Summer Bucket List: 10 Bold Things to Do After 50

Nothing brings people together quite like talking about a great summer bucket list. Whether you’re hanging out with close friends, chatting with someone new, or even making small talk at a networking event, asking, “What’s on yours?” is sure to spark laughs, stories, and inspiration. It’s playful, personal, and perfectly timed for the season.

You never know what bold dream or unexpected plan might pop up in conversation.

Why Do I need A Bold Summer Bucket List After 50?

Creating a summer bucket list  gives you a chance to reflect on what you truly want to experience this season. Instead of letting summer drift by, it helps turn your ideas into real action. It’s a simple way to live with more intention and purpose.

Bucket list ideas may change throughout life. “You’re never too old or never too young to start a bucket list – says Shilagh Mirgain, Phd, Health and Sport Psychologist, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health – It’s something to create and something that evolves as you go along. We are creatures of habit, and we tend to go through our days on auto-pilot. Think of a list as a northern star that we can steer by.”

To plan a truly memorable summer bucket list, start by asking yourself: Am I willing to take some calculated risks this season? If your answer is yes, you’re already on the right track. Risk pushes you, excites you, and—more often than not—leaves you feeling more confident than you ever expected. It’s about seeing what’s possible when you do something that scares you a little, when you say yes before you’re fully ready, when you trust that growth lives just beyond the edge of your safe space.

Then ask: Am I going to have to be brave? Hopefully, yes. Why not go for something that scares you just a bit? Bravery—even if it ends in failure—stretches you. It makes your world feel bigger, your life feel richer. Remember the words of writer Anaïs Nin: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

This is your season to try something new and plan bold things to do. My neighbor who “ran with the bulls” in Spain last summer has plenty of content for conversations. You can, too.

Here’s my top list of bold summer bucket ideas—pick your favorites and give them a try.

10 Bold Summer Bucket List Ideas to Inspire Your Best Season Yet

Creating a list of things to do in summer helps keep life exciting, breaks routines, and builds unforgettable memories. It’s not about checking boxes. It’s about making the most of your time and living fully.

Write your list out or get creative—make a vision board, sketch it out, or pin up photos. Every time you see it, you’ll remember that your dreams matter, no matter how small or wild they may be.

1. Water Adventure

When was the last time you had a water adventure? Think back—what moments from your past might inspire you to dive back in? Maybe you have fond memories of sailing with your dad, feeling the breeze on the open water. Or perhaps you’ve often watched kayaks drift peacefully under a local bridge, wishing you could try it for yourself but never quite had the chance.

If you’ve been working out and know your core is strong, why not challenge yourself with paddle boarding? It’s a fantastic way to combine fitness with fun on the water.

Want to take it up a notch? Hire a photographer for a beach photo shoot. Imagine capturing those carefree moments, laughter, and stunning sunsets to remember long after the water adventure ends.

So, what’s holding you back? Maybe this summer is the perfect time to make a splash and create new memories, even better when you invite friends to join in. Sharing the experience makes it more memorable—and way more fun.

2. Create Art

Always wanted to try your hand at pottery or painting? Summer can be ideal for carving out time for creativity. It will be more satisfying if you find an expert to teach you. Watercolor artist Ivy Paperie teaches watercolor classes in the Napa Valley of California. In only one afternoon class she has seen powerful results in her students.

Ivy describes the experience as, “Slowing down, firing new neuron pathways, creativity, creating something new, not allowing our stress brain to operate, and hopefully connecting with others in a lovely and meaningful way. And creating a one-of-a-kind piece of art! People are surprised how calming it is, and how time literally dissolves.”

Let this bucket list item become a source for a new hobby, self-care and beautiful gifts to share. It’s as easy as searching for “Watercolor classes near me.”

3. Travel On Foot

Time to march to the beat of a different drum? Look no further than a good pair of shoes and a path laid out ahead of you. If your travels have usually taken you to crowded cities requiring planes, trains, and automobiles, look for opportunities to simply walk. Set a miles goal for the summer in your own neighborhood or nearby forest.

If a further destination is possible and you want to feed your spirit and your sense of adventure, consider walking one of the soul filling paths and pilgrimages located around the world. One of the most popular is the Camino de Santiago that extends through Spain and France for 800 kilometers/500 miles.

David and Pat Meyer from South Dakota have been working on their Camino de Santiago bucket list in multiple trips. David shared, “I walked the Camino de Santiago because of the challenge and an adventure to test myself and experience new and remote places. Also as a tribute to my father who loved to travel and see new places. When I finished at the Cathedral de Santiago, it was a spiritual experience and a lesson in patience and reflection. The world would be a better place if we could walk and talk with each other. Buen Camino!”

4. Music Muse

Have you ever noticed how large stadium concert experiences are a common core memory? They are full-on sensory adventures and the kind of energizing bucket list item that delivers memories and stories for decades. This summer see if some of your favorites are touring. Sting, Bruce Springsteen, and Guns & Roses are all on tour. Discover something old, something new, or something blues and grab a ticket.

Maybe you want to make your own music. Dust off that high school musical instrument and find a local community band to join. Your flute or trumpet or drum sticks will be a welcome addition to a musical group that plays for local care homes and in city parks. Simply search for “community bands near me” or New Horizons Music .

Your bucket list might be even bolder— starting your own band, in your garage perhaps, or playing on your porch. Go for it! Summer is a good time to gather some friends for a jam session. Because yes—bold things to do after 50 can include rocking out. Who knows what gigs might be in your future?

5. Teach Something

Is this the summer you spend a weekend with your nieces and nephews teaching them your traditional family recipes? Maybe collaborate on a family cookbook? I recall being taught by my mother-in-law her cherished homemade bun recipe. We recorded her step-by-step instructions which went way beyond her written recipe. How would we have known how much extra flour she used when kneading?

Or maybe this is the year you finally pass down a hands-on skill—like gardening, woodworking, or quilting. Imagine showing your grandchild how to plant tomatoes, or teaching a younger cousin to sew their first pillow. These moments aren’t just about the skill; they’re about connection, memory-making, and passing along the stories that live inside the work of our hands.

Teaching something you love can be one of the most fulfilling bold things to do after 50—a gift for both the learner and the teacher.

6. Volunteer

 Have you been wanting to give back but your schedule hasn’t allowed it? Combine your love of travel and desire to serve with a mission trip. Check with a local church or professional organization for opportunities.

Maybe this is a time to explore a passion that you want to embrace during your future retirement years (if you retire!) An organization like Samaritan’s Feet provides week long service and touring trip opportunities around the globe to reach their mission of no shoeless children in the world. Travel with a friend or take this as a chance to go solo!

Your volunteer dreams may be answered closer to home. Always wanted to be a teacher but landed in the corporate world instead? How about putting yourself out there as a summer tutor? Check with your local school or library. You’ll be living into Gandhi’s words: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

7. Build Something

Wishing you had a room of your own? A sanctuary just for you? A she-shed could be the perfect answer. Build your own or purchase a basic version and make it your own. The sooner you build it the sooner you will be decorating it with your own playful panache. Picture yourself curling up with a cup of tea, your favorite book, or crafting to your heart’s delight!

This could also be a collaborative project with friends who are neighbors and neighbors who are friends—your own personal clubhouse that will extend way beyond this summer. A perfect place to hatch future bucket lists!

8. Adventure Of The Heart

Hidden in the back of your heart is the name of an old friend whom you haven’t spoken to in years. The friend may be a former buddy or a lost love. If you’re feeling the tug to reconnect add him or her to your bucket list.

Talk about a risk? Yes. Bold? Probably. Requires courage? Absolutely. This is the stuff of love songs and you’re not alone in this pursuit. Let me give you a free advice: Go in with eyes wide open knowing that satisfying your curiosity is valid. Be honest about your feelings and intentions. Forgiveness by you or your friend or lover may be the most powerful tool in this endeavor.

9. Go To A Summer Camp

Summer camp isn’t just for kids. There are hundreds of options for adults from ballroom dance camps to zoo camps to everything in between. Always wanted to be a pastry chef? Check out these 2-5 day camps at the Culinary Institute in Napa Valley, California. Looking for digital detox? The aptly named Camp Grounded will help you reach beyond your phone and find a life of breadth and depth.

Kristin, a 53 year old school counselor from Texas, can’t wait to return to Camp Indie where she is learning skills to be a digital nomad. Lessons include flying drones, podcasting, leading travel groups, and facilitating retreats.

Kristin is all in, saying, “I’ve made lifelong friends—people who inspire me deeply by not just dreaming of a location-independent life, but actually living it. I’ve watched as friends muster the courage it takes to quit their day job and choose freedom, and it’s incredibly motivating to be surrounded by that kind of energy. It inspired me to get out and see more of the world. If they’re doing it, why can’t I?”

10. Start A Travel Collection

If travel is your passion, this is one of the best things to do in summer—and it keeps giving year after year. Visiting ballparks across the United States is a common summer pastime for those who want to do a deep dive into their favorite sport.

Tennis fan? Start by collecting a visit to all the major tournaments. This year it may be Wimbledon, next summer might be the French Open.

Maybe you’re ready to begin your National Park collection. The U.S. is home to 63 stunning National Parks, while Great Britain boasts 15, and Croatia offers 8 beautiful parks of its own. Whether you’re hiking trails or just soaking in the views, start collecting park patches or pins—and wear them proudly as badges of adventure.

Share Your Summer Bucket List—And Stick With It

So there’s 10 starting points for your bucket list dialogue. Choose what speaks to your heart and your pocketbook. An important step in the process is telling people your bucket list and inviting them to keep you accountable. Friends and family can be great cheerleaders—especially grandchildren who are just so impressed with Nana’s energy!

Suggest that they send a text every few weeks this summer with a simple question, “How’s the bucket list going?” Be open with them, sharing your joys and your challenges. And give yourself grace if you fall short, no matter what happens you will learn, you will be changed for good, and you will inspire others.

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