25 Great Ways to Mark a Milestone Birthday

9. Cross an adventure off your bucket list

​Jack Nicholson, 88, and Morgan Freeman, 88, helped popularize the term “bucket list” thanks to their performances in the 2007 movie of the same name, which saw them take off on an epic road trip to fulfill an adventurous wish list. The concept of a bucket list has exploded since then, and can include hot air balloon rides, skydiving, zip-lining, learning to sail, and many other activities that scratch an adventurous itch.

“Queenstown, New Zealand, is the adventure capital of the world,” says Henderson, and it’s a popular bucket list destination with its helicopter and boat tours, skydiving and bungee jumping. Want something closer to home? Henderson suggests Montana or Utah for rugged, adventurous day trips spent mountain hiking or whitewater rafting. “It really depends on what you consider your bucket list item” in order to plan the right trip, she says.

10. Schedule a multigenerational photo shoot

A photo shoot with ​family members spanning generations creates an heirloom with decades of appeal.

Kathleen Fu

​In today’s busy world it can be a challenge to bring the whole family together, even during the holidays. However, organizing a multigenerational photo shoot provides a dedicated time for everyone to gather while documenting family history and creating an heirloom. To make your photo shoot extra special, Becky Richartz of Painted Iris Photography + Design suggests using your home as the backdrop, or, if possible, traveling to multiple locations in your hometown, provided mobility isn’t an issue for older generations who participate.

“I’m a natural-light photographer, so outdoors or a well-lit natural indoor spot works best,” says Richartz. To make your shoot truly memorable, Richartz suggests bringing bouquets, wedding dresses, rings, bibles — anything that’s significant to the family and honors the past.

11. Celebrate your ‘birthday month’ by doing one new thing each week

​Why focus on one day when you can celebrate for the entire month? Kari Wagner Hoban, who runs the blog A Grace Full Life , looks forward to it every year. After a particularly uneventful birthday while solidly in perimenopause, Wagner Hoban had an epiphany, writing, “I was caught up in the idea that others should make me feel special on that day, but looking back, I saw that I needed to take charge of that myself.”

Enter the birthday month, where she chose one new thing or activity every week that meant something to her. It’s something you can do, too. Maybe you splurge on a purse or couch you’ve been dreaming of, or you take a day off for a picnic and some R&R. Wagner Hoban decided to get a nose ring during her 2022 birthday month, and said “it was a quiet, powerful decision — something that reflected who I was becoming.”

​12. Ask friends to share the milestone year with you doing something they love

Instead of gifts or parties, ask friends or family to share an experience with you — the catch being that they pick the experience and invite you along. On the cusp of her 70th birthday, writer Megan Vered reached out to the special people in her life to ask just that. “I want to log in 70 experiences in 2023 with people I love,” she said.

There were a few loose rules associated with the ask, including nothing “thrill-seeking” or that “involves a shark tank,” but Vered was otherwise open to spending quality time with quality people to celebrate her milestone year. As ideas filtered in, Vered kept track of them, selecting a few each month that fit into her busy life. “My year was filled to the rim,” Vered wrote in a HuffPost essay. “I carved out intentional time to have fun with friends and family and am grateful to all who indulged me.”

13. Record the family story

​If you want to flex your creativity while also creating a legacy for future generations, document your family’s story. First, gather photos, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia to spark remembrances and generate questions. Determine which relatives you’d like to interview — great storytellers are always a good choice — and schedule a time.  Start with easy, open-ended questions. Finally, transcribe your interviews for an oral history that everyone can read. Platforms like Storyworth, Shutterfly and BookBaby offer guides and tools to help you create a keepsake book you can share with family.

14. Host a family reunion on or near a loved one’s milestone birthday

​Combining a family reunion with a loved one’s milestone birthday celebrates human connection. Start planning 18 to 24 months in advance so you don’t get overwhelmed, advises Gross. She also recommends delegating tasks like invitations, decor, food and travel arrangements to family members with that specific skill set. A fun way to add to the experience? Gross suggests name tags with trivia questions or fun facts about the person celebrating their birthday.

15. Get a tattoo or symbolic jewelry

A tattoo or a unique piece of jewelry can be an indelible memento of a big birthday.

Kathleen Fu

​Splurge on a pair of birthstone earrings or a fancy watch. Meet with a tattoo artist for some custom ink — perhaps the year you were born, or your favorite flower. Make either — or both — a milestone marker that makes you smile every time you see it.

16. Visit a favorite childhood location or neighborhood

​Nostalgia has a way of making us feel warm and sentimental, especially when remembering a cherished event or visiting an old hangout. In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , researchers discovered that nostalgia “increases meaning in life, self-esteem, optimism, and positive affect,” meaning a trip down memory lane could be the perfect way to celebrate hitting a milestone birthday, especially if you bring a friend or family member along to share in your reverie. 

17.  Try a different type of barhopping

​Barhopping — going to multiple bars in a single night — can be a fun birthday activity if you enjoy alcohol. But for a booze-free spin on the concept, tryi sampling waffles at three different restaurants, or take a note from Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee by grabbing coffee with friends at several different notable coffee shops in your city or neighborhood. 

18. Celebrate with a cause

​Birthday fundraisers are a great way to celebrate personal milestones while also supporting a cause you care about. The simplest way is to promote a birthday fundraiser for your favorite charity on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Or you can go bigger. For example, in 2021, to commemorate turning 50, Kristen Weinberg decided to donate 50 items to 12 charities — an idea that’s since snowballed into her What’s Your 50? nonprofit, which helps those find “fun and easy ways to help … in increments of 50.” Other tangible ways to commemorate your milestone in a charitable fashion? Sponsor 60 trees for your 60th, or fund 70 meals at a food bank for your 70th.

19. Write a letter to your future self (to open at your next milestone birthday)

​Grab your favorite pen and a beautiful piece of stationery as you reflect not only on where you’ve been but where you want to go. Writing a letter that you’ll open a decade later helps “people figure out what’s important to them as they look into the future,” says Karen Midyet, a licensed psychologist who works with adults transitioning to retirement. Include reflections on the past, your vision for the future, any changes you’d like to make, and some fun predictions for where you’ll be 10 years down the road.

20. Make a time capsule

A curated collection of personal items provides a great snapshot of your life at a milestone moment.

Kathleen Fu

​Fill a box with a curated collection of personal items that represent where you are in life so far, including favorite photos, letters, newspapers, souvenirs, a list of your current favorite things, a piece of clothing, even a playlist of your favorite songs. Don’t forget to write a note to yourself, filled with past reflections and future predictions, to slip inside the time capsule. Store the capsule at the top of your closet or someplace else where you’ll remember to open it later .

21. Have a ‘Yes Day’

​In the 2021 Jennifer Garner movie Yes Day , the parents flip the switch by saying yes to all the wild requests from their kids, resulting in a fun and wacky day of adventures. Why not do the same and create a special Yes Day of your own? The movie version focuses on making the kids happy through positive, fun experiences. Your own Yes Day can do the same, motivating you to step out of your comfort zone, according to psychology experts at HealthCentral. It's as simple as giving yourself permission to do those things you might not normally do.

22. Sign up for a 5K

​If your goal is to retain, or regain, your physical stamina, signing up to run a 5K near or on your milestone birthday is a great way to celebrate your health — and your age. The time commitment for both training and the actual race is a lot shorter than, say, a marathon. Plus, you can usually sign up for a 5K that also raises money for a cause (and get some fun swag). If you’re looking for a 5K training program, the Mayo Clinic offers a free seven-week plan.

23. Commission a custom piece of art

​Rather than buying something already created, commission an original piece honoring your milestone achievement. Perhaps it’s a painting of a favorite place, a sculpture of you or someone you admire, or abstract art that leaves you energized or relaxed. Once you know what you want, U.K.-based curators Ella Forster and Alina Young suggest researching the market to identify the type of artist you’d like to work with: young, old, experienced, new. Review their portfolios to ensure you like their style, then work directly with the artist so they understand what you want. Make sure to prepare a contract that outlines deliverables and costs.

24. Transform your space

​Revamping a room can spark joy and fulfillment while also creating a more functional, enjoyable home — and it’s a great way to celebrate your milestone birthday. “Most of us move through life in a relatively reserved fashion,” says Gross, “but when you hit a milestone, ask yourself: ‘What did I always want to do? What did I want to be? And who am I today?’” No matter the room, two ways to create immediate change and impact — with little investment — are by adding a new rug, which Gross says can be “artwork on the floor,” or installing wallpaper, which is available in a variety of prices, colors and patterns. If you’re not comfortable wallpapering the entire room, Gross suggests doing an accent wall, the back of a bookshelf or even framing a piece of the wallpaper for visual interest. 

25. Reflect on your life in a beautiful journal

Achieving a milestone birthday can be a wonderful time of reflection, according to Midyet, who advises celebrating accomplishments while keeping an eye on goals for the future. Use journaling as a way to explore, suggests Midyet: “You’re still trying to figure out who you are and [some things] you might want to learn more about or try.”