View of the Trevi Fountain from the street level at the top of the stairs with turquoise waters in Rome Italy
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My Ultimate Bucket List for Travel: 200+ Experiences

ByAlanna Paez

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I’ve always said that I’m not really a bucket list type person. I like to be open to whatever travel experiences come my way. You might not even know what your new favorite is! Plus, to me bucket lists have an air of finality about them…maybe it’s because of that movie The Bucket List.

Regardless, I’ve always had a mental bucket list full of places I want to go, foods I want to eat, and experiences to have when traveling. I’ve held off on writing it all down because I just knew it would be so dang long and always growing. Anyway, here we are! I’ll be crossing things off this list as I do them and linking to any blog posts where I share my experiences. If you want to use this to get some ideas of unforgettable travel experiences, feel free to Pin it for later! Let’s get into my ultimate bucket list for travel.

Click here to read my ultimate bucket list for travel with over 200+ ideas of foods to try, places to visit, things to see, mountains to hike, and more! This list is a combination of travel experiences that I've already done and can share about and things to do that I still haven't done. It has travel ideas for around the world with destinations in the US, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Oceania, and Antarctica!
Contents hide
1 United States
2 Other North America
3 South America
4 Europe
5 Asia
6 Middle East
7 Africa
8 Oceania
9 Antarctica
10 General Travel
11 Like this post? Check out these other epic adventures:
12 My Travel Essentials

United States

  1. See fall foliage in New England
  2. Witness the first sunrise in the US at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in Maine
  3. Go to a Red Sox game in Fenway, the oldest baseball park in the US
View of Fenway Baseball Park news boxes from the same level with red seats below the green stadium
Fenway is the oldest US baseball park, which opened in 1912!
  1. Visit NYC during Christmas
  2. Go inside the Vessel in NYC
  3. Eat at Katz’s Deli in NYC
  4. Have a drink at Sardi’s in NYC
  5. See a show on Broadway
Man and a woman in a selfie holding an Anastasia Playbill on Broadway in New York City at night
Does it even count if you don’t snag a Playbill?
  1. Visit the Museum of Science and Technology in Chicago
  2. Watch the Chicago River turn green for St. Patrick’s Day
  3. Explore the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC
  4. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in fall (Virginia and North Carolina)
  5. Tour Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, the largest mansion in the US
woman sitting on a rock with vibrant fall foliage in the background
One of the MANY scenic stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway
historic Biltmore estate mansion in Asheville North Carolina
View of the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home

  1. Visit Charleston, South Carolina
  2. Walk and drive Wormsloe Historic Site in Savannah, Georgia
  3. Take a ghost tour of Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia
  4. Photograph Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, Georgia
  5. Attend Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia
  6. Explore Atlanta
Jekyll Island is beautiful at sunrise.
Woman in Wormsloe Historic Site with arched trees behind her
Did a quick photoshoot at Wormsloe State Historic Site in Savannah, Georgia
Helen Georgia
Helen, Georgia is a fun weekend getaway destination we visited during the school year!

  1. Go kayaking in bioluminescent water in Florida
  2. Visit Walt Disney World with my family
  3. Experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando
  4. Travel to Miami
  5. Go snorkeling at Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks
  1. Visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras
  2. Visit a Space Center (Houston and/or Florida)
  3. Road trip the Utah National Parks

Family Vacation Walt Disney World, how to plan a vacation to disney world, animal kingdom
My family at Animal Kingdom (where Pandora is) in Walt Disney World.
woman looking away from the camera at a pink, green, and orange Miami Beach lifeguard tower at the beach in Florida
The colorful lifeguard towers in South Beach are so cute!
endeavor shuttle, independence plaza, things to do in Houston Johnson Space Center NASA
Geeking out with my mom at the Houston Space Center!
Bryce Canyon in Utah is a great place to add to your Ultimate Bucket list for travel experiences
So fun to visit Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah with my brother
  1. Hike the red rocks in Sedona, Arizona
  2. Stargaze in the first ever dark sky city (Flagstaff, Arizona)
  3. See the Wave in Page, Arizona
  4. Visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in Arizona
  5. Explore Los Angeles (my hometown) to the fullest (see my rediscovery trip to LA here)
horseshoe bend
The epic view of Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona in July.
antelope canyon formation
View from below in Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona
  1. Take a California Pacific Coast Highway road trip
  2. Tour the Winchester Mystery House
  3. Witness the frazil ice in Yosemite National Park
  4. Be a tourist in San Francisco

  1. Celebrate my 21st birthday in Las Vegas (or go big at one of these international 21st birthday destinations)
  2. Marvel at Fly Ranch Geyser in Nevada
  3. Road trip the Pacific Northwest, specifically Oregon
  4. Eat well at Pike Place Market in Seattle
  5. Visit Glacier National Park
  1. Drive Hana Highway in Maui, Hawaii
  2. Scuba diving in Hawaii
  3. Take an Alaskan cruise
  4. Go dog sledding in Alaska
Hana Highway
Stopped for family photo on Hana Highway, Hawaii

>> Related Read: 45+ Things to Do on the West Coast

Other North America

  1. Experience Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico
  2. Take a chocolate tour in Costa Rica
  3. Scuba dive in the Caribbean
  4. Take an all-inclusive trip to Martinique
  5. Visit the Canadian Rockies
  6. Try poutine in Canada

South America

  1. See the Bolivian Salt Flats
  2. Take a small Amazon cruise
  3. See the world’s highest waterfall called Angel Falls in Venezuela
  4. Visit the Galapagos Islands
  5. See Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil
  1. Hike the Inca Trail in Peru to see Machu Picchu
  2. Rainbow Mountain, Peru
  3. Photograph Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia
  4. See Easter Island statues
  5. Hike part of Patagonia

Europe

  1. Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland
  2. Drive Ring Road in Iceland
  3. Camp in a campervan in Iceland
  4. Scuba dive between tectonic plates in Iceland
  5. Marvel at architecture in Spain
  6. See the colorful coast in Portugal
  7. Changing of the guards in London
  8. Visit the British Museum
  9. Live out my wizard dreams at Harry Potter Studio Tour in London
  1. Go on a pub crawl in Dublin
  2. Walk along the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
large panel of sculpture from the Greek and Roman Parthenon
One of the many Parthenon sculptures at the British Museum in London.
cliffs of moher, ireland, things to do in ireland, dublin to cliffs of moher, ireland road trip
Exploring around Ireland before the conference started, we took a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher.
  1. Visit Edinburgh, Scotland
  2. Travel over the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland (again to live out my Hogwarts Express wizard dreams)
  3. Visit Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
  4. Visit Mont St. Michel in France
  5. Beaches of Normandy, France
  6. Explore the French coast
  7. Go up the Eiffel Tower in Paris
  8. Tour the Catacombs in Paris
  9. Explore the Louvre in Paris

Related read >> Paris itinerary for 4 days

  1. Take a food tour in France
  2. Return to a French language institute to master French
  3. Ride a gondola in Venice, Italy
  4. See the Duomo at sunrise in Florence, Italy
  5. Go inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
  6. Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy
  7. Tour the Vatican
  8. Tour Pompeii, Italy
View of Paris streets from the Tour Eiffel on a cloudy day
Of course, we visited the Eiffel Tower on a very cloudy day.
View of the Trevi Fountain from the street level at the top of the stairs with turquoise waters in Rome Italy
Loved seeing this in person as a kid who grew up with the Lizzie McGuire movie!
  1. Take a cooking class in Italy
  2. Visit an olive oil press in Tuscany, Italy
  3. Swim in the Saturnia Hot Springs in Tuscany, Italy
  4. Visit the Dolomites in Italy
  5. Literally just go to Monaco
  1. Visit the “top of Europe” at Jungfraujoch in Switzerland
  2. Go to the top of Mount Pilatus
  3. Visit the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland
  4. Eat Swiss chocolate
  5. Go paragliding in Switzerland
Zermatt Switzerland
One of our family vacations to the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland
Young girl getting ready for paragliding in Switzerland in a yellow jacket and helmet
Pre-paragliding smiles! Unfortunately, my official photos got lost.
  1. Visit a palace in Austria…I’m not picky, Schonbrunn, Belvedere, or the Hofburg will do.
  2. See an opera in Vienna, Austria
  3. Trek through Eisriesenwelt ice cave in Austria
  4. Visit Admont Abbey Library in Austria
  5. See the real-life Disney castle Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany
  6. Tour a concentration camp in memoriam
  1. Go to the Christmas Markets in Europe
  2. Trace my family roots in Europe
  3. Take a Baltic cruise in northern Europe
  4. Visit the Lofoten Islands in Norway in winter to see the Northern Lights
  5. Explore Amsterdam
Ice formation inside an ice cave in Austria
Eisresenwelt has a ton of impressive ice formations!
German fairytale Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, Germany

Asia

  1. See the Japanese cherry blossoms
  2. Ride the bullet train (Shinkansen) in Japan
  3. Visit the Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, Japan
  4. Eat at the Robot Restaurant in Japan
  5. Attend a tea ceremony in Japan
  6. Hike Mount Fuji
  7. Take a stroll through a bamboo forest in Japan
teen girl standing in front of the bullet train on her right in Japan
All aboard the bullet train in Japan!
Japanese tea cup filled with green matcha tea
A tea ceremony in Japan was one of the most interesting cultural experiences!
girl leaning on a large volcanic boulder in Mount Fuji Japan
Super casual pose at Mount Fuji.
  1. Walk on the Great Wall of China
  2. See the Terracotta Army in China
  3. Tour the Forbidden City in China
  4. Visit Potola Palace in China
  5. See Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China
  6. See Longmen Grottoes and/or Yungang Grottoes in China
  7. Visit Lijiang, China, an old and historic city
  8. See Detian Falls in Vietnam
  9. Go scuba diving in Thailand
  10. Tour the White Temple in Thailand
  11. Visit the floating markets in Thailand
  12. Ethically spend time with elephants in Thailand
  1. Visit Angor Wat and other temples in Cambodia
  2. Hang out in the Red Square in Russia
  3. Visit the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia
  4. See Winter and Catherine Palaces in Russia
  5. Eat chocolate while hiking the Chocolate Hills in the Philippines
  6. Visit Puerto Princessa Subterranean River National Park in the Philippines
  7. Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and not have anything stolen by monkeys in Ubud, Indonesia
  8. Take a boat to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Indonesia
  9. Stay in an eco-friendly treehouse at one of the many rice terraces in Indonesia
  10. Go on a stereotypical swing in Bali, Indonesia
  11. Scuba dive at Manta Point in Indonesia
  12. Hike to the epic Kanto Lampo Waterfall in Indonesia
  1. Visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, India
  2. See Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India
  3. See one of the majestic forts in India
  4. Stay in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives
  5. Snorkel or scuba dive in the Maldives
  6. See sting rays in the Maldives

Middle East

  1. Visit the Pink Mosque in Shiraz, Iran
  2. Visit the Golestan Museum in Tehran, Iran
  3. Tour the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Esfahan, Iran
  4. See Jame’a Mosque of Isfahan in Iran
  5. See Narikala Fortress in Georgia
  6. See the ancient cave city of Vardzia in Georgia
  7. See Gergeti Trinity Church in Oni, Georgia
  1. Visit the Egypt Museum in Cairo, Egypt
  2. Cruise the Nile River
  3. See the Great Pyramids of Giza
  4. Stroll the Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo, Egypt
  5. Explore the Abu Simbel Temples at the southern end of Egypt
  6. Wander the Luxor Temple in Egypt
  7. Visit the Temple of Hatshepsut
  8. Tour the White Desert in Egypt
  9. Visit the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens in Egypt
a brother and sister smiling in front of the Pyramids in Cairo Egypt
This photo was taken as a size reference for the boulders that make up the Great Pyramids! They’re huge!
  1. Float in the Dead Sea
  2. Visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, Israel
  3. Observe prayer at Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel
  4. Try shakshouka
camels in israel
Riding camels while in Israel
Things to do in Jerusalem
It’s tradition to place a prayer or note in the Western Wall.
  1. Visit Petra in Jordan
  2. Spend a night or two in the Wadi Rum desert
  3. Tour Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey
  4. Visit the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
  5. Stroll the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey
  6. Visit Cappadocia and ride a hot air balloon
  7. Bathe in the salt pools at Pamukkale in Turkey

Africa

  1. Stay in a riad in Morocco
  2. Visit the blue city of Chefchaouen, Morocco
  3. Visit Fes, Morocco for a less touristy experience
  4. Take a Sahara Desert tour
  5. Visit a tannery in Morocco
  6. See the tree-climbing goats in Morocco
  1. Visit Amboseli National Park in Kenya
  2. Go on safari
  3. Stay in Giraffe Manor for a night in Kenya
  4. See the Baobab trees in Africa
  5. Visit Sarengeti National Park in Tanzania
  6. Watch the penguins in South Africa
  7. Visit the Pink Lake in Senegal
  8. Trek with gorillas in Uganda

Oceania

  1. Visit Hobbiton in New Zealand
  2. See the glowworm caves in New Zealand
  3. Trek part of Milford Sound in New Zealand
  4. Visit Fjordland National Park in New Zealand
couple posing in a hobbit hole in New Zealand, lush green surrounding
This is the one Hobbit hole you can go inside for a photo op!
glowworms in a cave illuminated with a flashlight
Glowworms inside Waitomo Glowworm Cave — a must-do on your New Zealand North Island itinerary!
  1. Go scuba diving or snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia
  2. Explore Sydney, Australia
  3. Visit Litchfield National Park in Australia
  4. See The Pinnacles Desert in Australia
  5. Watch a penguin parade in Australia
ultimate travel experiences include snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef from a boat (shown here) in Australia
Post-snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef!
sydney harbor australia
Admiring the Sydney Opera House while cruising in Sydney Harbor.

Antarctica

  1. Take a cruise in Antarctica

General Travel

  1. Take a solo trip abroad
  2. Take a hot air balloon ride
  3. See and photograph the Northern Lights
  4. Ride a camel in the desert
  5. Go on a group trip
  6. Visit Asia with my family
Camel ride in Egypt
This was my first camel ride ever and it was in Egypt
  1. Stay in an ice cave
  2. Have a meal underwater
  3. Have dinner in a cave
  4. Go spelunking
a mom and daughter descending a cave wall in spelunking gear like helmets and jumpsuits
Just hanging out in Moaning Cavern in California.

Like this post? Check out these other epic adventures:

girl hang gliding with an instructor in the green mountains of Georgia USA
Hang-gliding in the north Georgia mountains, outside of Chattanooga, TN

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In this travel guide, there are over 200 travel experiences to add to your ultimate bucket list including things to do in North America, things to do in South America, things to do in Europe, the best travel experiences in Asia, what to do in the Middle East, things to do in Australia and New Zealand, and even Antarctica!
Click here for the ultimate travel bucket list with the best destinations to visit when traveling around the world, things to do in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and more! Plus this guide has information on the experiences that I have done so I can give you my travel tips!
Click here for 200+ epic bucket list experiences to have around the world. If you're a new traveler or just looking for some epic travel ideas and unforgettable travel destinations, this travel guide is for you!
Click here to read my ultimate bucket list for travel with over 200+ ideas of foods to try, places to visit, things to see, mountains to hike, and more! This list is a combination of travel experiences that I've already done and can share about and things to do that I still haven't done. It has travel ideas for around the world with destinations in the US, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Oceania, and Antarctica!

My Travel Essentials

  • Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
  • Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
  • Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
  • Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
  • Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
  • Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
  • Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

Sharing is caring!

Former PhD chemist and now hyper-planner of Periodic Adventures. I share detailed travel itineraries and guides that you can use to plan your trips complete with practical tips, estimated costs, navigation info, and everything else you need to spend more time traveling, and less time worrying.

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9 Comments

  1. Just added Iceland to my bucket list after reading about the stunning landscapes and Northern Lights experience. Your post has given me so much inspiration to start planning my next adventure!

    Reply

    1. I’m so glad to hear that! My list is always growing and changing, too.

      Reply
  2. SSYOUTUBE.su says:

    What an inspiring list! It’s amazing how you’ve captured such diverse experiences. I’m especially intrigued by the ones I haven’t thought of before. Thanks for sharing your dreams and sparking my wanderlust!

    Reply
  3. A1 lottery says:

    Wow, this is such an inspiring list! I love how diverse the experiences are – from relaxing beach getaways to adventurous hikes. I’m definitely adding a few of these to my own bucket list. Thanks for sharing your amazing travel dreams!

    Reply

  4. What an inspiring list! I love how diverse your experiences are, from adventurous treks to cultural immersions. It’s given me so many ideas for my own travel plans! Can’t wait to start checking off my bucket list!

    Reply

  5. Wow, this bucket list is incredible! I love how diverse the experiences are, from adventurous hikes to cultural immersions. It’s definitely inspired me to plan my next trip! Can’t wait to check off some of these experiences!

    Reply

  7. Two hundred items seems like a nightmare to keep track of, but I guess it beats having no plan at all. Katz’s Deli is definitely the only thing on this list I actually care about doing.

    Reply

  8. This is a useful resource for anyone looking for GTA 6 cheat codes. I’ll definitely check it again when the game launches and the codes can actually be verified.

    Reply

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