Adventure
Top 10 Experiences in the World I've Done
Last updated April 2026
The moments that genuinely changed how I think about travel — and life, honestly.
I've been lucky enough to do a lot of things I used to only see in documentaries or on other people's Instagram stories. And while I love a good city trip, a fancy dinner, a day at the beach — the experiences that actually stuck with me are different. They're the ones where I remember exactly how I felt. Where my brain went quiet for a second because I couldn't believe I was actually there, doing that thing.
This isn't a ranked list because honestly, how do you rank diving with manta rays against walking on a glacier? They're all completely different. But these are the ten experiences I think about the most — the ones I'd do again in a heartbeat, and the ones I tell everyone to add to their list.
Diving with Manta Rays in Indonesia
This one is hard to explain without sounding dramatic, but it genuinely felt like being on another planet. You're underwater in crystal clear water, and these massive manta rays — some with wingspans wider than I am tall — glide right past you like you're not even there. They're so graceful, so unbothered. Time stops for a second. It's silent except for your own breathing, and the whole thing feels surreal, like you wandered into a nature documentary by accident.
We did this in Nusa Penida, and I think about it constantly. The mantas come to cleaning stations where smaller fish pick parasites off them, so they actually want to hang around. If you're comfortable diving or even snorkeling, put this at the top of your list.
Watching the Northern Lights in Alaska
I had seen so many photos and videos of the northern lights that I thought I knew what to expect. I didn't. When they actually showed up — green waves rippling across the sky, moving and shifting in real time — I just stood there with my mouth open like an idiot. It doesn't look real. Your brain keeps trying to make sense of it.
We were in Seward, and honestly didn't expect to see them — but the conditions were right and suddenly they appeared, dancing across the sky over the mountains. We stood there in the freezing cold just watching. Check the aurora forecast, be patient, and dress warmer than you think you need to. It's one of those things that actually lives up to the hype.
Hiking the Narrows in Zion
There's something about wading through a river with thousand-foot canyon walls on either side of you that just hits different. The Narrows is one of those hikes where you're not just walking — you're fully in it. Water up to your knees (or higher depending on the season), slippery rocks, towering red walls, and these little pockets of light where the sun breaks through.
Rent the gear from one of the outfitters in Springdale — the neoprene socks and hiking stick are worth it. Go as far as you want; there's no set endpoint. We did about five hours round trip and it was perfect.
Sunrise at Haleakalā in Maui
Waking up at 2am on vacation sounds terrible. And honestly, the drive up is rough — it's dark, it's cold, you're half asleep. But then you're standing at 10,000 feet above sea level, above the clouds, watching the sun come up over a volcanic crater, and suddenly you're very awake.
You need a reservation — book it in advance because they sell out fast. Bring layers, more than you think you need. It's freezing up there. And then stick around after sunrise to explore the crater. Most people leave right after the sun's up, but the landscape is insane and worth the extra time.
Scuba Diving off Koh Phi Phi in Thailand
The water around Koh Phi Phi is ridiculously clear, and the marine life is incredible. We did a few dives off the islands and saw reef sharks, sea turtles, lionfish, and more colorful fish than I could count. There's something about floating weightless over a coral reef, watching this whole underwater world go about its business, that makes all your regular life problems feel very far away.
If you're not certified, you can do a discover scuba course — they teach you the basics and take you on a shallow dive the same day. If you are certified, the dive shops on the island make it easy to book trips. The visibility is usually amazing, and even the boat rides out to the dive sites are beautiful.
Hiking a Volcano in Guatemala
Acatenango is no joke — it's a hard hike, steep and long, and the altitude gets to you. But you camp near the summit and wake up to watch Volcán de Fuego erupt in the distance. Actual lava. Actual eruptions. It's the kind of thing that doesn't feel like it should be legal.
Go with a guide — they handle the logistics, the gear, the food. All you have to do is hike. And yeah, it's exhausting. But sitting around a campfire at 12,000 feet, watching a volcano explode across the valley? Worth it.
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway
I know this one's classic, but it belongs on the list. Driving Highway 1 down the California coast — Big Sur, Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, all of it — is one of those experiences that makes you understand why people love road trips.
Take your time. Don't try to do it all in one day. Stop at every overlook that catches your eye. We did it over a few days, staying in Carmel and Cambria, and I'd do it again tomorrow.
Hiking the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii
The Kalalau Trail on Kauai's Na Pali Coast is one of those hikes that earns its reputation. 11 miles each way along dramatic sea cliffs, through lush valleys, with views that make you stop in your tracks. It's challenging — muddy, steep in places, and you're carrying everything you need on your back. But ending up at Kalalau Beach, this remote paradise you can only reach by hiking or boat, makes it all worth it.
You need a permit, and they're hard to get — plan months ahead and be ready to book the day they're released. We camped at the beach for a couple nights, swam in the waterfall pools, and honestly didn't want to leave. It's Hawaii in its wildest, most beautiful form.
Walking on a Glacier in Patagonia
Standing on Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina, crampons strapped to your boots, surrounded by nothing but ice as far as you can see — it's one of those experiences that makes you feel very small in the best way. The glacier is massive, and it's alive — you hear it cracking and groaning, see chunks calving off into the lake. The ice is this impossible shade of blue.
We did a guided ice trek, which takes you out onto the glacier for a few hours. No experience necessary — they give you all the gear and teach you how to walk on ice. At the end, they pour you whiskey over glacier ice, which felt appropriately dramatic. Patagonia in general is otherworldly, but walking on that glacier was the highlight.
Visiting All 50 US States
This one isn't a single moment — it's years of road trips, flights, and adventures that finally added up to hitting all 50 states. Some were bucket list destinations I'd dreamed about forever. Others were random stops on the way somewhere else. But there's something satisfying about being able to say I've set foot in every corner of this country.
The last few were the hardest — you know, the ones that aren't on the way to anywhere. But finishing the list made me appreciate how wildly diverse the US actually is. Deserts, glaciers, swamps, mountains, prairies, coastlines... you could spend a lifetime exploring just this country. And honestly? I probably will.
These aren't the only incredible things I've done, and I know the list will keep growing. But these are the ones that come up when someone asks me what my favorite travel experiences have been. The ones where I remember exactly how the air felt, what I was thinking, why it mattered.
If any of these are on your bucket list — go. Don't wait for the perfect time. The perfect time is whenever you can make it happen.