Do you have a bucket list of the things you want to do or accomplish before your time on this earth is up? Well-being experts say creating one is a useful exercise no matter your age or phase of life because it helps you identify and attain meaningful goals.
According to YouGov, the top four items for Americans who have a bucket list are: 1) getting healthier (41%), 2) traveling to an exotic locale (35%), 3) achieving a wealth goal (29%) and 4) seeing a natural wonder (28%). Since we often advocate for health and financial goals, today we’re focused on experiential goals with seven bucket list ideas to spark your imagination to the fullest.
1. See the Super Bowl in person.
The last several Super Bowls have drawn over 100 million viewers, but there’s nothing like watching this iconic event in person at least once in your life rather than on TV at a Super Bowl party. The NFL and host city typically plan a week’s worth of events leading up to the big game, which typically includes a chance to get autographs from your favorite players or take pictures of the Lombardi Trophy. On game day, you get to watch the league’s best compete for the title and see the half-time show live.
If football isn’t your thing, there’s always the Masters, Wimbledon or the Kentucky Derby. Or you can wait for one of your favorite teams to make the World Series, the NBA Finals or the Stanley Cup Finals. If you’re really ambitious, your bucket list could include attending all of these iconic sporting events at least once.
2. Sail through Paradise.
Maybe getting away from it all is more your style. Then sailing into the sunset over the open sea might be the ultimate experience of your dreams. You don’t need to own a boat to make this fantasy a reality. With charter companies like Sebastus Sailing, Sunsail and The Moorings you can choose your yacht and destination of choice, which can be as close as the Caribbean or as far away as the Mediterranean or the Pacific islands.
3. Learn to fly.
People who like to stretch their limits might want to train to be a recreational pilot. You can earn your Private Pilot License (PPL) in just a few months with these steps:
- Taking ground school classes to pass the FAA written exam
- Completing at least 35 to 40 hours of flight training, depending on the training facility’s status with the FAA
- Passing the FAA examiner in-flight assessment of your skills
Once you have your PPL, you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the world as often as you like.
4. Buy your dream classic car.
Many modern cars have beautiful designs, and they’ll definitely get you where you need to go. But a vintage vehicle might be an appropriate item for your bucket list if you think today’s cars can’t hold a candle to these iconic classics of the big screen: James Bond’s Aston Martin in Goldfinger, Steve McQueen’s 1968 Ford Mustang in Bullitt or Smokey and the Bandit’s 1977 Pontiac Firebird.
Whether you buy a classic beauty in mint condition or restore it to its former glory in your garage, you’ll ride in style from the day you check this off your bucket list.
5. Visit all 50 states.
Speaking of driving, if it’s something you enjoy, consider a supersized traveling bucket list challenge—visiting all 50 states during your lifetime. There’s so much to see and do when you take road trips, whether you do it in high style or on a budget. As you travel the country, you can hit famous food trails, enjoy unexpected seasonal sites and drive along All-American roads.
6. Test your endurance.
Another bucket list idea is challenging yourself physically, such as training to run in a marathon. You could even take it a step further by including all the major marathons: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City and Tokyo.
Do you like the metaphor of reaching an ultimate height in your lifetime? Your bucket list could include climbing one (or all!) of the seven summits, the highest mountains on all seven continents:
- Aconcagua in Chile, South America, near the border with Argentina
- Denali in Alaska, North America
- Elbrus in Southwestern Russia, Europe
- Everest in Asia on the border between Nepal and Tibet
- Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, along the Kenyan border
- Kosciuszko in New South Wales, Australia
- Vinson Massif in Antarctica
7. Start a charity.
If creating a lasting legacy is what’s most important to you, then establishing a charity makes perfect sense for your bucket list. This lets you raise money to support a cause close to your heart like finding a cure for cancer, preventing animal cruelty or protecting the environment.
To make sure you get to check off everything on your bucket list, adopt budget rules. They are a great way to prioritize saving money for the health, wealth and experiential goals you most want to achieve in this lifetime.
Editor’s note: Quorum derives no benefit from businesses for placement in this article.
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