40 experiences everyone should have before they turn 40

You're getting older, but you're still young enough to do something crazy

Jennifer Polland
Thursday 31 December 2015 14:12 GMT
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(Getty)

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Turning 40 is a major milestone. You're getting older, but you're still young enough to do something crazy, like bungee jump or take a trip on a whim. There's a good chance that you probably have more money to spend, too. We've come up with a bucket list of 40 things everyone should do before they turn 40.

Celebrate New Year's Eve in a foreign city.

Fireworks light up the Sydney Opera House during an early light show before the midnight New Year fireworks
Fireworks light up the Sydney Opera House during an early light show before the midnight New Year fireworks

Challenge yourself to complete something that seems impossible. Compete in the Ironman Triathlon, climb Mt. Everest, or finish a 100-mile race.

Splurge on a meal at The French Laundry in California, or another three-star Michelin restaurant.

Prepare food at a soup kitchen or volunteer your time in another way to help others.

A volunteer at a Church-run soup kitchen setting the table in central Athens
A volunteer at a Church-run soup kitchen setting the table in central Athens (Getty Images)

Dress up for opening night and see a performance at one of the world's famous opera houses, like the Met in New York or La Scala in Milan.

Meet a hero.

Go on safari in Africa.

Enjoy a really amazing £100 bottle of wine without thinking about the price tag.

Many wines' alcohol content is an average of 0.42 per cent higher than stated on the bottle
Many wines' alcohol content is an average of 0.42 per cent higher than stated on the bottle (Getty Images)

Play a round of golf at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California or Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, considered to be some of the best golf courses in America.

Go skinny-dipping.

Travel across Europe by train on the elegant Venice-Simplon Orient Express.

Sit courtside at a basketball game and cheer on your team.

Quit a job.

Buy a piece of art you're proud to display.

Drive down California's Pacific Coast Highway or the Great Ocean Road in southern Australia.

Do something good for someone who doesn't know who you are.

Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor who is volunteering at Shifa, treats a Palestinian girl at the emergency room
Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor who is volunteering at Shifa, treats a Palestinian girl at the emergency room (AP)

See Madonna, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, or another iconic artist perform live.

Read every book by a favourite author.

Return the favour and take your parents out for a nice dinner.

Go on a spiritual journey, whether it's an ashram in India, the Western Wall in Jerusalem, or St. Peter's in Vatican City.

People gather as Pope Francis holds Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square
People gather as Pope Francis holds Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

Mentor a young person in your profession.

Stay at the Four Seasons, or another luxury hotel, on a whim.

Donate 5 per cent of your earnings to a charity each year.

Bungee jump, sky dive, go white-water rafting, or do something to get your adrenaline pumping.

Give it a try
Give it a try (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Treat yourself to an expensive accessory, like a Rolex watch or a Chanel bag.

Gamble big and sit at the high-rollers table at a casino in Las Vegas.

Perfect at least one dish — even if you're not a skilled cook.

Ski in the French Alps or some other far-flung destination.

The French Alps
The French Alps (AFP/Getty Images)

Learn five good wine and cheese pairings.

Sleep outdoors without sacrificing luxury at a “glamping” accommodation, like Montana's Resort at Paws Up.

Go yachting in Monaco or Saint-Tropez, France.

Learn something new. Take a pilot lesson, learn a new language, or get certified in a new sport, like scuba diving.

Charlotte Burns, youngest junior master scuba diver in the world
Charlotte Burns, youngest junior master scuba diver in the world (PA)

Buy an extravagant gift for someone else.

Drastically reinvent your look at least once.

Get in the best shape of your life.

Eat grilled steak at a parillada in Argentina or a churrascaria in Brazil.

Grilled steak
Grilled steak (WestEnd61/REX Shutterstock)

Go on a solo trip.

Take on a leadership position.

Break a bad habit.

Go wine tasting in Italy's Tuscany region, France's Champagne area, or another region that's famous for its wine.

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• How Apple might avoid reporting a decline in iPhone sales
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