101 Super Bucket List Ideas – Goals that Fuel Your Passion and Interests

What are you passionate about? Do you have any hobbies or overarching travel bucket list ideas that are not a “one and done” item? Places or experiences that belong to a category of things?

Some people wish to see all 50 United States or 63 National Parks. Perhaps you want to see every major wine region in the world. Each of these are what I call “super bucket list goals”.

I have a few of these types of goals.

I’d like to see 100 countries. There are 197 countries that the United Nations recognize. Why 100? 100 is an arbitrary number. It’s true. I’ve been to 45 so far, and I feel like I need a stretch goal, so 100 is it.

Another goal that I have is to see all seven continents. I have been to 6 so far, but I am still missing Antarctica. I’ve set a deadline to do that by the time I am 50 because (1) I need time to save for such an expensive goal, and (2) I want to do it when I should still be physically and mentally able to do it.

Maybe you have some things like this on your list. Maybe you have never thought about it before.

Read on for a list of ideas for Super Bucket List Goals.

Travel Bucket List Ideas / Goals by Geography

• Visit 50 United States
• Visiting X number of countries (to be defined by you)
• Visit every Continent
• Visit all 10 Canadian Provinces
• See the 32 Mexican States
• Visiting all 7 continents
• Visiting all 63 National Parks in the contiguous U.S.
• Visit a certain number of UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Visit all Francophone countries
• Visit all Spanish-speaking countries
• Set foot on all landforms/countries where the equator crosses
• Sister Islands: Tahiti (mother), Hawaii, Phillipines, New Zealand
• Spend time in each country along the Silk Road

Bucket List Adventure Ideas

• Climb the highest peak on each continent
• Complete 10 animal safaris across the globe
• Hike the world’s top hikes
• Travel from North America to South America overland
• See the new Wonders of the World
• Visit the 58 14ers in Colorado
• Highest Peak in Every State
• Do 5 Things that Really Scare You (e.g., Bungee jump, Skydive, learn to scuba, kite sail, etc)

Major Religion Travel Bucket List Ideas

• Tour the main countries and cities associated with the world’s largest religions: (Jerusalem, Vatican City, Mecca, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya
• Follow the paths of the apostles
• Follow in the footsteps of the Saints
• Visit important places in the Bible
• Visit the most impressive temples across the world (e.g., Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, Forbidden Palace, etc.)

Literature, Art, Music and Culture Bucket List Places

• Visit the World’s Top Landmarks (e.g., Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Angor Wat, Christ the Redeemer, etc.)
• Most Unusual / Kitschy place in each State (e.g., Corn Palace, Largest Ball of Twine)
• Visit all Carnegie Libraries
• Visit all Walt Disney Parks Across the World
• See 10 Major Events in Different Countries (e.g., St. Patrick’s Day in U.S., Diwali in India, Carnival in Brazil, etc.)
• All the Major Travels of Mark Twain
• All the Major Travels of Ernest Hemingway
• Visit the world’s Top art museums
• Visit the Birthplaces of All Major Forms of U.S. Music (Tupelo, Michigan, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans)
• Visit the top Ivy League universities across the country
• See the world’s major opera houses
• Biggest Film Studios in the World (Bollywood, Hollywood, China, etc.)
• Try all major forms of massage in their home country
• See your top 5 favorite artists or bands in their hometown
• See a concert at the world’s largest and/or best concert venues

Gastronomy

• Eat at the top Michelin-starred restaurants
• Visit All Major Wine Regions
• Try olive oil in all of the world’s leading olive oil producing areas
• Go on a worldwide coffee tour
• Learn about chocolate from the world’s leading producers
• Learn to cook your favorite cuisine by taking classes in different regions of the country
• Learn to cook the Mediterranean diet by taking classes in various countries around the Mediterranean
• Visit the Blue Zone countries and learn about what makes them live so long

Major Travel Transportation Goals

• Boat on all major U.S. Rivers
• Boat on the world’s most major rivers
• Drive the country’s best road trips
• Drive the world’s best road trips
• Drive all of the major U.S. Interstates East to West and north to South
• Try 50 types of transportation. See my article on the 54 Most Romantic Ways to Travel
• Do the Best Train Rides in the U.S.
• Do the Top X Best Train Rides in the World
• Ride the World’s Best Airlines
• Fly the world’s longest and/or best flights
• Ride on 10 forms of aircraft

Major Military Sites to Visit

• All major WWII sites
• All major Civil War sites
• All major WWI sites
• All major Vietnam War sites
• All major Korean War sites
• All War of 1812 sites

Most Amazing Resorts and Accommodations to See in Your Lifetime

• Stay at the Best Resorts According to Condé Nast
• Stay at the Best Resorts According to Robb Report
• Stay at the Top 100 Hotels from Travel + Leisure
• Pick your favorite hotel chain and see their top properties (e.g., St. Regis, Four Seasons, Sandal’s Resorts)
• Visit all Disney World locations and stay on property

Government Sites to Visit

• Visit all U.S. State Capitols
• Go to all Presidential Libraries
• See the center of ancient and modern civilizations
• Go to Washington DC and visit the White House and all of the monuments around the Mall and beyond

Nature

• See the World’s Best Waterfalls
• See the greatest animal migrations (e.g., monarchs, the Great Migration, etc.)
• See 50 different types of animals in nature (Here are my favorite Wildlife trips that I’ve taken)
• Complete the Best U.S. Hikes
• Hike the great trails of the U.S. (or beyond?)…ex. Appalachian trail, Pacific Coast Highway
• Best Botanical Gardens in Major International or U.S. Cities
• All the Great Lakes
• Visit the World’s Largest Rivers (Amazon, Nile, Yangtze, Mississippi)
• Go to the world’s largest zoos
• Touch every ocean
• Sail every sea
• See all major geological events (e.g., iceberg, mountain, volcano, canyon, crater, etc.)

Sports and Major Sporting Events

• Visit all Major U.S. Ballparks (Baseball)
• See all Major U.S. Football Stadiums
• Go to the top NCAA Football Rivalry match-ups
• See a game at all Major Soccer Stadiums Across the World
• See all the Major Car Races (Formula 1, Nascar)
• Golf at the most beautiful golf courses in the U.S. (or most challenging)
• Attend every major golf tournament worldwide
• Visit every major sports championship match (World Cup, Superbowl, NBA Finals, Grand Prix, Tour de France, World Series, Cricket World Cup, Wimbledon)
• Ski at the World’s Top Ski Destinations
• Visit existing Olympic villages

Miscellaneous

• See 10 celestial events (e.g., meteor, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, comet, etc.)
• See an example of all major natural phenomenon – aurora borealis, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, asteroids, meteoroids, tornado / cyclone, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption, glacier calving…
• See the World’s Most Beautiful and/or Haunting Cemeteries

Please comment below with any other ideas that I’m missing and share this article with a friend!