10 Destinations to Celebrate the Big 5-Oh

Choose your own birthday adventure in the U.S., or splurge on a getaway around the globe

Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos is a beautiful destination to celebrate a milestone birthday.

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Updated December 05, 2025

Published July 13, 2023

/ Updated December 05, 2025

Every milestone birthday comes with its own feelings and phases. However you acknowledge it, hitting the half-century mark is a noteworthy occasion in life — and a time to celebrate you, your family and friendships.

According to the latest AARP Travel Trends survey, 70 percent of Americans 50-plus are planning trips in 2025, with those 50 to 59 most likely to travel. And if going to new places happens to be your self-love language, taking a trip to one you’ve always wanted to see is a great way to celebrate five decades well-lived.

From a Caribbean cruise or surf lessons in Florida to a far-flung motorcycling foray around Cape Town, South Africa, here are fun activities and destinations and splurge-worthy recommendations to consider for your 50th-birthday adventure.

left a pier in cocoa beach florida right people swimming in the blue lagoon in iceland

The historic Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier at sunset (left); people enjoying the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.

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For outdoor adventure: Florida’s Space Coast

If staying active in the sunshine sounds like your idea of a great way to ring in the big 5-oh, Florida’s Space Coast, east of Orlando, is an often overlooked and wallet-friendly jewel along the Atlantic coast.

Spend your days taking group or private surf lessons in the mellow waves with School of Surf, and head out on a kayaking trip after dark with A Day Away Kayak Tours during the warmer months to see the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence glowing in the waters of the Indian River Lagoon. For a fun night on the town, try historic downtown Cocoa Village for wine bars, pubs and restaurants. There might even be a rocket launch from nearby Cape Canaveral during your stay, so be sure to check the schedule and consider it a giant birthday firework lighting up the sky in your honor.

The affordable oceanfront suites at Beach Place Guesthouses have full kitchens and living rooms that are perfect for entertaining. The location is also pretty perfect: The guesthouses are set just behind some of Cocoa Beach’s most gorgeous sand dunes and make a perfect base for a romantic celebration or for gathering a group of friends in one scenic spot.

Overseas splurge: Iceland

Tania Swasbrook, cofounder and travel specialist with Vgari Lifestyle, says Iceland checks all the boxes for outdoor adventure. “From spa services at the Blue Lagoon to hikes and snowmobile tours, there’s something for everyone,” she says. Consider whether you want to plan your trip for the darker months (fall, winter and early spring) for the chance at seeing the northern lights or opt for the warmer months when it stays light nearly round the clock and you can maximize your time outside, enjoying the country’s wild nature.

The capital city, Reykjavík, is a good home base for easy access to the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, a hot springs spa that’s even closer to the city center, as well as other outdoor adventures.

left the smokey mountains in tennessee right the dolomites in italy

A couple looking at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee; a view of the Dolomite Mountains in Italy.

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For mountain magic: Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

If cozying up in a mountain cabin with your crew to celebrate your day sounds idyllic, head to the Great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg.

Learn the secrets of authentic Appalachian cuisine during a class at Smoky Mountain School of Cooking, rise early on your big birthday for a sunrise hike within Great Smoky Mountains National Park or plan your visit to coincide with a multiday art workshop (perhaps blacksmithing, ceramics or improvisational quilting) at Gatlinburg’s celebrated Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, one of the oldest craft schools in Tennessee.

To stay, browse through cabin rentals via Mountain Laurel Chalets to find the perfect base of operations for your group.

Overseas splurge: Dolomite Mountains, Italy

Gina DiPrima, owner and luxury travel adviser at Prima Italy, points to Northern Italy’s Dolomite Mountains as a destination for “comfortably challenging both your mind and body, and feeding your soul with some of the best gourmet food in Italy.” The Dolomites region is known for skiing and difficult hiking trails. “But from spring through fall, you can hike along gentle trails and challenging ascents,” she says. If you’re up for even more of a climb, consider trying a via ferrata (“iron path”), says DiPrima, who tackled one of the paths with cables and rebar that you can clip into for safety for her own 50th birthday. “Reaching the top of the mountain filled me with an enormous sense of physical and mental achievement,” she says.

Accommodations in the Dolomites range from rustic cabins to luxurious wellness hotels, such as Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, and secreted-away five-star lodging. In the latter category, Forestis, surrounded by South Tyrolean peaks, has a penthouse with its own private sauna and pool and priceless mountain views to match the celebratory mood.

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Visitors are surrounded by vineyards at the Castello di Amorosa winery in Napa Valley, California (left); people are relaxing at the La Motte Wine Estate in Cape Winelands, South Africa.

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For foodies: Napa Valley, California

Those who want to pair exceptional dining experiences with their travels now look for more than just having dinner and calling it a day, Swasbrook says. “People want to have a cooking class with a chef and wine pairings,” she explains. “There are always components of education and adventure, especially in this age group. They want to learn and be active.”

California’s Napa Valley region offers everything from affordable vacation rentals to luxury inns. You can book a celebratory multicourse evening dinner aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train’s observation dining car as you roll through vineyards, take a hands-on French cooking class inspired by Julia Child’s techniques at CIA at Copia, the downtown Napa outpost of the Culinary Institute of America, or hire a driver to take your group wine tasting through Napa’s famed vineyards.

Overseas splurge: Cape Town, South Africa

Maya George, founder of Our Black Passports, points to South Africa’s Western Cape region as “wine and foodie central” for a 50th-birthday bash. Rent a classic car with a chauffeur, or hop on the back of a Harley-Davidson with West Coast Motorcycles to arrive in style from Cape Town to the spectacular Constantia wine lands restaurant and vineyard, Buitenverwachting. Cape Town’s regular Food Jams events are culinary parties curated by top chefs at which you’re paired with strangers and challenged to cook an amazing meal together, creating lots of camaraderie.

For a five-star stay, try the spectacular Relais & Chateaux property Ellerman House, filled with South African artwork, overlooking the ocean in the upscale neighborhood of Bantry Bay. Plan a special-occasion dinner at FYN, featuring a modern African tasting menu inspired by the bounty of South Africa’s land and sea. The food is prepared using Japanese culinary techniques.

left hikers in sedona arizona right a diver swimming with a sea turtle in turks and caicos

A small group of hikers make their way through the red rocks in Sedona, Arizona; a scuba diver with a Hawksbill sea turtle in Turks and Caicos.

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For health and wellness: Sedona, Arizona

Swasbrook says yoga and wellness retreats are popular among her clients turning 50. “They’re making sure that there are gyms where they’re staying, hiring a yoga instructor or asking about hiking options where they can exercise with a sense of place,” she notes.

Sedona is a favorite domestic destination where you can tailor a wellness vacation to be as luxurious or DIY as you like. Go hiking through the region’s red rocks and vortexes on your own, take a local yoga class in town and book into one of the creekside vacation homes at the Junipine Resort, complete with full kitchens, for a relaxing stay.

You also can go big with a wellness retreat tailor-made for you, with spa treatments, mindfulness experiences and outdoor adventures (including hot-air balloon adventures) in the mix at the storied Enchantment Resort.

For a more affordable option where you can cook your own meals, Sedona Summit, a Hilton Vacation Club, has one-, two- and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens.

Overseas splurge: Turks and Caicos

The coral islands of Turks and Caicos abound with wellness resorts that maximize soothing sea views made for meditating to the sound of gently lapping waves. The private island resort COMO Parrot Cay includes 1,000 acres of Caribbean wilderness and offers a private Pilates studio, a yoga pavilion and a world-class spa with unique treatments made with Dead Sea mud and marine algae.

The Shore Club’s private oceanfront villas fronting Long Bay Beach make for a relaxing pied-à-terre, especially if you’re traveling with a group. You may not want to leave, so consider hiring a chef and your own yoga instructor.

a split image of a restaurant and a cruise ship

Enjoy dinner at chef Jacques Pépin’s eponymous restaurant, Jacques, on ‘Oceania Allura,’ during sailings in the Caribbean (left); the ‘MSC World Europa’ sails the Mediterranean year-round.

Oceania Cruises; MSC Cruises

For celebrating at sea: Cruise from Florida to the Caribbean

A cruise is a fabulous way to gather everyone in one place to celebrate and enjoy nonstop entertainment in the form of salsa lessons, pub trivia nights, comedy shows, musicals and more. Cruises leave room for independence, too, since all-inclusive cruise meals usually can be spent together, alone or a balance of both, giving guests plenty of time to unwind between celebrations.

Several cruise lines across varying price points recently debuted new ships with winter Caribbean itineraries, including the brand-new (fall 2025) Celebrity Xcel. The 3,260-passenger ship offers specialty restaurants like Mediterranean-inflected rooftop hot spot Bora and Japanese restaurant Raw on 5, curated by an expert sushi chef (great for a splurge on your big day). Seven-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale call into ports in the Bahamas, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman and other Caribbean destinations.

Oceania Cruises’ new ship Oceania Allura launched its inaugural Caribbean sailing season for 2025–2026 and offers a more intimate cruising experience, with 1,200 guests on board. Fine cuisine is one of the line’s strong suits, and dinner at renowned French celebrity chef Jacques Pépin’s eponymous restaurant, Jacques, steals the show with dishes that may include escargots à la Bourguignon and duck parmentier. Twelve-day sailings from Miami call into port in Key West, Belize, Honduras and Guatemala, among other destinations.

Overseas splurge: Cruise the Mediterranean

A Mediterranean cruise offers intrepid thrills as you arrive in some of Europe’s most exciting cities and famed islands, including Barcelona, Spain; Rome; Sicily, Italy; Sardinia, Italy; and Malta, all of which can be explored independently or as part of a shore excursion.

The airfare to kick off your itinerary may be pricier from the U.S. (particularly in the summertime) compared with flying to Florida, but there are some great deals to be had on ships such as MSC World Europa. One of the largest in the world, with room for more than 6,700 passengers, it sails year-round in the Mediterranean on three- and seven-night itineraries that stop in destinations such as Marseille, France, and Genoa, Italy. You can opt for a standard stateroom or splurge by booking a stateroom in the ship-within-a-ship area called the Yacht Club. It has a private pool, restaurant and entertainment lounge for guests, as well as butler service in the suites.

For an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime Mediterranean cruise that’s perfect for celebrating as a couple, The Ritz-Carlton’s 224-suite yacht, Ilma, offers summertime sailings from Rome to iconic places such as Saint-Tropez, France, and Sorrento and Amalfi, Italy.

You only turn 50 once, after all — the dolce vita, indeed.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published July 13, 2023. It was updated to reflect new information.

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