Looking for the perfect bucket list for your twenties? Here are all the experiences to have while you’re young!

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There is some crazy statistic that 90% of visitors to the US 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.

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 twenties, so take advantage of it now!

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 twenties 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!

While your twenties are about fun and experimentation, there’s also a LOT of heavy expectations around work. I thought I had to be super successful BEFORE I hit thirty, but later in my twenties I realized the MORE important goal – to pursue what I TRULY wanted to do with my life, and not what I was EXPECTED to do.

For me, that was becomming a photographer instead of following the tried and true path of becoming a doctor or veterinarian (my job in another life!). It was the most terrifying decision in my life but it also was the BEST one I could have made. So don’t be afraid to pursue your passions, this is the time for it!

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!

There is NOTHING and I mean truly nothing more magical than watching the sun rise on a new day. Even if you are not a morning person, try it at least ONCE. If you don’t like it – well it’s off your bucket list now! Personally though, I have NEVER regretted waking up early to watch a sunrise. Grab a friend or enjoy it solo – it will be one of the most peaceful and wonderful experiences of your twenties.

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!

I read SO much in college I got sick of it, and stopped reading for years. I recently got back into it (thanks BookTok!) and I am officially OBSESSED! I think the key is finding the exact genre, trope, or style of book that is perfect for YOU! So try reading something from a new genre you’ve never tried, ask a friend or family member for book recommendations, see what’s popular on social media, and give it a try.

Make it more accessible: not everyone is a fan of reading. Maybe AUDIOBOOKS are more your style? Give it a try! I don’t care what anyone says, listening to audiobooks STILL counts as reading!

Already a big reader? Give yourself a big goal – read 20 books in a year, or 50, or 100! 

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!

I am definitely a foodie through and through – I’ve realized soooo many of my favorite travel and life experiences revolve around food! Trying new foods is one of the best ways to celebrate the experimentation of your twenties, and it’s truly the most incredible feeling when you discover a new food you LOVE! Try a food from a different country, a different cuisine type you’ve never tried, or maybe even try a food you thought you didn’t like – palates change as we get older!

Bonus: take this to the next level by taking a cooking class! I’ve learned to make pasta in Italy, curry in Thailand, and satay in Bali – and these are some of my FAVORITE things I’ve ever done abroad. But you don’t have to travel to learn new cooking skills – see if your local community college or center has cooking classes nearby you, or ask a friend to help you make their favorite dish. Cooking is better together!

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.

There is something so magical yet humbling about gazing up at the stars in the sky – you feel so very small and realize just how big our universe is. I’m more of a morning person than a night owl, but every time I’ve stayed up to gaze at the stars or capture Milky Way photos I am so grateful I did it.

Find a Dark Sky Park near you or drive outside your city lights. Pick a summer night with clear skies and warm weather, and go camping under the stars.

Bonus bucket list challenge for your twenties: See when there is a meteor shower and make a midnight picnic date to watch the incredible lightshow!

Attending a conference is one of the best ways to learn and improve your skills, grow your career opportunties, and it’s also a fantastic opportunity to both network and make new friends. Instead of spending your money on the latest electronics or fashion, invest it instead in your own education, and I promise that the returns will be so much greater than spending it on something you’ll forget about in a few months.

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!

When you were young, you probably celebrated the holidays the same way each year. A lot of those traditions you’ll want to bring into your own future holiday celebrations – with friends, family, or yourself. But you don’t HAVE to celebrate a certain way just because that’s how you’ve always done it. I challenge you to start a NEW tradition that is special to YOU. Maybe that’s decorating differently, or pulling in a tradition from your home country you’ve never tried before, or making a different food, or starting something that is unique to your own family/friends/partner.

Bonus bucket list challenge for your twenties: celebrate a holiday in a different country!

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.

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