A Year Round Bucket List with Your Best Friend
Before I found out my bestie was heading to medical school last summer, we knew we had to make the most of our time together. Last year, was my first summer permanently living in Illinois and his last before heading off to Kentucky to chase a dream that’s been years in the making. I’m beyond proud of him for following his path. Of course, that won’t stop us from creating bucket list ideas for best friends too!
Khadeil and I met while in grad school in Illinois… during covid. I know, we’re not going to get into that, but it was the start of a wonderful friendship!
Making friends as an adult is hard.
said everyone
Back during the height of COVID, a trend popped up: creating an A-to-Z bucket list, where you try to complete an activity that starts with every letter of the alphabet. We decided to bring it back and create one of our own—part memory lane, part future travel inspo. We’ve included items we’ve already done (and blogged about), fun recommendations from others, and open spots we can save for future adventures. It’s our way of keeping connected even as life shifts and changes.
A – Angel’s Landing
One of the most unforgettable hikes we’ve done. Climbing Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park tested our courage and gave us the best views of Southern Utah’s rust-colored cliffs. It was a heart-pounding, hand-gripping adventure… worth every second. Everyone talks about Zion National Park and we wanted to be a part of the hype too. It was also a must-do in our trip! So the plan was to follow the signs up to Angel’s Landing. Little did we know… well, guess you’ll have to check the story out!
- Arcade night
- Apple picking
B –
- Brewery hopping
- Bowling night
- Ballet performance
C – Chicago Restaurant Week
There’s something in Miami called ‘Miami Spice’ and it runs from August to September, two whole months! In Illinois, several cities participate, but they only last one week. So the idea is to visit whichever restaurants you want to visit during that same week to get the best deal, but also share-ables, our fave! Nothing beats exploring Chicago through food. We tried new cuisines, dressed up for dinners, and spent hours people-watching downtown.
- Concert at Millennium Park
- Cooking class
- Coffee shop
- Candle making
D – Dinner Parties
I absolutely love hosting and getting to do it together makes it that much more entertaining. From mocktails with friends to friends-mas to everything in between… there’s always an excuse to get people together! It’s the perfect excuse for bucket list ideas for best friends!
- Drive-in movie
- Day trip to Lake Geneva
- Derby Day in KY
E –
- Escape room
- Egg decorating (Easter style!)
F – Farmer’s Market
We were able to visit a few Farmer’s Markets in the summer. The most recommended to start were in Naperville, Aurora, and Wheaton. The weekend weather is pretty unpredictable, but we made the most of the experience. We loved them all the same, though!
- Food trucks
- Forest preserve hike
G – Glamping
Just when you thought you were going camping, you chose the boujie way out. Glamping in our national parks road trip really made a difference. While we slept in the middle of nowhere, at least there were some type of sanitary areas to shower and use the bathroom. It was an interesting experience to say the least.
- Game night
- Gardening
H – Hockey Games
There’s something about being bundled up, drinking hot cocoa, and screaming over slapshots that makes winter sports more fun with your favorite person. From the big screen to the real deal… We’ve watched games in Chicago and Montreal! Can you believe it?!
- Hiking local trails
- Home Alone house and coffee shop
I –
- Indoor rock climbing
- Ice cream
- Italian dinner
- Improv comedy show
J –
- Jazz night
- July 4th picnic
K – Kayak
- Karaoke night
- Kite flying
- Korean BBQ outing
L – Line Dancing
We may not have been in Nashville, but the boots came out and we two-stepped through the night.
- Lake day
M – Mountain Lion (Sighted in NM!)
We still can’t believe we think we saw a mountain lion on our New Mexico road trip. Equal parts thrilling and terrifying, we ran safely to our car, almost leaving someone behind, jaws dropped in awe. Relive it with us?
- Museum
- Movie marathon
- Mini golfing
N – New Home
We celebrated moving into our own places—me in Illinois and him prepping for med school housing in Kentucky. A new chapter!
- Nacho night
- Nature photography through the seasons
O –
- On ice show
- Oyster tasting
- Oktoberfest
- Open mic night
P –
- Pottery class
- Picnic in the park
- Permanent jewlery
- Plant shopping
Q –
- Quilt tying
R – Road Trip
We conquered 8 states in 2 weeks: Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. We lived out of backpacks, blasted music, and documented it all.
- Rooftop happy hour
S – Speakeasy
There’s nothing like walking through a hidden doorway and discovering the perfect drink spot. Bonus if there’s live jazz. What’s the most creative speakeasy you’ve seen?
- Spa day
- Sushi night
- Snowball fight
T – Thanksgiving Break (2020)
Back when COVID was in full swing, we stayed in for grad school Thanksgiving break. Comfort food and cozy vibes.
- Taco Tuesday
- Tea ceremony night
- Tie-dye night
- Theater show
U –
- University campus visit
- Ugly Christmas sweater party
V – Vegas
We spent all our money (and had zero regrets) during an iconic weekend with friends. Bright lights, buffets, blackjack, and late-night secrets. We even went to Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, which ironically enough, he’s opened a couple in Illinois now.
- Volunteer together
- Vintage shopping
- Vision board making
W – Wine Tasting
One of our favorite grown-up traditions. Pretending we know the difference between oaky and earthy. We’ll keep practicing!
- Walk in the rain
- Writing letters to each other
X –
- X-marks-the-spot scavenger hunt
- Xylophone learning (why not?)
- Xtreme trampoline park
Y –
- Yoga
- Yard games tournament
- YES day
Z – Zion National Park
Zion left a mark on our hearts. From the hikes to the river walk to the stars above, this park deserves every bit of hype.
- Ziplining
- Zoo day
This bucket list ideas for best friends is how we’re keeping our connection alive as we move into new seasons of life. Whether we’re on a mountain trail or FaceTiming with a glass of wine, we’ll always have this list and each other.
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