As the great Aaliyah once say , long time ai n’t nothin' but a number . And while move is fantastic at any bit – the great unwashed who spend their money on experiences are happier than those who drop their money on stuff , blah blah , blah – there are certain kinds of travelling experiences that just make more good sense to have in your 20s , beforeyou grow a pesky signified of responsibility , professional and familial obligation , or a newfound sense - of - your - own - mortality aversion to risk .
In other word , how LO can you YOLO ? Here are some travel experience to get out of your system ( and , umm … maybe make you a better , more fulfilled , more culturally advanced somebody ? ) before you join the ranks of those who can legitimately say : " I ’m get too old for this shit . "
Party with strangers whose names you don’t remember/never knew
My friends call this unique single - serving - champion phenomenon " Cowboy Guy . " I block why exactly , something do with a dude in a cowboy hat in New Orleans . It does n’t matter , but to Cowboy Guy ( spread it ! ) is to trulylaissez les bon temps rouler . Basically , you meet stranger , you become fast Friend , you spend an outrageous Nox of drink and debauchery with them , and you forget their names the next day ( if , in fact , you ever sleep with them ) .
And I ’m not talking about doing gender ( see below ) . This is just dumb comradeliness born of partying , and while you could do it at any age , it ’s really something you should get before the clock strike , " I ca n’t trust it ’s 2 am and I ’m still out ! " Also , you may Cowboy Guy ( it ’s gon na catch on ! ) with a group of friends or alone . But stranger risk , of course . We would be derelict if we did n’t recommend you to exert caution as much as realistically possible .
Go somewhere where you don’t know the language
Why ? Because it sucks . And it ’s intimidating . And mettle - racking . And it ’s pretty much the worst . It will test your mettle and ego - sufficiency in ways few other life experiences will , and THAT is some true character - building mighty there . How much can you really know about yourself as a person if you ’ve never adjudicate urgently to charade , " I ’ve been tope and forgot where I ’m outride " to a non - English - speak alien before ?
Teach English in a foreign country
This used to be a batch easier and much more lucrative . Now , if you’re able to get hired , it ’s just a good way to get free room - and - board in a alien country for a few calendar month . Also , summarize experience ! And an immersive ethnical something something something where you get word things and develop and what not .
Attend a once-in-a-lifetime event
It can be the Olympics , the World Cup , the Super Bowl , the World Series , Mardi Gras , Carnival in Rio , Oktoberfest ( in September ) in Munich , Burning Man , whatever . give most of these events take place once a twelvemonth ( obviously , not the Olympics ) , but the disbursement of advert most of them as well as the unproblematic time and life restraint means that for most multitude , conk out once is once - in - a - lifetime .
Have a one-night stand in a foreign country
As foretell : doing sexual activity ! Why in a foreign country ? Um , why NOT in a foreign country ? Sure , you’re able to , and likely will , also do this within the continental United States , but a steamy one - night romanticism in an alien foreign land – like Canada ! – is just one of those liveliness pail lean item . Because it just is .
Climb something, jump off something, dive into something
Climb a sight . It does n’t have to be Kili , just climb a deuced peck . Or go bungee jumping , or skydiving , or whitewater rafting , or aqualung diving event , or hell , even river kayaking and snorkeling will work . Just do something outside the norm of what you would usually do at dwelling , and push your personal limits a picayune bit . Because if all you ’re doing when you trip is the same old " Hey , we should entirely hit thatStarbucks outside the Eiffel Tower " stuff and nonsense you ’d be doing at home anyway , what really is the point ? Challenge yourself . Let yourself surprise you .
Go on vacation ALONE
A mess of the things mention on this list are a hell of a lot well-to-do to do – and in all probability more playfulness – if you ’re flying solo and not at the clemency of your friend ruck . journey alone is some next - level me fourth dimension , and at the risk of sounding stunning and cliché , it will change you as a soul . ( In a expert way ! ) Spending a week by yourself ( supply incentive if it ’s in a foreign commonwealth ) is an accelerated schoolmaster class of larn how to handle your shit . ( Also , here’sour guide to how to do it . )
Spend an entire trip staying in hostels
Why ? Because once you ’re in your 30s you ’ll probably be making enough money that you ’ll never have to do this again and therefore will never want to . outride in a student lodging is … an experience . It ’s not an experience that everyone enjoys – as an only child who managed to never live with a roomie , I for one did not . But mass do . And I ’m beaming I did it ! Now when I utter abouthow horrible it isto stay in hostels , I actually have some basis of noesis rather than just assuming I would n’t like it . Also , hostel life will sure enough help facilitate some of the above experiences , so just do it .
Eat something that grosses you out
Because , much like try Brussels sprouts even before they were " cool " , you might discover out that you actuallylikesomething . or else , that something might also awaken you to the unquestioning ethnocentrism in your food for thought choice and what you define as " gross " or " uncanny . " ( One man ’s foie gras is another military man ’s diseased cuckoo liver . ) It might even make you a more culturally sensitive mortal . Or , at least , just enable you to say , " I go to Russia and ate fish ballock on fuckingeverything . " ( in earnest , everything . ) Whatever , you do though , please do n’t start insisting that you’llonlyeat ' authentic ' fish testicle , ‘cause that ’s pretentious and annoying .
Splurge on a stupidly decadent meal at an insanely expensive five-star restaurant
Because YOLO .
Backpack through wherever the kids are backpacking these days
Europe is " over , " and it ’s all about Asia now , proper ? Well , irrespective , do it while you’re able to because once you have serious grown - sept responsibilities , that Eurail or Shanghai Maglev train has left the station . Forever . Until you ’re retired . At which point , you ’ll travel by chartered busses full of drab hairs .
Go to a music festival by yourself
Going to music festivals with all of your best friends is gobs of play , sure as shooting … until the one guy who ALWAYS drink in too much and starts fights with strangers drinks too much and starts a fight with a alien , or the one exclusive girl who ALWAYS drink too much and start crying drinks too much and begin crying . ( The latter can also be replace with " demands to leave before the headliner has even gone on . “)Like travel / vacationing alone , there is a sealed under - appreciated freedom in lead to a huge music festival hart – you may see who you desire to see , eat what and when you want to eat , push to the front of whatever lot you like about the most , do and go as it suits you , while also create rich opportunities for Cowboy Guy symbioses .
Road trip across the country
search America the Beautiful in the best manner we energy commodities - dependent Americans know how : by railway car ! A cross - country route trip should bea mandatory American experience . you’re able to chit-chat a twelve strange country , but can youreallysay you ’re well - traveled if you have n’t even been to a XII states ? See all the landmarks – fromthe impressive(Lincoln Memorial ) tothe cheesy(everything on Route 66 ) – visitas many national parksas you’re able to , and just generally get to know this wildly diverse , often outback , ceaselessly scenic res publica of ours . Ahhhhhhhhh ' Murica .
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