15 Bucket List Experiences to Have in Your Twenties

The start of a new year is the PERFECT time to start daydreaming about all of the glorious destinations to visit in this next year! But regardless of what time of year it is, it’s never too early to start planning some epic bucket list experiences, ESPECIALLY while you are young! Don’t wait until retirement to live your best life, start crossing off those goals and experiences now!
Last year, I hit most of my bucket list goals, which was exciting on one hand, but on the other hand – maybe I should be dreaming even bigger this year?! So let’s check some big dreams off together and explore all the best bucket list experiences to have in your twenties (or while you’re still young!):
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Take a road trip
Road trips are my absolute favorite way to travel, and I think the majority of my travel seems to fall into this category. But what’s not to love? You get to see multiple destinations in a single trip and half of the enjoyment isn’t just the destinations but also the journey itself. Bonus – you can cart all your stuff in a car and not on your back or in a suitcase! I had the most fun time experiencing vanlife for the first time in 2019, and I am dying to do an extended trip soon.

Go on a solo trip
Solo trips are less scary than you think, I promise! You get to be completely in charge of the experiences, activities, food, and breaks – pretty much whatever you want goes. Even if it’s just a day trip or taking yourself out to dinner, treat yourself to some self-love and some “selfish” traveling. Take it one experience at a time and work up to a full solo trip.

Visit your own state
Play tourist in your own city or state, and explore just how many things you didn’t even realize where there. Try a new restaurant, have a staycation somewhere else in town, learn a new skill, search out some obscure landmark – just find ways to put more adventure into your everyday. You don’t always have to go to some exotic destination; there is so much beauty in your own backyard just waiting to be discovered. For me, I’m pretty sure in my home state of Oregon I will never EVER see all of the waterfalls in the entire state, but I do think I could eat my way through Portland pretty well.

See Some Amazing Wildlife
I am such an animal lover and it has been so incredible to see wildlife on my past adventures, from birds to deer to foxes, all the way up to lions and elephants. Just make sure you maintain a safe distance from wildlife, never feed them, and if you are unsure about anything at all just Google your location + “wildlife rehab” and you’ll be sure to find an organization that can help answer any questions.
Other potential animal trips can include doing a horseback ride – Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and other locations offer mule and horse rides as a different way to see the landscape. Do a little research to be sure they treat their animals well, but definitely give horseback trail riding a go at least once!

Visit a new country
Every year, my wish list is to visit a new state, a new national park, and a new country. This year, push yourself outside your comfort zone and visit a new country – experience a culture different from your own, immerse yourself in the sounds of a new language, try some new cuisine, and see some incredible sights that are completely different from what you’re used to. Traveling to other countries sooo worth saving up for; it will make your entire life richer and open your eyes to new ideas and sights you never even dreamed of before. Save up for a big trip by making your own food instead of dining out, cut your spending expenses, and utilize travel points on credit cards or frequent flier miles.

Hike through a National Park
There is some crazy statistic that 90% of visitors to the national parks never go past the main viewpoints, so if you hike at all you’ll get away from the crowds and see so much more than the average visitor. Hiking is the best way to see the true splendor of the parks, and there are so many options for different ability levels. You can hike at pretty much any age, but it’s definitely easier to get out hiking while you are young so let’s get into the wilderness! Safety tips: make sure you have plenty of water, you have a map, a guide, or know where you are going and pack the 10 essentials for safety.

Go to a Place You Never Thought to Visit
A few years back, I went to a conference in a state I never thought I’d visit: South Carolina. I went with zero expectations, and I ended up being completely blown away by the beauty out there. There are so many underrated places in this world, you just have to open up your mind to the possibilities and keep a positive attitude. You never know what place might be your favorite trip yet! Travel tip: go to Google Flights, hit “explore” and pick the cheapest flight from your home airport as your next travel destination! Being spontaneous while you’re still young is definitely one of the best parts of being in your 20s, so take advantage of it now!

Learn a New Skill (or Language!)
I am an adventure traveler through and through, so when I had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia in college, I immediately learned how to scuba dive so I wouldn’t miss the Great Barrier Reef. Learning how to dive opened up a whole new underwater world, and I’m so grateful I took the leap. Your 20s are all about experimenting and discovering who you are, and learning a new skill is such a great way to explore your passions and callings. Try skiing, snowboarding, surfing, hiking, or even just attempt a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try, like playing guitar, learning a new language, crocheting, or anything really – there’s so much to explore!

Improve Your Photography
Let’s make THIS YEAR the year you improve your photography the most and push your editing skills to the next level! Even if you don’t think you are a “true photographer” and all you want to do is improve your phone photos to capture your bucket list memories, it’s always a great time to improve your photo skills.
And news flash: no one wakes up being an expert photographer. I honestly think so much of it is a numbers game – just keep taking more and more shots and along the way you will improve (seriously, practice is EVERYTHING!). You can definitely take steps to improve your eye for composition and develop your editing skills, but don’t let anyone else’s work or playing the comparison game detract from trying to build your own skills. You got this!
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Go Camping (or Backpacking!)
If you never grew up camping or doing much in the outdoors, it’s okay, now is the perfect time to get out into nature! If you are worried about not having all of the skills or don’t know how to set up a tent, go camping with friends with more experience who can help teach you all the essential skills, or even give car camping a try! Car camping doesn’t require a tent and you can pack your food in and make it all as easy as possible. Camping is so worth trying at least once: waking up to the sounds of nature, getting outside, making s’mores, spending time with friends – there are so many experiences waiting to be had!
Already been camping? Challenge yourself to give backpacking a try instead! Being able to hike further and spend the night outdoors opens up your outdoor adventures so much, I highly recommend it!
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Go on a Girls Trip
There is so much societal pressure in your 20s to find your “perfect partner” and settle down, but I think your twenties is just such a great time to keep investing in your female (or male!) friendships – these are the people who will be here for all your big life changes! Having that support and friendship is so valuable, and taking a friends trip is the PERFECT way to make some amazing memories with your friends! So plan a girls trip (or a boys trip) this year, you won’t regret it!

Relax on a Tropical Island
I’m pretty sure no one would turn down a chance to relax on a tropical island – warm weather, sunshine, delicious food and drinks, swimming in the ocean – it’s basically the dream escape from the 9-5. January is a great time to start booking for later in the year, and I think having something to look forward to is also a great way to combat feelings of seasonal depression, especially when the weather is so bad. Bonus: take your girls along and make this your girls trip to cross TWO things off your bucket list experiences!
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Revisit a Favorite Place
Every time I visit a new place, I am struck by the twin desires to immediately re-visit it to see all the sights I missed on the first trip, but then also to see a brand new place I just learned about. My travel wish list only ever grows and doesn’t shrink, but I think there is a lot of value to returning to a favorite place. You know all the best spots already, you get to see your favorite things, and it’s all around an easier trip than planning and researching something new. Last year, I visited Sedona for the first time and barely scratched the surface of it, so this year I am excited for a repeat visit to see favorite spots and to explore new spots I didn’t get to last time.

Attend a Conference
Attending a conference is one of the best ways to learn and improve your skills, and it’s also a fantastic opportunity to network with other creators and/or future travel-buddies. Instead of spending your money on the latest photography gadget, invest it instead in your own education, and I promise that the returns will be so much greater than an upgraded camera model.
Even if you are not a photographer or content creator, attending a conference in your chosen field of study/work is SUCH a fantastic way to connect with your peers, make new friendships, and bonus, you get to travel somewhere new!

Face a Fear
When I was growing up, I always thought I was such a fearful person and that I wasn’t very brave. But I realized that doing things scared and challenging myself with experiences that frightened me, was actually the very essense of being brave. Now I push myself to face my fears because it is in those exact spaces that I know I grow the most.
KEY TAKEAWAY: this does NOT mean I’m saying to go out and stand on the edge of a cliff or something, it just means you should try to face any fear at all, no matter how small. Whether that is getting back into biking after a crash, standing up for yourself in relationships and setting boundaries, or facing anything that makes you scared, anxious, or uncomfortable, challenge yourself to grow and face your fears. Of all the things you could invest in in your twenties, investing in yourself and putting your self-growth as a bucket list goal is something you won’t ever regret doing.
What are the biggest bucket list experiences on YOUR LIST?
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Hey I’m Rebecca!
I’m a travel & outdoors photographer and blogger living in the US but you can find me adventuring around the globe! On this blog I share tips to help you improve your photography, inspiration to explore the outdoors, destination guides, and travel tips, and more to plan your own adventures!
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