This one is a little outside of my usual travel content, but it was my birthday last week! Being a fulltime travel family has really upped our birthday celebrations, and I’m full of ideas for fun things to do on your birthday.
I’m so excited to share some ideas ranging from totally free to bucket list splurges! There are ideas for outdoorsy types, artistic hearts, and homebodies. Some of these would be perfect to do solo or on a workday lunch break, and some of them require an overnight trip. Any of them would be amazingly fun, though!
So let’s dive in to the birthday ideas 🙂
Fun things to do on your birthday:
Set up a scavenger hunt. This is such a fun way to spend a day, whether you organize it yourself or ask a friend to help. This workplace scavenger hunt kit would be a fun game with coworkers if you have to work that day. You can also search here for organized scavenger hunts near you! Pick a fun birthday-themed surprise for the end!
Get fancy for afternoon tea. A frilly afternoon with tiny desserts and endless tea is one of my favorite luxurious splurges. It’s one of the things I did this year to celebrate my birthday! Most medium or larger cities have a place that will host afternoon or high tea (especially at fancy hotels!). Get dressed up with friends and enjoy being extra fancy! Bonus points for wearing a pretty tea dress.
Plan a DIY food/beverage crawl. Whatever food or drink you love the most would make a great DIY crawl! One year, I picked out all of the fancy and weird desserts I’d been wanting a try, and friends met up with us to do part or all of the day. Maybe you love cheese or bagels or ice cream or tacos. Any of those would make a fun birthday crawl, too! Big cities make outings like this really easy, but even smaller towns probably have enough ice cream places to make a day out of it.
Go whitewater rafting. If you’re the adventurous type (or if you want to push yourself!), whitewater rafting is a fun and memorable way to spend a birthday. There are so many places to go whitewater rafting, just be sure to ask the rafting company for the trip that suits your level of thrill seeking. This would be a fun friends and family trip, but I encourage you to go solo if no one else wants to join!
Spend the day at a beer garden. Beer gardens are the ultimate low-key day drinking hang. They often offer food for those who don’t want to drink, and there’s plenty of space to hang out and chill with your besties. This is the perfect birthday plan for beer lovers who want a low-maintenance day.
Throw a fun themed party. Okay, okay, throwing a birthday party isn’t the most original plan. But hear me out — have a fun theme! One year, I hosted a super fun 90’s party where everyone dressed up and we listened to all 90’s music and ate popular 90’s snacks (photo booth props are a must!). It was a blast. But you could also theme it around your favorite TV show (Bridgerton ball?), a beloved band, a dream travel destination, or anything you can dream up!
Take a kayaking tour. If whitewater rafting is a bit intense for you, consider a kayaking tour. One of my favorite birthdays ever was a bucket list day kayaking with icebergs, but even more local kayak tours can be a blast. Or for similar money, you can buy yourself the inflatable kayak I have and take yourself on a tour. Just don’t forget a life jacket and be sure to research your route first!
Splurge on an expensive dinner date. If you’re anything like me, you’re not taking yourself out for expensive dinners on the regular. Your birthday is the perfect chance to try that place on your list that you usually can’t justify. Consider an overnight to a nearby big city if you want more options. Check Booking.com for hotel deals!
Ride high in a hot air balloon. Speaking of splurges, a hot air balloon ride isn’t the most affordable on the list. But it’s SO breathtaking! If it’s in the budget, check for hot air balloon rides near you for one of those fun things to do on your birthday that you’ll never forget. Sunrise and sunset rides are particularly spectacular.
Take a pottery class. One of my favorite fun things to do on your birthday is to learn a new skill or try a new thing. Learning to throw pottery on a wheel has always been on my list, so that’s one of the things I tried for my birthday this year. Check out pottery classes near you if you’re interested in trying this, too! If there aren’t any, consider some air dry clay and pottery tools for a DIY class.
Set off on a road trip. Road tripping is a fun and affordable way to see a new place that you’ve always wanted to visit! Check Booking.com for hotel deals on your route, and ask a buddy to help you map out all the fun places to stop. Don’t forget to pack the road trip games!
Plan a backpacking trip. Outdoorsy types might like to use their birthday as an opportunity to check off that alpine lake or desert slot canyon they’ve always wanted to visit. You can use your own backpacking gear or find a local outfitter that rents what you need. Keep in mind that overnighting in popular national parks will require months of advance planning to book the appropriate permits. It’s worth the effort, though!
Enjoy a day hike. Maybe backpacking is a little too much planning and gear cost, but you’d still love to get out there and enjoy a hike. Day hiking is for you! Check out our list of recommended hiking gear and enjoy some bucket list views. Pack a cupcake to enjoy at the top!
Ride a historic train. There are so many historic train rides with unbelievable scenery that would be one of those fun things to do on your birthday. They’re usually a bit pricey, so a birthday treat makes sense! Plus there are often fun themed rides like a wine tour or live music to enjoy on the trip.
Go glamping. A birthday is the perfect opportunity to step up your camping game and go glamping! Check out this list of 55 glamping destinations for places that would be fun to visit. Combine it with a bucket list day hike or a fancy dinner reservation! Glamping is a trendy way to enjoy the outdoors with less sleeping on the ground 😉
Plan a park picnic. Picnicking is always on the list of fun things to do on your birthday, but consider stepping it up by making it extra bougie. Grab some local delicious treats and a fancy picnic set to make the day feel extra special. Invite some friends and bring some compact lawn games for a fun day!
Go plant shopping. Plant lovers will enjoy spending the day finding new plant babies for their home. Turn it into a whole excursion by visiting all of the plant shops within a couple of hours. Buy yourself a plant lady shirt and plant tiara to wear so everyone knows to treat you like botanical royalty on your special day.
Attend a sip ‘n paint. Artistic folks will want this high up on your list of fun things to do on your birthday. Painting and sipping wine with friends is all the rage these days, so there’s sure to be one near you. This option gets bonus points for being super easy to plan and you just have to show up!
Bike a trail. With bike trails growing in popularity, there are options everywhere for gorgeous places to take a bike or electric bike out for the day. You can use your own or rent a bike from a local shop. If you don’t already own a bike, maybe this is the time to consider treating yourself to one as a birthday gift? Electric bikes are a particularly fun way to get around in an eco-friendly way, and this one is so adorable.
Throw a pool party. Everyone loves a pool party, and it can be a really affordable way to have some summer fun. Even if you don’t have your own pool, you can look into a neighborhood pool or hotel pool day pass. Bring some adorable pool floats to up the fun factor, like a balloon animal, a taco, or a cassette tape floatie.
Go horseback riding. Horseback riding is another fun excursion for people who have always wanted to try it, but have been hesitant to spend the money. Splurge on a guided ride somewhere incredibly scenic, and this will quickly become on of your most memorable birthdays yet. Check out these places to take a bucket list horseback riding tour.
Splurge on show or concert tickets. Scan upcoming concert or live theatre schedules for a show you’ve been wanting to see! If it’s not coming to your town, maybe make a weekend out of it with someone you love. Check out Booking.com for hotel deals to make it more affordable.
Hire a private chef. A birthday is the perfect excuse to hire a private chef to create a special occasion meal right in your own home! Invite over some friends and grab some fancy dinner party essentials like placecards and modern candlestick holders.
Plan a museum visit. For the culturally inclined among us, spending the day at a new (or old favorite) museum is a super fun plan. Combine it with a fancy picnic or meal out, and spoil yourself in the museum gift shop. For a new way to experience a familiar museum, some of the big ones offer guided tours with the experts that you can splurge on.
Book a birthday photo shoot. A birthday is the perfect time to document how special our lives are. Many photographers will offer affordable mini sessions, or you could even do a DIY photo shoot with a phone tripod. Wear some bright colors or sequins for that happy birthday vibe.
Cuddle puppies. Volunteering at a local animal shelter is one of the more unexpected ideas on this list of fun things to do for your birthday, but who wouldn’t love spending the day cuddling puppies? Plus it feels good to honor how grateful we are for another trip around the sun by doing good for others.
Take some music lessons. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to play guitar or piano, a birthday is the perfect excuse to book some lessons. Try to schedule it so you start on your birthday, and you’ll remember how far you’ve come by the time the next year rolls around!
Enjoy a thrift store crawl. If you’re anything like me and love thrift store shopping, you could spend all day visiting your favorite thrift stores. Plan a route that involves multiple thrift stores and incorporates birthday cake, and you’ve got a winning day. Check to see if there are any nearby specialty thrift stores like a craft thrift store or used outdoor gear store. It might even feel good to ring in a “new year of you” by cleaning out some closets and dropping off things to donate on your way.
Go go kart racing. It’s always fun to race around a track trying to beat your friends for the glory. Book a multi-race package so you can spend a few hours go kart racing, then head out for beers after with your besties.
Plan a spa day. If, on the other hand, you’re more of a “relaxation” type, a luxurious spa day might be for you. Check local hotels or resorts for their fanciest spa offerings, and make a day out of it with friends or solo. Sometimes Groupon has good spa day options on a budget, too. Or there’s always an at home spa kit!
Rent a limo. Nothing screams special occasion more than a rented limo. Even a night out in your home city feels more fun when you’re being chauffered around town in a fancy stretch limo. This is the perfect way to do a food crawl if it’s in the budget, too.
Take a street art tour. One of my favorite ways to spend an affordable afternoon is to take a walking tour of a city’s street art. Some cities will be big enough to support guided walking tours of the street art, and some smaller cities will offer DIY tours that you can look up and use to plan your own day. Just wear comfy shoes! I have some slip on Nikes similar to these that I have been wearing for 7 years now, and they still look new.
Enjoy a beach day. If you’re near the coast, there’s nothing better than a day at the beach. If it’s summer, you can swim and lounge and picnic to your heart’s content. If it’s cooler, you can look for seaglass or beautiful shells. Ringing in your birthday on the beach is a relaxing way to start a new trip around the sun. Don’t forget the beach shade tent if you’re planning to spend all day there!
Get a tattoo. If this is one of those bucket list items for you, a birthday is the perfect occasion for it! Just consider what tattoo you’re getting carefully, as this is one birthday souvenir that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! These adult temporary tattoos are an adorable option if you’re not quite ready for a lifetime commitment.
Take a watercolor class. This is another one of those artistic skills I’m trying to hone as I get older, and I would love to take a class with a professional painter one of these birthdays. If there aren’t any classes near you, consider a nice watercolor set and thick watercolor paper. There are so many YouTube tutorials to try! Head outside to do your art, as I find it so much more relaxing to work outdoors.
Tour local wineries. Is there anything more idyllic than sipping wine and looking out at the rolling hills of a vineyard? I love visiting wineries, and I was lucky enjoy to find myself working near one for my 25th birthday. If there aren’t any near you, consider an overnight trip to somewhere like the Hamptons or Sonoma and use Booking.com for a hotel deal.
Host a board game night. If you’re board game lovers like we are, a board game night is a super fun way to celebrate a birthday. Consider how many people each game is intended for and how many people will be attending. Some of our favorite games are Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, and Settlers of Catan.
Plan a casino excursion. Even if you’re not the gambling type, a night out at the casino can be a fun time. Stick to the nickel slots and you’ll never be out too much money, plus free drinks are often served on the floor. Plan an overnight at a casino with a fun live show as an extra bonus.
Escape from an escape room. Escape rooms are a fun way to problem solve with a group of friends, and their growing popularity means that just about every city has one. Some of them even have cool themes like Alice in Wonderland, if that’s your thing!
Take a fancy car on a scenic drive. Rent the fanciest car you can fun and look up scenic drives near you. Take it for a spin, with bonus points for bringing along a fancy picnic to indulge in along the way.
Go zip lining. Zip lining is a fun and safe way to get your kicks and try something new. Check out the zip lining options near you, and be sure to ask about which course is the appropriate thrill level for your preference.
Stroll an arboretum or botanic garden. Look up the nearest garden adventure near you, and ask a friend to meet you there. Check to see if there’s any unique programming or classes you can join while you’re at it!
Find the Milky Way. If gorgeous night skies are your thing and you’re lucky enough to have a birthday on or near the New Moon, you can see the Milky Way for your birthday! Look up your nearest dark sky using a dark sky map. Make sure to check whether the Milky Way is rising during your birthday month. A tripod will help you get the best night sky photo (use 30 second exposure on your phone!).
Rent out a movie theater. You could just go see a movie, no shame in that! But for extra fun, some theaters will rent out the whole movie theater for you and your friends for just a couple of hundred dollars. A private movie showing is a great option for fun things to do on your birthday.
Go skydiving. Talk about a bucket list adventure! If being this bold has always been on your list, a birthday is a great time to knock it off! Indoor skydiving is a great option for city folk if you’re too far from an outdoor skydiving excursion.
Take a theme park trip. There are so many different theme park options that there’s sure to be one for every type of adventurer! Whether you’re a Disney type or a local rollercoaster type or a Legoland type, this is a super fun way to spend your special day.
Laugh at a comedy show. They say there’s no medicine like laughter, so grab some comedy show tickets and stay as healthy as can be! Comedy shows are typically pretty affordable, and they make a great birthday excursion for anyone who loves to laugh.
Go rock climbing. Check out the local rock climbing gym, or book an outdoor rock climbing excursion if there’s one near you! This is a fun thing to try once or to get better and better at if you love to do it.
Play arcade games. Nothing brings out your inner child faster than a trip to the arcade. Grab some quarters and some buddies and make an afternoon of it! Consider wearing a funny vintage gamer tee.
Visit an alpaca farm. If you love animals and petting fluffy ones, then a trip to a llama or alpaca farm is for you! Some farms will even let you feed these adorable creatures, and oftentimes you can buy homespun wool for fiber crafts, too.
Do good deeds. If you love making the world a better place, this one of the fun things to do on your birthday might just be for you. Make a list of “34 good deeds for turning 34” and set out to accomplish them all before the day is done. They can be small like paying for a stranger’s coffee or donating canned goods to a local food pantry. One thing’s for sure — this is a lovely way to celebrate yourself and those around you.
Have a movie marathon. If the idea of cozying up in your bed with snacks sounds right up your alley, then an at-home movie marathon is for you! Watch a whole trilogy like Lord of the Rings or invent a movie marathon theme like “terrible apocalypse flicks.” Grab all of your favorite snacks and enjoy!
Soak in a hot spring. If you love spending time luxuriating in warm water, consider hunting down your nearest hot spring to soak in! They range from free little spots on the side of the road to bougie hotel soaks, so there’s something for everyone. Maybe splurge on some new Turkish towels as part of your birthday gift to yourself?
Rent a boat. Everyone loves a day on the water, and renting a pontoon boat or jet ski sounds like an amazing way to celebrate. Or maybe you have a friend with a boat who will take you out? Don’t forget a cooler full of refreshing drinks!
Go bungee jumping. For the ultimate adventure, how about jumping off a cliff (safely, of course!)? There are some amazing places to bungee jump, and this birthday outing will give you bragging rights forever.
Play a mini golf game. Mini golf is the most retro fun available, and a game or two with friends is sure to bring out the laughs. If there are no great mini golf courses near you, there’s always this at-home bucket golf kit that you can even take to the park or the beach!
Enjoy a bookstore crawl. If you love books as much as our family does, you would love spending the day gallivanting around the various bookstores within a couple hours’ drive. Buy yourself a book at each stop; it’s the birthday gift that keeps on giving. If you love audiobooks, don’t miss checking out Libro.com! We love shopping their audiobook sales and getting books to listen to for just a few dollars.
Take a glass blowing class. Another artistic pursuit you might always have wanted to try is glass blowing. This is the perfect way to spend a birthday, and whatever you create in class will always remind you of your special day.
Ride in a helicopter. Ending the list of fun things to do on your birthday with an incredible bucket list adventure felt appropriate. Look for a scenic helicopter ride near you, and enjoy the view and the endorphins. Happy birthday!
I hope this list gave you some exciting ideas for fun things to do on your birthday! Have a fantastic day celebrating. If you’re a fellow RV family or even just someone who loves the outdoors and travel, check out these gift ideas for adults and kids.
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