I know some people dread milestone birthdays. Knowing this, I’ve decided to flip the narrative and celebrate this next decade by finding 60 new adventures at 60.
Quote of the day: “I must change my life so that I can live it, not wait for it.” Susan Sontag
I know some of my friends have celebrated their 60th birthdays with:
-a huge party celebrating each decade.
-getting photographed in their birthday suit.
-a cruise with other friends of the same age.
But I wanted something different. When my husband turned 50, he received 50 days of ice cream. And so I pondered what I could do for 60 days.
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How It Started
In reality, this all started when I read about my favorite movie, The Princess Bride. It was going to be played at a local theater along with some behind-the-scenes commentary by Cary Elwes. I even talked about the book years ago.
I vacillated whether to go to the event or not because it’s a late-night thing (and we are early-to-bed people).
But then I decided that it was close enough to my birthday that maybe it could be part of my birthday celebration.
That’s when I came up with my first idea, which was to do 60 Favorites for my 60th. I worked on that idea for a month, but then changed gears by trying to come up with 60 new adventures at 60.
And because I’m a planner at heart, I’m dividing these 60 adventures into 6 categories (so 10 of each):
Events
Places
Things
Restaurants
Recipes
Outfits
Each category will have 10 “new” experiences that I’ve wanted to do, and remind me that age truly is just a number.
The plan is to wrap it all up with something big… a river cruise sometime around the summer of 2026. Since that’s such a biggie, I’m using it as an entry into 4 of my categories: new places, new foods, new events, and new things.
Right: Hoop Dancing at the Heard Museum
10 New Events
While my birthday isn’t until December, we decided to kick off the 60 new adventures at 60 with the Princess Bride event (it was scheduled for Oct. 11). However, a week before the date, it was rescheduled by the theater to Feb 6.
We realized that it would be less stressful to spread the celebration out, so originally we thought it would start Oct.11 with the Princess Bride event and go through all of 2026.
Just like everything evolves, now I’m hoping to have all of my 60 new adventures at 60 done by the time of our river cruise (it’s not scheduled yet, but planning for Summer 2026),
There are many events here in Arizona that we haven’t had the opportunity to attend.
We moved here in 2019, and while we have done a ton and been to a load of places, there’s always more.
Pro tip: Putting things on the calendar is the best way for us to do them. Otherwise, we just talk about them and never get around to it.
Other events planned:
-Doctor Kaboom at a Tempe theater
-See a Cirque show up at the Wickenburg theater
-Lunch theater at Arts HQ in Surprise
-Attend the Hungarian Festival in the spring
-See Avenue Q at a dinner theater
-Check out the Hoop dancing at the Heard Museum in February
-Possibly see a performance at the Musical Instrument Museum
Right: Vulture Ghost Town
10 New Places
I’ve always believed that adventures don’t have to require a passport. There are so many local treasures right in our backyard.
While I’ve published many articles exploring Arizona, including historic places, cheap things, and hidden gems, there are many we still haven’t experienced.
Other new places I want to explore include:
- Hike around Papago park-well known for its Hole-in-the-Rock viewpoint
- Visit Lake Havasu (the home of the London Bridge)
- Explore the science museum
- Tour around Vulture City Ghost Town in Wickenburg
- See the Anthem Veteran Memorial on 11-11 at 11:11 am, where you see an amazing sight when the sun goes through the monuments.
- Solari Bridge at the winter solstice
- Yarnell Park where firefighters lost their lives in 2013
I’m realizing that “adventure” doesn’t always mean far away. Some of these are in our “backyard,” but seeing them at the right time can make a difference.
Right: Waymo
10 New Things
This might be my favorite category because it could be a bit challenging but also fun.
High on my list:
-Climb the stairs at Verado
-Take the light rail
-Be a passenger in a driverless car (Waymo)
-Experience a Segway tour
-Visit a cat cafe
-Hike the Scottsdale Preserve
These “things” don’t have to be huge or expensive. They just have to be new. And things we would enjoy doing.
Right: Sapiens Paleo Kitchen
10 New Restaurants
Considering my husband is a huge food lover, we have considered ourselves “foodies” for years. But with our nutrient-dense way of eating, it’s not always enjoyable to eat out as much anymore.
I asked a couple of our foodie friends for recommendations, and here are the places we may visit. We wanted a variety of food options and some fancy, some casual.
-Lazy Bird because it’s new AND they have prime rib on the weekends. Prime rib is one of my faves.
-Icho Sushi in Mesa
-Sapiens Paleo in Scottsdale (a menu where we could eat almost anything)
-Little Snitch for brunch (recommended by Cathie)
-Vogue in Surprise (one of Valerie’s favorites)-French
-Kasai-Japanese steakhouse
-China Chili
10 New Recipes
In order to try to spice things up at home, I added 10 new recipes to my new adventures at 60. We tend to make the same thing over and over, so I figured this would be a good project for both Rob and me.
Of course, all of the recipes will be tailored to our nutrient-dense way of eating, but sometimes it’s just a mixture of foods you wouldn’t normally combine (very much like clothing, right?)
We already started with 1 recipe, and I have a couple sent by friends. If you have a favorite, feel free to send it over to me.
So far, we have made Salmon Patties from the Whole 30 recipe book.
And on my list:
-Baked Chicken Tenders (shared by Lisa)
-Fruit Cake, but totally not what you think (shared by Tresi)
-Mexican meatloaf (saw on FB)
-Salmon Rice Bowl (shared by Francisca)
-Crunch Chickpea Salad (from Laura’s site)
10 New Outfits Inspired by People I Don’t Know
You didn’t think I’d make a list like this and leave out fashion, did you?
One of the best parts of being a style blogger is finding inspiration everywhere, especially from people I don’t know personally. I’m constantly amazed at how there are so many fabulous ways to look fabulous.
I was going to be inspired by 10 of the outfits I shared from the street style article I posted recently. But then Frances told me about Elsbeth from the TV show, and I decided to include her in the inspirational outfits.
It’s not about copying, but about learning, experimenting, and reminding myself that inspiration has no age limit.
Because fashion, just like life, is meant to be playful.
Wrapping It All Up: The Big Finale
Every celebration needs a grand finale, and thanks to my mom, with her contribution, we decided to take that river cruise that we were going to splurge on if we won the “Best Couple” through Vanity Fair. We didn’t win, but my mom was generous enough to make us believe we did.
It’s the perfect way to end a year, my new adventures at 60. The cruise will include a whole lot of newness, right?
I can’t think of a better way to toast to 60 years of living boldly and the adventures still to come.
Why 60 New Adventures Matter
Here’s what I’ve learned from just planning this: it’s not about checking boxes or filling up a list. It’s about intentional living.
At 60, I’m more aware than ever of how precious time is. Every “new thing” I try is a reminder to stay curious, keep learning, and savor every moment.
Pro tip: I’ve been sharing in my emails content from neurosurgeons and functional doctors on how being curious is incredibly important to our brain health.
This next year isn’t about slowing down. It’s about new adventures at 60 that should include laughter, curiosity, joy, and wonderful things I haven’t yet tried.
Thank You
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