They say having children changes everything. While it’s unquestionably a remarkable time in one’s life, I can also see how the transition introduces obvious limitations. Suddenly you have dependent beings of life to care for. Responsibility kicks in, compelling you to dedicate a significant portion of your time and attention to the best interests of the little ones. Combine this with the obvious physical and lifestyle limitations that come with age and it seems to me that there are several activities to check off the bucket list before settling down to start a family.

Here’s our list of 70 things to do before having children. For us, it’s simply about conquering as many life experiences as possible. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting closer. 😉

Live in a high rise condo with an amazing view. Take a month long vacation on the opposite side of the world in a city with a completely different culture. Attend the Super Bowl live. Jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Make love in places you aren’t supposed to. Swim with the sharks. Scuba-dive to a large ship wreck. Audition to be on TV or in a movie… even if you’re just an extra. Throw the house party of all house parties. Supply all the booze and invite everyone you know. Take sexy photos of yourself (keep them somewhere safe). Learn to fly a plane. Become skilled with a musical instrument. Live in southern California for at least a year. Live in the heart of New York City, Chicago, Boston or another major city for at least a year. Spend a few weeks vacationing on the beaches of Kauai with your partner. Surf a Hawaiian wave. Learn to speak a foreign language. Visit the North Pole. Attend The Tonight Show or The Late Show as an audience member. Read at least 30 books. Jump off a cliff into a natural body of water in an exotic location. Go mountain climbing. Go deep sea fishing and learn to filet and cook your own fish. Go horseback riding on the beach with your partner. Drink warm beer out of a barrel in a real Irish pub. Spend a night pub-hopping in London. Stage dive and crowd surf at a rock concert. Take a set amount of money and hit the Blackjack and Craps tables in Las Vegas. Visit a high-end Las Vegas strip club. Embark on a month-long road trip across the country with 3 of your best friends. Ride a camel across a sandy desert. Go white water rafting. Go snowboarding in the Rockies. Get in great shape and enter some kind of fitness competition. Attain a solid understanding of how the government works in your country. Master one particular style of dance. Fall in love. Write a book… even if it’s short and never gets published. Drive through a (somewhat safe) portion of a third world country like Mexico or Costa Rica to gain perspective on what true poverty looks like. Go skinny dipping in a large body of water at midnight. Take a shower under a waterfall. Decide on your current life goals and write them down. Spend New Years Eve in Times Square. Go on a blind date (or a couple’s dinner date with new friends you hardly know). Sleep on the beach under the stars in Key West. Hit up Oktoberfest in Munich. Hit up Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Hit up Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Experience Spring Break in all its glory in Cancun, Mexico or Panama City Beach, Florida. Catch a ride in a hot air balloon. Rent a fast sports car and speed down the Autobahn. Switch jobs until you find one you truly enjoy. Buy your first house. Own a convertible sports car. Hike the Grand Canyon. Attend a Red Sox vs. Yankees game in Fenway Park. Spend a whole day making love without every leaving the house. Learn to make one mixed cocktail like a pro bartender. Run a marathon. Stand up in front of a large audience and tell a great joke. Shoot a gun. Swim across the English Channel. Bicycle ride down a mountain road. Learn to sail a sailboat. Learn the basics of a martial art. Visit the Amazon Rainforest. Bare all on a nude beach. Master one really cool magic trick. Master a few fancy dinner recipes. Finish up your formal education (but continue learning).

What’s on your list?

Also, check out these books for more awesome bucket list ideas: