National Bucket List Day is your annual reminder to dream big and travel boldly! Whether you’re longing to sip espresso in a Tuscan café or explore ancient temples in Cambodia, your travel bucket list is more than just a wish—it’s a roadmap to the life you want to live. In this guide, we share tips on crafting the perfect list, unique storage ideas, and inspiring reads to fuel your wanderlust. Let this be the year you not only build your list but start checking it off—one adventure at a time.
Every year on April 24th, National Bucket List Day reminds us to pause and reflect on the dreams we want to fulfill—especially those tied to exploration and adventure. Whether it's hiking the Inca Trail, tasting street food in Bangkok, or road-tripping the Pacific Coast Highway, your bucket list is a deeply personal map of hopes and goals.
Celebrate National Bucket List Day: Creative Ways to Dream, Plan, and Travel Well
And what better way to celebrate than by giving your list a fresh start or a new twist?
Tips for Creating a Travel Bucket List That Works
- Start With Inspiration: Think back to childhood dreams, favorite books, movies, or Pinterest boards. Let your imagination run wild.
- Get Specific: Instead of "go to Italy," try "take a pasta-making class in Tuscany."
- Use Categories: Break your list into types like adventure, food, history, nature, or wellness travel.
- Be Realistic and Dreamy: Mix bucket list items that are attainable with ones that might take more time or planning.
- Prioritize: Highlight your top 10 to make them your yearly travel focus.
Creative Places to Store Your Bucket List
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Google Map Lists: Save your dream destinations with notes and links.
- This is my favorite method for Bucket Lists and have several made, including "places I want to hike", "family adventures", "places I want to go", "future girls' trips" and more.
- This is my favorite method for Bucket Lists and have several made, including "places I want to hike", "family adventures", "places I want to go", "future girls' trips" and more.
- Notes App or Trello Board: Easily editable and accessible from anywhere.
- Bullet Journal: For those who love pen and paper.
- Create a Pinterest Board: For those who love to pin, a Bucket List Pin Board is a great starting point for planing. Pin the article you read about that one destination. Heard about that wine festival? Add it to the board. Then you have a details along with destination ideas.
Books to Spark Bucket List Ideas
- "Best in Travel 2025" by Lonely Planet included in the Winter Wanderlust Box.
- "1000 Places to See Before You Die" by Patricia Schultz
- "Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders"
- "Destinations of a Lifetime" by National Geographic
- "The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small" by Kath Stathers
- "The Solo Travel Handbook" by Lonely Planet included in the Solo Traveler Box
Visualize Your Travels With a Vision Board
Creating a travel vision board helps bring your list to life. Grab some old magazines, scissors, and glue, or create a digital version with Canva or Pinterest. Include:
- Photos of dream destinations
- Travel quotes
- Symbols of what matters to you (nature, connection, culture)
Place your board somewhere visible so it keeps your dreams top of mind. Level up your Vision Board by inviting your favorite people over and have a Bucket List Vision Board party. Maybe you all will get inspired to travel somewhere together!
Make It a Ritual
Celebrate National Bucket List Day by reviewing your list each year. Reflect on what you've accomplished, what still excites you, and what new dreams you want to add.
Better yet, turn it into a bucket list brunch with friends or family. Share goals, toast to adventures, and maybe even plan your next trip together.
Travel Well with Intention
At Travel Well Box, we believe in traveling with meaning. Let your bucket list guide you, but stay open to surprises and spontaneous detours. Sometimes the best journeys aren't on any list at all.
Ready to Start?
Use this National Bucket List Day as your spark. Grab a pen, open your favorite app, or start pinning. Your next great adventure might be just one list away.