Travel – Page 2 – Retirement Tips and Tricks

Now that you're retired, it's important to know what you want to do in retirement. And creating a bucket list can be a very helpful tool to have goals, focus, and make to most out of your retirement. In this article, I share 430 ideas you can add to your retirement bucket list. I created different lists of fun and helpful categories for your bucket list like traveling, experiences, food & drinks, creative, events & festivals, relationship, and personal development ideas for your bucket list. Also, I'll share a step-by-step guide on how you can create your own perfect retirement bucket list, including some tips to make sure you're actually making your dreams on that bucket list come true! Ready to get inspired for your retirement bucket list? Let's find out more! Retirement Bucket List Ideas for Traveling 1) Visit all the 50 states in the US2) Visit the Amazon3) Step foot on Antarctica4) Road trip through Australia5) See Ayers Rock, Australia6) Road trip through New Zealand7) Make a Eurotrip8) Go to all the US National Parks9) Drive route 6610) See the northern lights (Alaska or Scandinavia)11) Drive the Pacific Coast Highway in California12) Stand Under the Hollywood Sign in California13) Ride on a Cable Car in San Francisco14) Drive or Walk the Las Vegas Strip15) Explore the Everglades in Florida16) Visit Cuba17) Visit Alcatraz in San Francisco18) Drive the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco19) See the Niagara Falls20) Stand in Time Square New York21) Visit Mount Rushmore in South Dakota22) See Buckingham Palace in London23) Visit the White House in Washington D.C.24) See the Opera House in Sydney, Australia25) Ride the Orient Express26) See the Great Migration in Masai Mara (Kenya) or Serengeti (Tanzania)27) Go on a Safari in Africa28) Take a Caribbean Cruise29) Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway30) Visit Machu Picchu, Peru31)Walk on the Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni), Bolivia32) Explore Patagonia, Chile/Argentina33) Walk the Great Wall, China34) Visit Plitvice Lakes, Croatia35) See the Pyramids in Egypt36) Visit the Game of Thrones city Dubrovnik, Croatia37) Sail among the Greece Islands38) Visit Acropolis in Athens, Greece39) Visit Mayan Ruins in Mexico40) Walk Across Abbey Road in London, England41) Watch the Sunset in Meteora, Greece42) Visit Bangkok, Thailand43) See Stonehenge, England44) Visit the Tulip Fields in Spring, The Netherlands45) See the Big Five in Kruger National Park, South Africa46) Visit Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa47) Walk Dune 45, Namibia48) Drive from Alaska all the way south to Patagonia49) Go on a Cruise Around the world50) Visit the Grand Canyon51) See the Taj Mahal, India52) Visit the Ancient Ruins of Petra, Jordan53) Visit Gardens by the Bay, Singapore54) Road trip through Tuscany, Italy55) Visit Sagrada da Familia in Barcelona, Spain56) Visit Louvre in Paris, France57) Visit All 7 Continents58) Drive Maui’s Road to Hana, Hawaii59) Visit Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, Romania60) Go on a Mississippi River Cruise Retirement Bucket List Ideas - Unique Experiences 61) Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef62) Hike Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania63) Go Bungy jumping64) Go Skydiving65) Go Parasailing in Cape Town66) Go on a Hot Air Balloon Safari, Kenya67) Hike the Pacific Crest Trail, USA68) Buy an old van and transform it into a campervan69) Catch a Wave with Surfing70) Learn to Kitesurf71) Ride a Zipline In the Jungle, Costa Rica72) Go Fly Boarding73) Go White Water Rafting74) Go Indoor Skydiving75) Get PADI Open Water Diving Certificate76) Go Snowboarding77) Go Skiing78) Go On a Police Ride Along79) Become a Volunteer Fire Fighter80) Go Scuba Diving81) Make a Wish in the Trevi Fountain in Italy82) Stay at an Ice Hotel83) Ride a Hot Air Balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey84) Abseil down a Waterfall85) Go on a Scenic Helicopter Ride86) Sleep in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora87) Go Up the Eiffeltower in Paris, France88) Hike Between the Towns of Cinque Terre, Italy89) Attend a Thai Boxing Match in Thailand, Italy90) Ride in a Gondola in Venice, Italy,91) Attend a Formula 1 Grand Prix92) Visit a (Maasai) Tribe in Kenya93) Trek to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal94) Have a White Christmas95) Hike through Rice Terraces in Bali, Indonesia96) Do a Bali Swing, Indonesia97) Witness Shooting stars98) Witness a Solar eclipse99) Go Geocaching in Your Neighbourhood100) Go Magnet Fishing in River Nearby101) Experience Weightlessness102) Hike on the Appalachian Trail, USA103) Listen to New Orleans Jazz at Preservation Hall104) Visit Disney Land or World with Your Grandchildren105) Sign up for Space Camp106) Go Back to Summer Camp107) Arrive by Seaplane108) Go to Moulin Rouge in Paris, France109) Chase a Tornado110) Herd Cattle111) Sleep in an Igloo112) Sleep in a Yurt, Mongolia113) Attend a Traditional Wedding Party in Lombok, Indonesia114) Hike an Active Volcano115) Swim in an Aquarium116) Watch the Sunrise & Sunset in one Day117) Go Whale Watching118) See Orca's around Vancouver Island, Canada119) Become a TV Game Show Contestant120) Be an Extra in a Hollywood Movie https://youtu.be/xdTZmvAOApc Retirement Bucket List Ideas - Food, Drinks & Unique Cuisine 121) Wine Tasting in Stellenbosch, South Africa122) Wine Tasting in Napa Valley, California123) Eat at a Michelin Star Restaurant124) Attend a traditional Thea Drinking Ceremony in China125) Create Your Signature Cocktail126) Brew Your Own Beer127) Eat Traditional Cheese Fondue, Switzerland128)Eat at a Themed Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan129) Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market, Thailand130) Attend a British Afternoon HighTea in England131) Eat Escargots (Snails) in France132) Eat Chocolate BonBons in Belgium133) Eat Peking Duck in Beijing, China134) Drink Fresh Coconut Juice from a Coconut in Azia135) Drink Moonshine136) Drink Sake in Japan137) Drink Beer Made by Munks in Belgium138) Enter a Food Competition139) Extract Fresh Honey from a Bee Hive140) Go Truffle Hunting in Croatia141) Eat at a Southern BBQ in the South142) Enjoy a Braai in South Africa143) Eat the Famous Beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans144) Eat a Philly Cheesesteak in Philadelphia145) Organize a Wine Tasting at Home146) Start a Cooking Club147) Partake in a Food Fight148) Recreate Your Grandmother's Famous Recipe149) Take a Cooking Class150) Build a Pizza Oven in Your Backyard151) Eat Caviar152) Learn How to Make Sushi153) Organize a Neighborhood BBQ154) Drink at a Dive Bar155) Fillet a Fish156) Organize a Dinner Party157) Make a Gingerbread House158) Learn to Use Chopsticks159) Start a Vegetable Garden160) Write a CookBook Retirement Bucket List Ideas - Spotting Wildlife 161) Feed the Swimming Pigs in Exuma in the Bahamas162) Go Cage Diving with Great White sharks in South Africa163) Swim with Humpback Whales in Tonga164) Swim with Whale Sharks in Mexia, Australia, Philippines165) See Wild Orang-Utans in Sumatra, Indonesia166) Dive with Sharks in Bahama's167) Swim with Manatees, Florida168) Swim with Wild Dolphins, New Zealand169) Swim with Stingrays in Cozumel, Mexico170) Go Dog Sledding in Finland171) Go on a Gorilla Trek in Uganda172) Volunteer for a Day at an Elephant Rescue, Thailand173) Swim with Sea Turtles in Hawaii174) Swim with Lemon Sharks in Sal, Cape Verde175) See Polar Bears in Canada176) See Penguins in Antarctica177) See Pandas in China178) See Moose in Canada179) See Beluga Whales in Canada180) See Grizzly Bear in Yellowstone Park181) See Koalas and Kangaroos in South Australia182) Witness Toucans in Brazil183) See Piranha in Amazon River184) See Tigers in India185) Swim with Manta Rays in Belize186) See Sloths in Costa Rica187) Snorkel with Seals in South Africa188) Swim with Penguins in Galagapos Islands189) Hug an Alpaca in Peru190) See Alligators in Florida https://youtu.be/QtwvLESg0xc Retirement Bucket List Ideas - Events & Festivals to Visit 191) Visit the Kentucky Derby192) Attend the Mardi Grass in New Orleans193) Attend Burning Man Festival in Nevada194) Go to Coachella Festival195) See a Broadway Musical196) Experience New Year's Eve in New York197) Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Ireland198) Visit the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil199) Attend the Carnival in São Vicent, Cape Verde Islands200) Drink a Beer at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany201) Attend the Tomatina Festival in Spain202) Visit the Lantern Festival in Thailand203) Go to the Palio Horse Race in Siena, Italy204) Visit Borobudur Temple on Buddha Day, Indonesia205) Go To The Cheese Market in Gouda, the Netherlands206) See the Weeki Wachee Mermaids, Florida207) Go to the Gay Pride Festival in San Francisco208) Attend a Film Premiere209) Go to a Native American Pow Wow210) Go to a Cirque du Soleil Show211) Go to a Drive-In Movie212) Go To Comicon, San Diego213) Experience Día de Muertos in Mexico214) Attend Songkran Festival in Thailand215) Experience Holi Festival in India216) Attend the Glastonbury Festival, England217) Get Muddy at the Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea218) Celebrate Chinese Year in China219) Go to Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta220) Attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival221) Attend a Masquerade Ball in Venice, Italy222) Visit the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Event, England223) Attend the Fiesta de Cascamorras Festival, Spain224) Go to the Up Helly Aa Fire Festival, Scotland225) Witness The Monkey Buffet Festival, Thailand https://youtu.be/FFwrS7UtACw Retirement Bucket List Ideas - How to Get Creative 226) Write a Book227) Learn a musical instrument228) Learn to Paint229) Make Pottery300) Take Dance Lessons301) Act in a Play302) Finish a Do It Yourself Project from Pinterest303) Make a Gift Basket304) Knit a Scarf305) Remodel your Old Clothes306) Make a Scrap Book307) Make Soap308) Make Mosaic Art309) Write a Song310) Create a Video311) Be a Street Performer and Earn Extra Cash312) Record a Song313) Create an Ice Sculpture314) Build a Tree House315) Build a Classic Car Retirement Bucket List Ideas - For Your Relationship 316) Renew Your Wedding Vows317) Organize a Suprise Party318) Build your Family Tree319) Babysit Your Grandchildren320) Answer a Personal Ad321) Organize a Romantic Date322) Find Your Childhood Friends Again323) Go on a Blind Date324) Go on a Double Date325) Help a Stranger326) Organize a Family Photo327) Create a Family Photo Album328) Reconnect with an Old Friend329) Make a Road Trip with your Best Friend330) Host a Game Night331) Become an Airbnb Host332) Throw a Themed Party334) Get a Drink With a Stranger335) Be a Mentor336) Get a Pet337) Be a Matchmaker338) Bake a Cake for Someone Special339) Go on a Romantic Getaway340)Have a Picnic with Friends and Family341) Start a New Tradition with Family Retirement Bucket List Ideas - Sports Ideas 342) Become a Sports Coach343) Run a Marathon344) Participate in a Race for Charity345) Do a Color Run346) Take part in a triathlon347) Take up a new sport348) Climb a Mountain349) Learn to Surf350) Go to a World Cup351) Visit the Olympics352) Sink a hole-in-one353) Watch an NFL Championship Game Live354) Catch a foul ball355) Attend the Fall Classic356) Go to a NASCAR race and bring earplugs357) Enjoy the halftime show at an HBCU game358) Attend Wimbledon359) Visit an NBA Game360) Attend the Soccer El Classico in Nou Camp, Barcelona361) Attend an Australian Football Game Retirement Bucket List Ideas - For Personal Development 362) Perform a Random Act of Kindness363) Learn a new language364) Learn a form of martial arts like karate or tai chi for the thrill and self-defense365) Practice Meditation (Every Day)366) Learn How to Forgive367) Learn to Let Go of the Past368) Set a Goal and Try to Achieve This Goal Every Day369) Visit the (birth)Places of Your Ancestors to Understand More About Your Roots370) Do volunteer work371) De-clutter Your Home To Create Space for New Things372) Get a Full Body Massage and Spa Treatment373) Go Back to School374) Get a PhD375) Start a Business376) Watch TEDTalks377) Set a Guinness Book of World Record378) Make a Difference in Someone's Life379) Pursue Your Passion380) Get a Complete Makeover390) Live in a Foreign Country for at Least 6 Months391) Go Back to Basics in Nature392) Eat a Healthier Diet393) Conquer Your Biggest Fear394) Start a Charity or Movement for a Cause You Believe in395) Learn Sign Language396) Help Someone in Need397) Learn About Other Religions398) Become More Confident399) Learn How to be Better with Conflicts400) Gain enlightenment https://youtu.be/d4S4twjeWTs Retirement Bucket List Ideas - To Get More Fun 401) Be Part Of or Organize a Flash Mob402) Dance in the Pouring Rain403) Through a Dart at a World Map and Fly to Wherever it Lands404) Stash Money or Something Precious in a Secret Place That You Will Easily Forget, But Will Discover it Later to Suprise Yourself405) Put $100 on Black/ Red in Roulette, Las Vegas406) Complete a 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle407) Bet on a Horse Race408) Start Your Own YouTube Channel409) Make a Snowman410) Milk a Cow411) Shave a Sheep412) Try to Crowd Surf at a Music Festival413) Do the Hula414) Get Hypnotized415) Fly on a Trapeze416) Learn a Line Dance417) Make a House of Cards418) Perform a Magic Trick419) Perform Your Favorite Song in a Karaoke Bar420) Learn how to Yodel421) Find a Treasure With a Metal Detector on the Beach422) Learn to Juggle423) Recreate a Childhood Picture424) Ride on one of the Largest Roller Coasters425) Go Skinny Dipping426) Share Your Most Embarrassing Moment427) Learn How to Survive on a Tropical Island428) Test Drive Your Favorite Car429) Make a Balloon Animal430) Hit bull’s-eye on a Dartboard Why You Should Create a Retirement Bucket List A bucket list is a list that people create with things they want to do in life before they "kick the bucket." Your bucket list contains items of places you want to see, experiences, and things you want to do before you die. Your list can either be a very small list with only ten things or a long list with all the things you've always wanted to do. That's all up to you.If it feels overwhelming? Stick with ten items and only replace an item once you checked it off. That's what we do as well. I can make an endless list of all the things I always wanted to do, but I get overwhelmed seeing this long list, and as a result, I don't know where to start and what to do. So, now we have only ten things on our bucket list that we feel very passionate about, and it makes it so much easier to focus on these ten items.By creating a bucket list, you create more focus, purpose, and direction in you're retired life. In retirement, it's important to have goals to strive for. Otherwise, you get bored, and you can feel depressed. And by going after exciting new experiences, you will feel more alive than ever. Getting out of your comfort zone gives you more confidence and helps you get a positive perspective on life.And since life is all about making memories. With a bucket list, it's all about making new memories you can cherish forever. And you'll have some good stores to tell your grandchildren too. Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Bucket List To start a bucket list it's best to write down everything you can think of. You can buy a notebook and handwrite your bucket list or make an Excel sheet on your computer. And to make things easy I created this step-by-step guide with 5 easy steps to help you out creating your retirement bucket list. Step #1 Creating a Bucket List - Write Everything Down Write everything down you always wanted to do. Go crazy and no dreams are impossible. When you're married or living together with your loved one it's important to both create a list separately at first. Later in this process, you can combine the lists. For inspiration just look at the 430 ideas we share in this article! Step #2 Creating a Bucket List - Sit On It and Let It Simmer This is probably the only time in this process you just let it be. When you wrote down all your ideas, dreams, and things you want to do for your bucket list, it's time just to let it be for a while. Let it rest for a few days or a week or so. You probably feel more relaxed and maybe some new ideas come to mind as well. You can easily add these to the list! Step #3 Creating a Bucket List: Time To Pare It Down / Create a Shortlist Remember that I mentioned that we only have ten ideas on our bucket list? It's because otherwise it just becomes too overwhelming. Each time we cross something of our bucket list, we're adding a new thing to it as well. So, yeah, we have kind of have a longer bucket list. Creating a shortlist helps you to actually start doing the things you added to that list. With paring it down it's important to know 3 things: What are your priorities in life? Be realistic, What are your ultimate dreams in life? This is also the step where you combine the two lists if you and your spouse both made an individual one. Make sure you equally divide the list. So if you're like us, and only add ten ideas to your bucket list. Make sure to add five ideas of you both. Or maybe four individual ones, and two ideas that you came up with together. It's all up to you! Step #4 Creating a Bucket List: Create the Actual List and Put on Your Fridge Now that your ultimate retirement bucket list is done, it is important that it doesn't end up in a drawer or something. Make sure you see the list daily, so you'll get excited to actually start doing the things on your bucket list! Buy this magnetic chalkboard and put it on your fridge. Of course, you write down the ten ideas that made it to the shortlist. This way, you'll see the bucket list every day when you're opening the fridge door. I'm sure you start doing these exciting things in no time! Buy Now on Amazon >> Step #5 Creating A Bucket List: Enjoy Your Adventures In Retirement. Your bucket list is done, so it's time to start with the 1 thing that gets you the most excited. With creating your bucket list, you have to consider your priorities. If you love to go traveling, make sure to add a couple of places you'll always dream about. And if you've missed out on experiences or lessons, you can add these things to your list as well. Also, include people you like to spend more time with on your bucket list at the same time. And make sure the items you add to your bucket list are realistic. It doesn't feel great if you can't do anything on your bucket list. So if you have health issues, it's best to consider these issues while creating your bucket list. But keep in mind that goals can be achieved, and a dream can come true if you work hard for it. So keep dreams on your bucket list and be realistic at the same time. Creating a bucket list is not a one-hour work. It takes time, so sit on it and take your time to really know what your heart desires. And after you let your retirement bucket list simmer for a while, it's time to pare it down. Trimming your bucket list down helps you focus on the things you really want. And by crossing things of you should consider your finances, physical capabilities, and current world conditions. After you refined your bucket list you can decide which one-time experiences and trips are most important to you and what you want to do first. If you focus on things that get you the most excited, you’ll be more likely to stay positive and enjoy completing your bucket list. Recommended Articles The 25 Best Retirement Road Trip Ideas The Most Comfortable Mattress For Retirement How To Celebrate Retirement At Home: 14 Tips Related Questions How can I earn money after retirement? You can earn money in retirement in many ways: become a mentor, a teacher, freelance consultant, become a driver, sell items on E-Bay, become an Airbnb host, rent your parking space, become an extra in movies or commercials, teaching English as a second language (abroad), sell arts and crafts on Etsy, become a coach, start a business, earn a passive income through blogging or videos on YouTube. Read more: The 50 Best Jobs For Retirees What NOT to do in retirement? In retirement, it's best NOT to downsize your house immediately, it's NOT good to have NO goals to strive after in retirement, DON'T blow your savings right away, DON'T Reduce your social circle, DON'T stay in the house all day: loneliness will creep in, DON'T fall into a routine of bad habits and DON'T think your life is over. Retirement is the beginning of a new chapter in your life, so don't be too hard on yourself. Be impatient and give yourself time to adjust to this new status. Read more: What Should You NOT Do In Retirement? 11 DONT's