My Bucket List: 18 Things I Would Like To Do Before I Die

Sun, warmth, breathtaking scenery, volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls, excellent hiking, surfing... A plethora of fun outdoor activities! I have a feeling if I ever make it to Hawaii, I'll never want to leave. I'd love to be where it's always warm and sunny, and just about everything you need is within walking distance.





View Above the Na...

Christopher ...

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This is not only a very interesting and historic location; getting there provides a physical challenge. It takes a few days to hike to the ruins from the nearest town. But before you can even begin the hike, you have to wait a few days while you acclimate to the high altitude.

This is the one item on this list that I will be least likely to accomplish, for a number of reasons. First, it's the costliest. Also, it involves a lot of preparation - passport, travel plans, accomodations, etc. I haven't done any serious research yet, because I'm nowhere near having the funds for such a trip.





Rainbow over...

Emily Riddell

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Or manatees. Or Beluga whales. Having a chance to interact with any of these intelligent, playful, beautiful beings would be fun and fulfilling on a spiritual level. Florida and California (manatees are only found as far west as Texas though) are popular for this type of activity within the United States. Mexico is another North American option.





Atlantic Spotted...

David B....

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Having taken a semester of French in the seventh grade, I planned to continue with it to meet my language credits for college. However, there weren't many French classes available. Spanish was the prevalent language course, and I was living in south Florida, so I went with it. Completing two semesters of Spanish left me nowhere near fluent in it, so I'm now learning on my own with Learn In Your Car Spanish. I'm enjoying it, and I'm already thinking of starting another language after this - perhaps German or Mandarin Chinese.

These compact discs are a great way to learn while you are doing mundane househould chores (folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, dusting, etc.). There are three levels (beginning, intermediate, and advanced), and each level includes three discs of lessons for your chosen language plus a bonus disc with tips on learning a foreign language. You can purchase each level separately, or you can purchase the complete version which contains all three levels. They are very expensive, so I suggest purchasing them used on e-bay or Amazon. They may also be available at your local library.

I haven't yet decided which one. Possible choices include capoeira, Krav Maga, and kung fu. Because the latter two are more popular, it should be relatively easy to find a reputable local studio in which to learn.

I'll look into this when I'm ready to start something new. Currently, I'm learning Spanish and furthering my yoga practice.





Shaolin...

Kober Christian

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Ideally, it'd be nice to be able to work from virtually anywhere. I'd be my own boss, make my own schedule, and all I'd need is my laptop (maybe even an i-pad); no vehicle required. Currently, I'm exploring different options for turning this dream into reality.





Career Success



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I think travelling by railway is underrated. Apparently, this is one of America's most scenic train routes. Judging from the photographs I've seen, I believe it. The route travels the Pacific coast from Seattle to Los Angeles.





The Coast...

Phil ...

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The hiking trails along America's Pacific Coast are beautiful. Hiking the Lost Coast Trail would be a nice compliment to my Coastal Starlight train trip. I could take a one-way train ride down and then hike back up Northern California's Coast. Or vice versa. I'd have to continue hiking or catch another train at some point, but that's not a concern. The Lost Coast Trail is located in the King Range National Conservation Area; it's part of the National Landscape Conservation System. Whales, otters, seabirds, bobcats, and bears are just some of the wildlife you may see while hiking this scenic trail.





View from del...

Rich Reid

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I've done a tandem jump, but I'd love to do it again without being attached to someone else. It was exhilirating, but it was more of a peaceful experience than an adrenaline rush.





Skydiver with...



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I'm terrified of spiders, so this would be what mental health professionals refer to as flooding. If briefly holding a big, hairy spider would prevent me from freaking out every time I see a normal, smaller one in the house, that's a step in the right direction.

Maybe it's all those legs or the fact that they like to drop down from the ceiling (seemingly for the sole purpose of scaring the snot out of people like me), but they really give me the creeps.





Peruvian Pinktoe...

Mark Moffett

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I'm thinking Costa Rica or Hawaii, but if the only chance I get is more local, that would be fine. This is another one I haven't researched much, because I'm nowhere near being ready to go. Even though my bucket list is in random order, this particular item ranks high for me.





600 Metre Zip...

R H Productions

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Several years ago, I was watching a show on the Travel Channel which featured the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. The people who were climbing appeared to be enjoying it, the view was amazing, and I thought to myself, "I have GOT to do that!"





People on Sydney...

Holger Leue

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Okay, so I played the flute in sixth grade band, but that's not exactly what I had in mind. I'm thinking either guitar or piano. The guitar offers a bit of mobility - you don't have to park your butt in a chair. Plus it stores easier than a piano.

On the other hand, I taught myself a couple of tunes by ear on the piano when I was little, and I really enjoyed playing. Of course, a keyboard is always a more space saving option.

I haven't completely ruled out the drums either though.





Time to Play

Janet Blumenthal

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I'm picturing caves that are more or less roomy; the ones you can stand upright in and walk through with relative ease. Nothing like the movie The Descent, where the women were squeezing through tight, claustrophobic tunnels.

UPDATE 12/26/2011

I can cross this one off my list. Sort of. I was in Lake Shasta Caverns in California. It's a guided tour that starts with a short ferry ride which takes you across Lake Shasta. Then, you take a short bus ride up a steep, narrow path. (We didn't see any wildlife, although our guide advised us to keep a lookout). Next, is a walk through the caverns, with breaks every so often for the guide to point out and explain cool stuff. It was beautiful, fascinating, and educational. Here is one of the photos we took inside the cave.

To explain my 'sort of' comment, I picked up some caving brochures on this road trip and saw some places where you can rappel and crawl through tight places, and it actually looked like it would be too much fun to pass up. Time didn't allow for such an excursion on this particular road trip, but I do plan on doing that at some point in the future, and I will be sure and update this.

I could always go with ballroom or swing dance, but belly dance is my first choice. It won't come in useful at weddings or gatherings, but it's very sensual, it doesn't require a partner, and it can be learned by those of us who lack coordination.

I've seen belly dance offered at community centers, and there are plenty of DVD tutorials available.

Currently, learning Spanish is the one thing on this list I'm actively working on, but belly dance could easily be next.





Belly Dancer



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I've wanted to do this ever since I saw The Shining. (Just not with a crazy axe murderer chasing me). Finding your way through a maze on paper is kind of dull, but the idea of walking through a giant outdoor labrynth is exciting.





Aerial of Corn...

Jim Wark

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It doesn't necessarily have to be indoors, but it can't be one of those kiddie rock walls that you see at fairs and outdoor parties. It's got to be a real challenge, but I don't want to try climbing natural rock formations without first trying the safer alternative. Either that will satisfy my curiosity, or I'll want a bigger challenge.





A Climber Ascends...

Ben Horton

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