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!
The Canyon Swing in Queenstown should be on everyone’s list.
I would do it again in a heartbeat!
I came SO CLOSE to doing it the last time I was in Queenstown. But I ran out of time (and money). It’s definitely on my “next time” list for NZ.
One thing you should add to your list is visit an Embera village in Panama. It’s something that sounds like it’s right up your alley.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll have to check it out!
NICE list, Amanda!!
I like that you have a tuk-tuk ride on the list. I was convinced that I was going to fall out the first time — WHERE DO I HOLD ON?!?! — but you get used to it so quickly! (And then you get over it and get annoyed by them, especially when you’re late for dinner with friends, don’t have a phone, and the driver has stopped to say hi to his family. WTF?!?!)
One of my Bangkok bucket list items is riding a motorcycle taxi sidesaddle, like so many Thai women do. According to Laura from A Wandering Sole, whom I met in Bangkok, they wouldn’t let her do it because she wasn’t wearing a skirt. Now, THAT’S terrifying!!
I feel like riding in a tuk-tuk is just one of those things that I HAVE to do someday, even if they seem rather terrifying! It’s all part of the adventure, right?
But that sidesaddle thing… weird! I didn’t even know you could do that! I think I’d be too scared of flying off.
I have not created a bucket list but this sort of inspires me to do so. I like your list and I bet it feels great to cross one out. I’ve always had vague ideas or outlines in my head of what is supposed to happen. Most times I just stumble forward and end up somewhere….hmm.
The good thing is, a bucket list can always change. You can always add to it, or take away from it, because it’s yours! But yes, it feels great to get to cross things off!
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Great list! A bucket list is a must for any ambitious person……. it tells much about that person, sort of a personal totem….. but as time goes by, you will change….some things on the list will not be very important anymore and will be replaced with stuff that you would have never guessed earlier. Life is always changing and we adapt, but that’s a good thing. P.S. A bucket list is never meant to be completed, always something to strive for!
I agree – this list will probably never be static, and will likely change a lot in the coming years. But that’s half the fun of keeping a bucket list! Hopefully 10 years from now I can compare my new list to this old one and see how far I’ve come!
This is a great list, very diverse. I have a lot of these things on my list too. My list is way too long already, but I have it written down someplace. I think writing it down is great for motivation since you see how far you’ve come and how far you have to go. Great list.
Thanks so much, Steve. And yes, I agree — writing down your list (no matter how long it ends up being) can serve as some great motivation. I have so much I want to do, but it’s fun to see how much I’ve already done!
Great list, I added it as one of my resources for 9 1/2 Ways to Ignite Adventure in Your Life.
In Africa, you should add a trip to Victoria Falls.
I too wanted to climb Uluru in Australia, but the Aboriginals frown upon climbing it. It is insensitive since they consider it sacred. Hiking AROUND it is fine – which is what I’ll be doing next year!
Thanks for adding a link to my bucket list on your site!
Victoria Falls is on my list! It’s under the Africa section in the “Cool Things to See” list. Definitely would like to make it there someday.
You’re the second person to mention the taboo about climbing Uluru. I had no idea! I think I’ll revise that entry on my list, as I certainly wouldn’t want to offend anybody.
I know you are going to get a lot of hits off this:-)
Love this list. I have always wanted to make a list except it would be in volumes by now. Should just start it anyway:-)
Uluru! FAB!! Except for the climbing part. Aboriginals ask you not to climb it and half the time it’s “closed” anyway cause of weather. But it’s fab to see up close and walk around.
And yay for SWIMMING with Seals in Kaikoura! So much fun!
Thanks, Rebecca! There are probably tons of other things I could add to this list… but, like you said, it would be sooo long!
I’d be happy just seeing Uluru up close! And yes, I definitely want to swim with those seals!
Great Bucket List! There are so many great things on there! I categorized my Bucket List in a similar way, makes it so much easier to read and find things! I might actually sub-categorize my “Places” by continent as you have – great idea!
Thanks, Jenny! I really love your bucket list, as well. I’ll admit, I decided to break mine up into multiple categories after seeing yours and a few others, but opted to take it even further for organization (I like my lists!) and readability.
We WILL do most of the stuff on this list. We rule. haha
Haha, okay travel buddy.
That’s one extensive list! I like how you sub-categorized everything.
But what’s even greater is that you’ve accomplished so many items! Congratulations are in order.
I have yet to make a list and realize some of the items, although I guess I have accomplished a few dreams already.
Do you have any favourite items you would really really like to do shortly?
Extensive, yes. Do-able? Perhaps. But, even if I never get around to everything, I like having the list anyway. Always gives me something to strive for.
The items that would be at the “top” of my list right now would probably be some of the things in Turkey (I REALLY want to go there), as well as the U.S. road trip. I’d put those as my next two major things I’d like to do.
Wow what an awesome list – made me realise that we’ve done more of the US things on your list than we have in our own country Australia. We’ve been meaning to write one up – but just don’t know where to start!
Add ‘Australian Football’ to your list of professional sporting events to attend – if you get a chance to do it, you’ll definitely have a blast!
Thanks so much, Kieron! It’s funny how you can see so much of another country, and so little of your own! I’m definitely guilty of this… I’ve seen and done so much in NZ, but hardly any of the things I’d like to do in the U.S.! Must get to work.
And I’ll definitely keep the Australian football in mind for when I’m in OZ next!
I love it! I love that some of those things are really simple and some of them are really out there. I think it’s so great to have so many goals for your life, and writing them down helps you see how much you’ve actually accomplished. I might have to do one of these lists myself one of these days!
Thanks, Ali! And yeah, there’s such a jumble of random things on my list. But, that’s kind of how life is, isn’t it?
I never wrote any of these things down before, but I decided it was time. I need some motivation! Plus, just putting the list together was a lot of fun.
Oh girl I am loving you more and more I love this list. It is awesome. I wanna do just about all of those.
Haha, thanks, Jamie! It’s an ambitious list, but that makes it all the more fun to try and tackle!
Great list, and a very ambitious one too. But then, ambitious lists help us to push ourselves and enjoy life at its best. Good luck with crossing all the items off your list, babe!
What can I say? I’m an ambitious kind of person! 🙂