manatees in Florida (2015)- Eat lobster in Maine
Go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (2015)Hike Angel's Landing in Zion National Park (2016)See a sunset at Delicate Arch (2016)- Pursue a tornado with a team of storm chasers in Tornado Alley
- Stay at a dude ranch in Montana
- Take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon
Road trip the Florida Keys (2021)
Things to see
The Grand Canyon (2011)Antelope Canyon, Arizona (2011, 2016)Horseshoe Bend in Arizona (2016)- Havasu Falls, Arizona
- The Wave in Arizona
Monument Valley, Utah (2011, 2016)Zion National Park, Utah (2016)Bryce Canyon National Park (2016)Mesa Arch in Canyonlands NP (2016)- Redwood trees in California
Death Valley (2022)- Big Sur
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (2012)Alcatraz (2012)- The glass beach in California
- Hearst Castle
Yosemite National Park (2012)Great Smokey Mountains NP (2021)The Biltmore in Asheville (2018)- Fall foliage in New England
Times Square, NYC (x3)Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York City (2009)Las Vegas strip (2011)Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (2018)National Mall in Washington, D.C. (x3)The Alaskan wildernessSpace Needle, Seattle, Washington (2010)- The San Juan Islands in Washington
The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park (2023)The St. Louis Gateway Arch (2011)Mount Rushmore (2017)The Badlands in South Dakota (2017)White Sands National Park in New Mexico (2015)Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2011)- Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii
“The Bean” in Chicago (many times)Squares in Savannah, Georgia (2013, 2021)The Oregon coast (2017)The Painted Hills in Oregon (2017)Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (2016)- Big Bend National Park, Texas
The Grand Tetons in Wyoming (2017)Yellowstone National Park (2017)
Canada
Adventures to have
Go to the Tulip Festival in Ottawa (2013)- Skate on the Rideau Canal in winter
Eat poutine in Quebec (2018)- Ride trains across the country
- Hike to the Larch Valley in Banff
- Swim with Beluga whales in Churchill, Manitoba
- Go on an iceberg quest in Newfoundland
- Bobsled down an Olympic track in Calgary
Go to the Calgary Stampede (2019)- Explore Montreal
Drive the Icefields Parkway (2015)- Go tidal bore rafting in Nova Scotia
Spot narwhals in the Canadian Arctic (2022)
Things to see
Niagara FallsBanff National Park (2014)- Jasper National Park
Polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba (2018)- Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta
Moraine Lake in Banff (2015)Quebec City, Quebec (2018)Niagara-on-the-Lake (2014)Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver (2015)- Fogo Island
- Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick
- Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland
Mexico
Adventures to have
- Snorkel in cenotes in Tulum
- Spend time in a beach town in Mexico
- Swim with whale sharks in Cancun
- Go on a great white shark dive trip to Guadalupe Island
- Eat my way through Oaxaca
- Release baby sea turtles on a beach
- Celebrate the Day of the Dead
Things to see
- Mexico City
- The colorful city of Guanajuato
- Maya ruins at Tulum
- The pink lakes
- Flying manta rays in the Sea of Cortes
Caribbean
Adventures to have
- Watch planes fly in over Maho Beach in Saint Maarten
- Rent a scooter in Bermuda
- Swim with pigs in the Bahamas
Hang out with flamingos in Aruba (2018)Kayak the bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico (2020)
Things to see
Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island in Puerto Rico (2016)Old San Juan (2016)- The Pitons in St. Lucia
Europe
Adventures to have
- Hike between the villages in the Cinque Terre
- Eat pizza in Naples, Italy
- Ride a gondola in Venice, Italy
- Hike in the Dolomites
Climb to the top of the dome of St. Peter’s, The Vatican, Italy (2005, 2013)- Visit Calabria, where my Italian grandpa's family is from
- Watch the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain
See all the Gaudi architecture in Barcelona (2015)- Throw tomatos La Tomatina in Valencia, Spain
- Hike the Mont-Rebei Gorge in Spain
- Island hop in the Azores
Celebrate New Year's at Hogmanay in Edinburgh, Scotland (2012/13)Go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2012)Hunt for Nessie in Scotland (2012)- Drive the North Coast 500 in Scotland
- Land on the beach runway in Barra (Scotland)
Ride the Jacobite train through the Scottish Highlands (2015)Cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Northern Ireland (2017)- Do a Game of Thrones tour in Northern Ireland
Take a Black Taxi tour in Belfast (2013, 2022)- Track my ancestry in Ireland
Stay in a castle in Ireland (2018)- Sleep in a library in Wales
- Lay on a beach in Croatia for a day
- Island hop in Croatia
- Sail around the Greek islands
Sing “Sound of Music” tunes in Salzburg, Austria (2013)- Experience the true Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
- Drive on the Autobahn, Germany
- Ride in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey
Hunt vampires in Romania (2012)Soak in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland (x3)Drive the Ring Road in Iceland (2022)Snorkel in between tectonic plates in Iceland (2015)Go inside an ice cave in Iceland (2015)- Go on a multi-day horseback riding tour in Iceland
Chase the Northern Lights in Norway (2016)Drive the Atlantic Road in Norway (2015)- Be in St. Petersburg during White Nights
Try a spacecake in Amsterdam (2013)- Visit family in Slovakia
Go on a river cruise- Go hunting for gnomes in Wrocław, Poland
Take a pletna boat across Lake Bled (2012, 2023)Go on a road trip in Slovenia (2023)
Things to see
Stonehenge, England (2012 and 2015)Abbey Road, London, England (2013)- Highclere Castle, England (where Downton Abbey was filmed)
All the cool sights in London (Big Ben, The Eye, London Bridge) (2012)The Royal Mile in Edinbrugh, Scotland (x3)Isle of Skye, Scotland (x3 – 2012, 2015, 2016)- Orkney Islands, Scotland
- Heather blooming in Scotland
The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye (2016)Beaches on Lewis and Harris, Scotland (2016)Cliffs of Moher, Ireland (2013)Harbor in Cobh, Ireland (2018)- Skellig Michael in Ireland
Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland (2017)Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy (2005)Colosseum, Rome, Italy (2005)St. Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican, Italy (2005)- The Scavi, The Vatican, Italy
Ruins in Pompeii, Italy (2005)Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy (2013)Canals in Venice (2013)- The villages of Cinque Terre, Italy
The walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia (2012)- Plitvice Lakes in Croatia
Red Square, Moscow, Russia (2016)The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg (2016)- The fountains at Peterhof Palace in Russia
Remnants of the Berlin Wall (2013)Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland (2013)Dracula’s Castle in Romania (or what inspired it, at least) (2012)Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany- Flower carpet in Brussels, Belgium
The Old Town of Prague (2013)The Bone Church in the Czech Republic (2013)Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (2013)The Mona Lisa, The Louvre, France (2022)- Normandy beaches, France
- Lavender fields in France
- Mont-Saint-Michel in France
Notre Dame, Paris, FranceRila Monastery, Bulgaria (2012)La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain (2015)Plaza de Espana in Seville, Spain (2015)- Montserrat, Spain
Alhambra palaces in Granada, Spain (2015)- Great Mosque in Cordoba, Spain
- Ronda, Spain
Tiled houses in Portugal (2019)The Douro Valley, Portugal (2019)The Algarve in Portugal (2023)The fjords of Norway (2015)- Pulpit Rock in Norway
Lofoten Islands, Norway (2023)Santorini, Greece (2013)The Acropolis in Athens (2013)The Faroe Islands (2017)Reykjavik, Iceland- Stari Most bridge in Mostar
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (2012, 2019)Icebergs in Greenland (2018)
Central/South America
Adventures to have
- Dance in a Latin American salsa or tango club
- Attend Carnival in Brazil
Climb some Mayan ruins (2013)Get up close with sloths in Costa Rica (2013)Snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef (2013)Chill out on Caye Caulker, Belize (2013)- Go on a sailing trip in Belize
Relax on Little Corn Island in Nicaragua (2016)- Hike the W in Torres del Paine National Park
Relax on Little Corn Island in Nicaragua (2016)Straddle the equator in Ecuador (2016)Swim with marine life in the Galapagos (2023)
Things to see
- Machu Picchu, Peru
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (2023)- Easter Island, Chile
- Salt flats, Bolivia
- Glaciers in Patagonia
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio, Brazil
Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica (2013)- Bocas del Toro, Panama
Tikal ruins in Guatemala (2013)- Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
- Antigua, Guatemala
Oceania
Adventures to have
- Heli-hike a glacier in New Zealand
Go on a “Lord of the Rings” tour in New Zealand (2005)Go zorbing in New Zealand (2008)- Hike the Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand
- Hike Roy's Peak in Wanaka, NZ
- Surf in Raglan, New Zealand
Ride the TranzAlpine train across New Zealand (2011)Go on an epic NZ road trip in a campervan (2018)- Swim with seals in Kaikoura, NZ (2014)
- Kayak near the Tasman Glacier in NZ
See a kiwi bird up close in New Zealand (2008)Climb up the world’s steepest road (Baldwin Street, Dunedin, NZ, 2008)- Stay overnight in Doubtful Sound, NZ
- Hike around Uluru in the Australian Outback
- Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia
- Road trip around Tasmania
- Take a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef
- Sail in the Whitsundays
- Take a selfie with a quokka
- Swim with manta rays at Coral Bay, WA
- Stay in an over-water bungalow
- Swim with humpback whales in Tonga
Things to see
- The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- The beaches in the Whitsundays
- Uluru, Australia
Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge, Australia (2008)- Rottnest Island in Western Australia
- Tasmania
Hobbiton movie set, New Zealand (x4, 2005, 2008, 2014, and 2018)Castlepoint, New Zealand (2008)Lupins blooming at Lake Taupo, NZ (2014)Milford Sound, New Zealand (2008 and 2014)Abel Tasman National Park, NZ (2018)Queenstown, NZ- Aitutaki Lagoon in the Cook Islands
Africa
Adventures to have
Go up Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa (2016)Go on a safari (2016)Ride a camel in the Sahara (2019)- See the wildebeest migration
- Stay at Giraffe Manor in Kenya
Cage dive with great white sharks (2016)- Trek to see mountain gorillas
Climb sand dunes in Namibia (2016)Fly over Victoria Falls (2016)- Swim in the Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls
Ride a felucca down the Nile (2017)
Things to see
The Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, Egypt (2017)Victoria Falls (2016)Chefchaouen, Morocco (the “Blue City”) (2019, 2023)Table Mountain in South Africa (2016)Beaches in Zanzibar (2019)- Lemurs in Madagascar
The deserts of Namibia (2016)Wildlife in the Serengeti (2019)The Okavango Delta in Botswana (2016)The Big 5 (2016)- Rock-cut churches in Ethiopia
Asia
Adventures to have
Climb the Great Wall of China (2007)Ride (and survive the ride) in a tuk tuk (2014)Beach/island hop in Thailand (2014)- See the Yi Peng lantern festival near Chiang Mai
Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand (2014)- Go diving around Koh Tao, Thailand
Get custom clothes made in Hoi An, Vietnam (2014)- Attend the Cherry Blossom festival in Japan
- Stay in a cave in Cappadocia, Turkey
- Go hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey
- Volunteer with pandas in China
Things to see
Ephesus, Turkey (2019)Travertine terraces in Pamukkale, Turkey (2019)Great Wall of China (2007)Forbidden City, Beijing, China (2007)- Live pandas in China
- The teracotta warriors in Xi'an, China
- Mount Everest up close
Angkor Wat, Cambodia (2014)Halong Bay, Vietnam (2014)- Sapa, Vietnam
- Taj Mahal, India
Temples in Bangkok, Thailand (2014)Longtail boats on a Thai island (2014)- Pai, Thailand
- The “White Temple” in Chiang Rai, Thailand
- A geisha in Japan
- The Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Japan
- Hemji Castle in Japan
- The Tori Path in Kyoto, Japan
- Snow monkeys in Japan
- The lights show in Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong
- Temples in Myanmar
The Middle-East
Adventures to have
- Float in the Dead Sea
- Pretend I'm Indiana Jones at Petra
- Go on a desert adventure in Oman
Things to see
- Petra, Jordan
- Jerusalem
- Mosques in Iran
Anywhere
Adventures to have
- Go skydiving
Go bungy jumping (x4 – Taupo (2008) and Queenstown (2005, 2011, 2014), New Zealand)Hike out on a glacier (Franz Josef, NZ, 2011; Alaska, 2012)Ride in a hot air balloon (Monument Valley, 2011)Go white water raftingRide in a helicopter (New Zealand, 2008 and 2014; Niagara Falls 2014)Go kayakingSee an active volcano up close (I wanna see the lava!) (2022, Iceland)- Climb a mountain
Drive in a country where they drive on the opposite side of the road- Attend a professional sports game (
football, baseball,soccer,rugby, hockey) See gymnastics live at the Olympic Games (London, 2012)Go jet boatingGo ziplining- Celebrate Christmas in a different country
Celebrate New Year’s in a different country (Ireland, 2007/8; Scotland 2012/13)Go on a cruise- See the Red Bull Flugtag in person
- Hang out with someone famous
- Attend a huge parade and/or rally
Take part in a protestPlay in a marching band at a professional sporting game/match (Canada, 2006)See a favorite band in concertParticipate in a wacky cultural event/tradition/race (Loony Dook and Color Run, 2013)Eat something that looks/sounds/smells scaryTour someplace haunted at night (Ottawa, 2012; Edinburgh, 2012)Go horseback riding on a beach- Go SCUBA diving
- Take part in an archaeological dig
- Stomp grapes to make wine
- Visit a nude beach (and actually go nude)
Dance a Latin dance with a Latin guy- Go skinny dipping
- Jump off a waterfall
Things to see
The Northern Lights (Manitoba, 2013; Norway 2015)Icebergs up closeA geyser explodeSufi Whirling Dervishes in action (2019)
Things to Learn
- Become fluent in a second language
- Learn how to drive a manual car
- Learn how to cook really well
Take surfing lessons (x2, in New Zealand and Florida)Learn how to swing dance- Learn to snowboard
Personal Goals
- Make a difference in someone’s life
- Live abroad for at least a year
Fill up a passport before it expires (2012)- Visit all 7 continents
- Witness a historical event in person
Take Mom to see Paul McCartney in concert (August 2010)- Try my hand at being a tour guide
Volunteer- Host an exchange student
Connect with someone from another culture even if we speak different languages- Go barefoot for a week
Read an entire book in a day- Say yes to everything for a week
Get a tattooHave a flingFall in loveFind a job that I love
Professional Goals
Have a photo published in a magazine- Have a story published in a travel magazine or book
Have my own websiteMake money off said website (working on it!)- Write a travel book
- Be on “The Amazing Race”
- Be in a movie
Are any of these things on your bucket list? Have you done any/can you recommend any of the things on my list?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Love your bucket list and how extensive it is…and how much of it you have crossed off! I keep my list in my head, but need to right it down. I thought I’d share a few places I have been to on your list that you haven’t crossed off yet. We lived in Germany from 2012-2016 as expats so we traveled as much as we could. Road trip to Slovenia, driving the autobahn (many times…and it is as fun as it sounds), hiked the Dolomites (and skied as well), Gondola in Venice, Skellig Michael (a must), the Vatican, Cinque Terre (we’ve been twice and is one of our favorites. You should put the Amalfi Coast on your list as well), Plitvice Lakes (we loved it), Neuschwanstein Castle (I’ve lost count how many times we visited, but it’s a must along with several other castles in Germany), Lofoten Islands (we spent 21 days in Norway in September 2018, one of my favorite trips I’ve every taken), Hopewell Rocks (we spent 12 days traveling to NB & NS last fall (if the border was open, we would probably head back to Canada this year), Montreal (I was there years ago, but we have visited Quebec City 3 times since 2016 and we love it), Great Smokey Mountains (we lived in North Carolina for 8 years), driving the Pacific Coast Hwy for our Honeymoon and then years later with our 3 kids (of course we stopped and camped in the Redwoods. Fall foliage in New England…we currently live in Massachusetts and it is beautiful. I do have a blog, but it’s more a personal blog. I keep thinking I need to create a travel blog. We would travel non-stop if we could 🙂
My list just keeps getting longer! Haha. But it is fun to cross things off.
When you make it to Tasmania you will have to check out Salmon Ponds just near Hobart. Such a lovely, relaxing place, feed the fish, see a platypus and have a great afternoon tea at the Cafe.
So many places in the world to see!
Sad to see that Philippines is not on your list. 🙁
Hi Amanda, I was just looking for a blog about South Africa to help me plan our next trip when I bumped into yours…I just love the way you describe things and how real and pragmatic you are. It is well structured and really nice to read! So congratulations on that!
And I can help you with one item on your list. I am a French living in Munich since years, and having some time in October this year, so, if you are interested in the Oktoberfest in Munich, I can help you with that one…maybe visiting Neuschwanstein on your way…This is the Disney Fairy Tale castle and happens to be not far away from Munich. Just let me know if interested this automn 🙂
Thanks very much for the offer! I won’t be in Europe during Oktoberfest this year, but that’s very kind of you!
Wow, this is the biggest bucket list I’ve ever seen. What’s bigger than a bucket? A tub? This is a tub list. You’ve got quite the life ahead of you!
On your 7 days barefoot goal, if you haven’t already listen to the Freakanomics podcast on shoes (here: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/shoes/). It’ll inspire you to get that one crossed off ASAP.
The scarier thing is that I’m constantly adding things to this list! 😉
I am so envious of your life being able to travel so much that is always something I have wanted to do more. I have been to several places but not near as many as yourself or done as many! However, I did see Easter Island, Chile on your list. My grandfather owns Iorana Hotel which is on one of the nicest views of the island. My family runs the business. If you get back to me on when you want to go I can get with my grandfather and see if he can work something out with you
on a room and tours of the island. Just let me know 🙂 I will be going either this year or next year to visit the island and my family. 🙂
That’s so kind of you! I have no idea when I’ll finally make it to Easter Island, but I know I will one day!
That’s an ambitious list! It brings back many fond memories. The Greeks have a saying that permeates the culture, OPA!
Most american’s have heard it and many associate the word with a Greek wedding and smashing plates. But it has a much broader meaning. I once asked a Greek man that had spent a number of years in america the meaning of the word. So, there was no bypassing in communications as he spoke English fluent and I was a patron of his establishment for a number of years. He told me that it was a mantra of life, basically NO FEAR.
So, OPA! My recommendation for the Kentucky Derby…the infield. This is the best people watching event in the world, the Indy 500 is a distant 2nd. The real people are in the infield, get there early to pick a good spot. The Preakness is a drunk fest, they sell all you can drink beer and wine tickets and I would recommend the Grandstands after tailgating. If you feel the need for a sophisticated event wait for the Belmont Stakes as it’s much cheaper and you are more likely to run into celebrities and it’s more low key then the Derby. VIP tickets at reasonable prices are readily available if you buy early. I had the fortune of doing all 3 races the year that American Pharoah won the triple crown and the buzz was electrifying.
OPA, very fitting with you blog name and attitude, NO FEAR!.
Happy travels
Hi Amanda,
How are you? I thought I would reach out to you, not only to say how much I am enjoying your blog, but also because I’m hoping you’d consider discussing your bucket list (& how it came about) with me via messenger, text or by phone for my blog Bucket List Bound. My site is all about lists like yours, how you accomplish your goals & how your life has changed since it’s creation. Please let me know what you think and, regardless, thank you so much for your time & all of the inspiration!
Feel free to shoot me an email – adangerousbusiness[at]gmail[dot]com
Hey Amanda! Wow, just discovered your blog recently, should have seen it before! Your bucket list is just awesome, there are so many things similar to yours that I would like to do! (Hug a penguin is definitly a must :p). And I thought I knew Europa pretty well haha, but because of your list I will need to go back there soon! 😉 Hope you don’t mind if I take some ideas for my trip on the West Coast (from Vancouver to SF)!
(By the way, if you pass through Montréal, let me know I will tell you where you can find the best poutines ever :D)
Your list is so awesome! I’m inspired to make one of my own!
In just in case you haven’t heard: Larch valley in Banff is best in the early fall. Often mid to late September. The larch trees the area is famous for turn gold.
I was in the area in September two years ago, but unfortunately didn’t have time for the hike. Next time!