ROAD-TRIP | FROM CALIFORNIA TO TEXAS

Road-Trip Essentials | Games | Tips | & More

I recently arrived in Texas after a two day, 25+ hour, four state long drive and realized, I am pretty much the queen of car drives. Anywhere from three to ten times a year I take the (what I consider, short) drive to Los Angeles (Southern) California from my home in Northern California. To me, the six to seven hour drive is nothing, however; I have had a lot of people surprised that I am always eager and excited to take the drive whenever at all possible.

Now I do usually have a pretty big incentive for driving over 300 miles to the LA area. I used to have a Disneyland Annual Passport of which I used anywhere from 4-11 times a year, easily paying for the price of the ticket and saving me big bucks on food and souvenirs via their annual pass holder discounts. However since I am now an adult (collective crying) and I need to pay for things like car payments, taxes, food, housing, and everything else that makes me that much more understanding to Peter Pan and his plight of aging. I realized that at this time in my life I can’t afford to spend the money I used to on trips to the happiest place on earth (crying continues). No matter how much I want to spend every dime I own going to the parks and buying every Mickey Pretzel and Bangle BBQ skewer in sight.

Even though my road-trips to LA have decreased significantly over the past year, I have been on a few longer road-trips to visit my grandma in Texas.

About 2 years ago my grandmother moved to Texas to help take care of and be around my uncle who was diagnosed with ALS. However, the distance between California and Texas causes a lot less visits, and a lot more time in the car in order to see one another. I am happy to take the trip, however, over the 6+ days I’ve gone back and forth to and from Texas here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

Griffith Observatory | December 30th, 2014

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DRIVE

The Night before you leave for your road-trip, whether it be short or long, you need to do a few things to help have a smooth and painless time the next morning.

1. I ALWAYS create a checklist of everything I may need to pack for my trip. It can be on a post-it note or in your phone, or maybe you go above and beyond and actually print out a checklist from the internet. I like this one. No matter what you do, a checklist is an easy way to see everything you will be packing in one spot and be able to identify any missing items. Plus! It’s a great way to have a list of everything you brought with you, just in case something gets lost or misplaced, you can see what is needed.
2.  I suggest you double check that you are all packed! I usually pack at least 24hours ahead of any trip I take. This way I can practice living off of only what I pack and it helps me figure out if I’m forgetting something I may need. I have a few friends on the other hand that pack last minute, aka: the morning of the drive, and just throw things in grocery bags or pillow cases. They usually end up forgetting something or saying, “I wish I brought _____” or “I should have packed ______”. Don’t be that person. Plan it out and make time to pack the night before, it saves you energy in the morning and money when you don’t have to go buy socks and a toothbrush.
3. If you plan on leaving before 4am try to get into bed by around 7pm. On my long road-trips I usually get up around 3 - 3:30am and depart home around 4am. So I try and hop in bed by 7pm (this rarely actually happens, but I plan it to work out that way). If it takes you a little longer to get into bed, or a few hours to fall asleep at night, like it takes me, than 7pm isn’t actually as early as it may seem. When I get in bed by 7pm, on average I don’t actually start to nod off until around 9pm. 9pm to 3am only gives me 6 hours of sleep for my 10+ hours of driving. Not a lot, but sufficient for me, when I average 4 hours of sleep normally (yes I know that is bad).

Carlsbad | May 5th, 2014

ESSENTIALS TO HAVE DURING THE DRIVE 
(WITHIN REACH PREFERABLY)

This is a list of things that I have learned are a must have for any road-trip I embark on. It’s especially helpful to have these items within reach (if possible) during the drive so you don’t have to stop and pull over to retrieve them.

• FOOD - snacks and drinks are super helpful during a long car drive. I usually pack about 4 water bottles, a coffee drink of sorts, crackers, an apple or two, a few breakfast bars, and some gum. I try not to pack to many sweets because in a car drive sometimes it’s easy to fall into the trap of fast and easy food and you end up eating junk food the entire trip. I know I will be stopping at drive-thru’s so I don’t want to add too much other junk foods. Anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated and can be easily eaten in a car (ie; no crumbs, no sauces, no pungent smells) is a great option.
• CLOTHES - clothes sound like an obvious thing for any venture into the world, however I’ve learned a few things about what often is the best items to wear during a long road-trip. Think comfort! Nobody cares if you are wearing makeup or if your hair is a mess, or even if you are wearing your middle school band shirt, just be comfortable. I usually lean towards a loose v-neck t-shirt and some loose pants (ie; my velour track pants, yes I own a pair and I am not sorry about it). Make sure nothing is tight or uncomfortable for long periods of time. I don’t know about you, but I tend to bloat a bit during long car drives, anything over a eight hour drive, and I would hate to find out my shirt isn’t as comfy as I may have thought. Make sure you have sunglasses easily accessible. They save you a lot when driving. You may want to put a jacket within reach. I always leave one out of my suitcase and laying on the back seat so I can grab one if need be. This leads me to my next point… make sure your clothes are weather adapting. For example, as I drove from California to Texas, I had to stop and get out at gas stations along the way. In the matter of one day I went from 76 degree heat to 32 degree snow. No joke! make sure your clothes can easy change with the weather you plan on having during the drive. Also, bring slippers in the car! You don’t have to wear them the entire time, but have them and a pair of slip on shoes accessible and easily interchangeable. I usually wear slippers during road-trips, they are soft, comfy, and if need be, I can wear them to pump gas or get out at a rest stop. Now, even though I say dress comfy, think about what you are wearing in case something happens. 

STORY TIME:

January 1st, 2015

I was driving home from LA with my friend Lisa back on January 1st, 2015 and I knew it would be about a 7 hour drive and I wanted to be comfy and lazy at the same time, so I decided to wear my pajama top and leggings with no bra and slippers. As luck would have it, as we were about to go over the Grapevine I blew a tire. It went rolling across 5 lanes of traffic, lucky hitting nobody else on the road, and we pulled into the center divide. I am very fortunate that there was a huge center shoulder and that we were in the fast lane, so it was a smooth (lol) transition off the freeway. Although it wasn’t until I had to get out of my car, in the middle of the freeway, on New Years Day, with people whizzing by that I realized I would rather be wearing something else.

LESSON: Be comfortable, not lazy. Wear clothes you don’t mind if people see you in.

• CREDIT (DEBIT) CARDS / MONEY - I learned this one the hard way… times have changed and credit card companies are all about your protection, which is great, except when they cut you off because they think your card has been stollen. My suggestion, if you don’t travel often, and you decide to take a long road-trip, especially across multiple states, call your card company a day or two before your trip and let them know of your plans and when you estimate to be back home. I didn’t know what would happen, but because I don’t take as many road-trips as I used to, my credit card companies thought that someone buying stuff in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas within two days was enough strange activity on my account to shut them down on fraud suspicions. Due to the fact that none of my cards were working, I was turned away at multiple gas stations. I started to worry that someone had in fact stollen my number, but when I called the companies, they informed me that they assumed it had been fraud because of the fast travel times, distance, and charges. It was easy enough to sort out, but it’s easier to call ahead and not have to worry about your cards being cut off. I suggest bringing enough money for at least a half a tank of gas and some food just incase something like what happened to me happens to you. Just in case your cards stop working, make sure you have enough cash with you to get some food and gas.
• PILLOW - I think this one is easy to understand and needs very little explanation. If you are a passenger, bring a pillow. Even if you don’t sleep during car rides, sometimes it’s nice to have a comfortable surface to lean on during long drives.
• CHARGERS - make sure you have a car charger for your phone within reach. I tend to use my GPS on my iPhone whenever I’m taking trips as well as play music off my phone, so the battery is something I cannot afford to lose. If you and your passengers all share the same type of device, you don’t all need an individual charger, just one or two depending on the number of people in the car should be sufficient. Just take turns charging and pack the rest of the chargers away.
• MUSIC / AUDIO PLAYERS - I can not take a drive without music, even if it’s down the street to the grocery store or to my friends house 5 blocks away. I live and breath off music. I suggest for a good time creating a playlist of your music before you leave home, or creating a Pandora playlist for the drive. My favorite Pandora stations are: “Angus and Julia Stone Radio”, “Michael Buble Radio”, “Today’s Hits Radio”, and “Arctic Monkeys Radio”. I also highly suggest breaking up the music on the trip with a few laughs. I listen to “Comedy Is Not Pretty Radio” on Pandora. It brings lots of laughs but does have some explicit language, so be aware of the age of your passengers.
• CHAPSTICK / LOTION / MOISTURIZER - I tend to get very dry skin naturally, but it becomes even more dry in cars. I usually apply moisturizer, lotion, and my Burt’s Bees Lip-Balm before any long drive. I DO NOT apply makeup. This way my skin has time to rest and breath and moisturize while I travel. It helps me have healthier skin when I arrive at my final destination. Plus, chapstick is a total lifesaver. I usually apply chapstick every two to three hours on a road-trip due to chapped lips. Don’t get dry skin or chapped lips. Drives are an easy time to refresh.
• BACK WARMER / ICY HOT - I have a pretty bad back, thank you scoliosis and back spasms. If you are prone to sore muscles or back pains, may I suggest bringing along a back warmer and/or some icy-hot for the drive. Also, a hint for the females out there, if you are on your period during a long road-trip, yes I know, it sucks, the back warmers can be shifted onto your stomach and relieve menstrual cramps and pains.
• HAND SANITIZER / TIDE-TO-GO - sometimes, when you dont want to stop driving, like I do, you end up eating in the car and when you finish you realize you can’t wash your hands… there’s no sink in your vehicle. A moment like that is where hand sanitizer is a life saver. Bath & Body Works often has a deal on hand sanitizers. And don’t forget that you can easily clean any stains that may mystically appear on your clothes or even the car if you bring with you a Tide-To-Go Pen . No longer will your food stains or coffee spots be a huge worry. Tide-To-Go pens are a necessity for any bag I carry, but especially for long car drives. (I swear I was not paid to say any of this, I just love the stuff and need it with me on my road-trips!)
• BOOK / NOTEBOOK - Even if you don’t plan on reading in the car or writing anything down, bringing a notebook or reading book can save you from boredom and if you have a great idea for your next book, movie, blogpost, or just general notes, you can jot them down. I never realized how many things I actually wanted to take note of before I started bringing a tiny notebook in my purses. I always have one in the car now. And if you are stumped on reading materials might I suggest a few good books? 

Wild - Cheryl Strayed

Me Earl and the Dying Girl - Jesse Andrews

Room - Emma Donoghue

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

Just Kids - Patti Smith

• ADVIL / EXCEDRIN / MEDICATION - for those pesky headaches or neck-aches, I always like to be prepared. I tend to get migraines, but if you don’t normally have a problem with headaches or any other aches, you can skip packing this and putting it within reach. If you have any medication that you take, then make sure these are within your reach during the car ride.

Las Vegas, NV | August 1st, 2014

TIPS & TRICKS

1. DONT OVER PACK - I still do this to this day, but if you are going somewhere with a washer/dryer than you really dont need more than just the bare essentials, you can wash your clothes at your final destination. A heavy suitcase is never fun and only takes up more space in the car that could be used for other things (see Tip #3).
2. FIGURE OUT WHAT “THEY” HAVE - if you are a serial over-packer, figure out what your final destination already has. For example; my grandma has a hair dryer so I don’t need to pack one and clutter up my bag, it would just be a waste of space. My grandmother also has an umbrella so even though I looked at the weather before hand, and it says rain, I really dont need to bring my Mary Poppins umbrella, even though I love it so. Figuring out what your final destination has, helps cut down on the amount of stuff you bring and leaves room for other things that may accumulate during your trip, leading to my next tip…
3. LEAVE SPACE FOR NEW THINGS - I have a major problem with buying things on trips. It doesn’t matter if its to Disney World or just to Texas, I always buy at least one or two things, and lets face it by one or two things, I mean maybe a couple of hundred things (get it? Bieber reference... no? okay moving on!) I always end up buying things and run out of space to bring them back home. If you are driving, usually you have more room than if you’re flying which allows some leeway for trinkets and things. Just try to plan as accordingly as you can if you know you like to buy souvenirs. 

Catalina Island | December 31st, 2014

GAMES

1. KID FRIENDLY GAMES

• Eye Spy : One person spies something and recites the line, “Eye spy with my little eye, something _______”, ending in a clue (ie; red, blue, round, bright, etc.). Everyone else takes turns trying to guess the mystery item.
• License Plate Game : See how many different license plates you can find on your trip and check them off your list. You can shoot for all 50 states, or just a select few, you choose. Work as a team in the car, or individually. Bonus points for Canada, Mexico, or US Territory plates.
• Punch Buggy / Slug Bug (same thing) : Look out the window and find a Volkswagen Beetle or New Beetle. Punch (lightly NOT HARD) the person closest to you on the arm or leg while calling out "Slug bug!" or "Punch buggy!". It helps to call out the color of the Punch Buggy, so it will make it easier for the other person to see it too. Whomever has the most at the end of the drive, wins.
• 20 Questions : Guess what noun (person/place/thing) someone in the car is thinking of in 20 questions or under. Rules: someone in the car thinks of something, the car begins to ask yes or no questions trying to narrow down the possible answers, a question can not be repeated, whom ever guesses the right answer gets to start the next round.
• Hangman : The first player thinks of… anything, really. Instead of writing out the saying, you leave an underscore for each letter in each word. The second player guesses one letter at a time. If the mystery saying contains the letter, it is written in the correct place. If not, the first player draws a head on the hangman scaffold. When enough incorrect letters have been guessed, the dead body is complete and the second player loses. If the guesser solves the puzzle before the body is complete, they win.
• Bingo : This game combines bingo with a scavenger hunt. Give each player a small white board. Each player writes out the possible bingo sightings on a 5 square by 5 square chart, (ie; tree, bike, stop sign, dog in car, fence, church, horse, airplane, cow, traffic cone, police car, railroad sign, bus, free space, bird, fire hydrant, construction vehicle, etc.) and an expo marker. When a player spies an item on his/her card, s/he puts and X through the word. Just like in regular bingo, the first player to cover all the squares in a straight line wins.
• M.A.S.H. : Ask any 90s kid, they can help you figure this out. If you need help, you can look up the rules here.

2.  ADULT ONLY GAMES (just to be safe)

• Never Have I Ever : This is usually a drinking game, but since safety and not getting arrested comes first, leave the alcohol out of the equation until you arrive at your destination. Instead, play the game as you usually would (and take a drink), but with water, juice, soda, or whatever your appropriate drink of choice is. First one to take a drink 10 times, or the first to need to use the bathroom, loses. 
• Swear Jar : Decide on a common word that will be off limits for the duration of the car trip. It doesn’t have to be a swear word, just a common word that everyone will use at least once during normal conversation. Try words like bathroom, cow, phone, etc. to try and trip people up. You can use real money, or have the offending passenger write their name on a scrap of paper and put it in the jar. The person with the most money or names in the jar has to buy the car a round of drinks at your destination, fill up the gas tank, or do something else of your choosing.
• Would You Rather : We all know this game. Everyone takes turns asking whether the others would do something or another. Feel free to make it as gross, weird, and unique as possible. Here are a few suggestions: “Would you rather never be able to speak again or always have to say everything that is on your mind?” , “Would you rather never listen to music again or live without TV forever?” , “Would you rather have no eyebrows or no lips?” , “Would you rather have the best house in a shitty neighborhood or the worst house in a fancy neighborhood?” , etc. You get the point.
• Pop Culture : If your car is full of film buffs, music idolizers, or just pop culture know-it-alls, play “Pop Culture”. (I don’t know if there is another name for this game, because I made it up with my dad on a trip from California to Seattle, Washington) Game: Connect actors, singers, musicians, through movies, tv shows, and relationships they have been in. Rules: The game starts with an actor, actress, or singer. Then choose someone you want to try and connect them to. Then you take the first name and you try to say a movie, or relationship they have been in or are in. The following person has to state another actor/actress from that movie or someone else they dated. It continues on until you can reach your goal person.  

Example: lets say you want to connect Bruce Willis to Lady Gaga. The game might go something like this:

• Bruce Willis 
• (whose ex-wife is) Demi Moore
• (who was married to) Ashton Kutcher
• (who starred in) Valentine’s Day
• (with) Jessica Alba
• (who was also in) Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
• (with) Lady Gaga

DONE!!!

* Note: I just did this Pop Culture run on my own while writing this blog post, so it wasn’t until I finished the link that I remembered that Bruce Willis was in fact in Sin City as well… so this link could have been completed a lot faster, however; you get the gist and how to play the game.

[Pike Place Market] Seattle, WA | October 3rd, 2015

Now go forth and have an AMAZING road trip!!! I hope some of these tips, tricks, and games help you have a smooth and fun drive. Don’t be afraid to leave me a comment on your thoughts of my list or what you think can be added to it. If you have suggestions or things that you do on a road-trip, do let me know. I love to learn new things and ideas for a more successful and entertaining trip. 

If you would like to follow my adventures, where I often post photos of my road trips, feel free to follow me on my instagram.

If you would like to see a short video I made of my drive to Texas, you can play the video below. That's another thing, if you like playing around with apps (I used iMovie on my iPhone) or any other video makers, you can make a short film/video of your drive to remember it and keep busy during the road-trip. :)

Love

Always

kirsten nicole huxtable

Take A Chance . . . You Never Know

Take a chance, I know it sounds cliche, but I mean it. 

This summer I decided to put myself out there and try new things, take a chance or two, and have no regrets.... and I LOVED IT!!! Since the end of May I have gone to Disneyland 3 times, Vegas, a taping for Comedy Central's show @Midnight, Newport Beach, San Diego, a SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) live taping, and even to Lamorne Morris' private Birthday Screening of Let's Be Cops (which by the way is an unbelievably funny film, go see it!).

Now to back up and explain a few things. 

Our impromptu Surrey ride around Coronado Beach.... the faces tell it all.

Summer started out with a few pre-planned trips, such as Vegas and Newport Beach. One of my best friends Aimee was turning 21 and we had planned a trip to Vegas to celebrate. Newport Beach is where her home is and so before road tripping it to Vegas, we drove from NorCal to SoCal and stayed there. Whilst in Newport Beach we decided to drive down to San Diego to visit her mom and her mom's fiance. There we did some impromptu stuff of our own, such as a painful, but utterly fun surrey ride through Coronado Beach.

Disneyland was another pre-planned trip... if you consider 48 hours pre-planned. Another one of my best friends and I decided only 48 hours after I picked her up at the airport from her trip to Spain, that we wanted to drive down to Anaheim and go to Disneyland... So we did.

Disney's California Adventure Park

See that's the thing, I know sometimes it's hard to go through with ideas or things you think would be fun, but someone very wise once told me, "If you want to do it, do it, no matter if nobody else wants to join. If you want to go do something, you better do it, or you will regret it." So I took his words to heart and decided instead of just saying, "Yeah, that would be fun.", I was saying, "I'm packing, let's go!" And we did.

Disneyland

On the first trip to Disneyland I convinced my friend to leave her number with one of our servers and just seeing how proud of herself she was for having the courage to do something so bold was more then enough reward, however what made it even better was that he contacted her. Without giving away too much personal information, I'm happy to report that they are still in contact... 2 months later. Whether it be the start to a great friendship or something else, the bottom line is she stepped out of her comfort zone, took a chance, was nervous as all hell, but it all worked out.

When I got home from Disneyland I was watching an episode of SYTYCD and wanted to see how you can get tickets for the show, so I went online and signed up through a site called On-Camera Audiences. I was placed on a wait-list and honestly believed that it would be a miracle if a spot opened up for me to attend a show. Well miracles happen. Two weeks after our Disneyland trip I received two tickets to attend a live showing of SYTYCD. So we packed our bags and hit the road once more.

SYTYCD Season 11 Top 16

*This may just be a blog about how to live out of a suitcase all summer, because I don't think I ever truly unpacked. ;)

While at SYTYCD we were isle mates with New Girl's Lamorne Morris (Winston). I'm not going to say we didn't make some eye contact... cause we did, but I was honestly more invested in the dances than trying to meet Mr. Lamorne. However, as life would have it, almost a month later I saw a contest that Lamorne had posted to his social media sites. 

The contest was to take a photo relating to the theme "Let's Be Cops". You email in your photo submissions, they are looked over and the 25 winners would get to attend a private screening of the film Let's Be Cops with Lamorne Morris on the Fox Studio Lot. After hours of texting humorous ideas back and forth, just for fun, my friend Lisa and I decided "What the heck! Let's try!"

*There was no harm in trying, we were just taking a few funny photos to see if we could win a fun night out. We honestly did not think we would win. Another far fetched idea... or so we thought.

24 hours later, at 5:30pm I received a response to my submission email. We won! I couldn't believe it. I was running around the house out of pure excitement. I don't know what I was more excited about, the fact that I would get to watch the film Let's Be Cops, the fact that the email was signed "Lamorne", or that someone was going to allow me onto the Fox Studio lot for hours at a time. (I'm a huge film and television fan, I sort of geek out over costumes and sets)

On the Fox Studio Lot

By 9:00pm we were on the road driving down to LA. Now while I don't think driving from 9pm to 3am is the smartest thing I've ever done, it was our only choice since the event was the next night and I knew I needed to rest after and 6-7 hour drive.

At 5:40pm the next day I was wandering the Fox Studio Lot and loving every second of it. Then came time to watch the film. Lamorne got up and said thanks to all his friends and family... and strangers that came to his birthday screening and the film began. After the film ended I got to take a few photos with Lamorne, tell him happy birthday and thank him for letting us have this experience, it truly was once in a lifetime for a girl who grew up in a 15 square mile town.

Myself, Arthur, and Aimee

Through the same On-Camera Audience site, I was able to gain access to tickets for a Comedy Central show called @Midnight that airs, you guessed it, at midnight. So Aimee, her boyfriend Arthur, and myself drove to Hollywood to attend a taping for  @Midnight which was hilarious and raunchy beyond belief. Since phones were not allowed inside the theater, I had to settle for getting the photo posted here outside of the studio. However I have found the full episode of our taping of @Midnight you can watch free HERE. 

Oh!!! And I bought a fish and named him after one of my all time favorite Disney movies. Meet my double tail betta fish Sharkbait! I know this image is super dark, so if you want to see some more photos of Sharkbait to come in the future, then you will want to follow me on Instagram.

Also if you want to see more photos from Vegas and my other trips this summer then you will want head on over to my Instagram. I also went on my first Wine Tour in San Diego and saw Smashmouth live in Santa Cruz.

Overall, this summer has been one of my favorites. Sure there have been hard times and even some days where I just don't want to get out of bed. But I do. I have been taking chances that I never thought I would. Sure they may not be life changing chances, but they make me happy, and that can change your life. So even if it's just entering a contest that you don't believe you can win or jumping off the high dive in the swim center, don't be afraid to take a chance or fifty because you never know what can happen.

Always, 

Kirsten Nicole Huxtable

21 Ideas for Your 21st Birthday

I’m of legal drinking age (21) . . . but my best friend is currently planning her 21st birthday as we speak. Helping her plan her birthday extravaganza reminds me of how I felt last year when I was struggling to find something to do for my 21st birthday.

On my old (retired) blog I wrote a little post about some options for what to do on your 21st birthday. And I feel like it’s time to share that over here on KNH. So without further ado, here's today's Monday Morning Mumbles:

"My 21st birthday is fast approaching, it’s less than 2 weeks away.

I’ve been racking my brain for the past month (with no prevail) trying to figure out the perfect birthday plans to celebrate my 21st birthday. So today I sat down and tried to figure out what I wanted to do for this pinnacle in life. 

Now before you all say the same word; “VEGAS” let me tell you a bit about myself.

I decided from a young age that a successful social life was not very important to me. I would much rather focus on my school work than hang out with the 'cool kids' at the biggest party of the year. (Now don’t go thinking I had no friends, my invisible friend Beth and I had plenty of fun together) On a serious note, I was not a complete hermit, but I never really found myself feeling at home within large crowds or huge parties. 

When I entered college there were parties abound. Every night, even on school nights, there were parties. There were Jersey Shore ragers and Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show kickbacks. No matter your hobby, there was a party catered to you. Even with so many outlets for drinking, I never got into the whole party scene. I much more preferred my movies, books and art. 

I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not a drinker, and nor do I really want my 21st birthday party catered around drinking, especially since when I turn 21, most of my friends will still be underage. (Update: I did not center my 21st around alcohol and it was great. I had a simple dinner with my parents in Napa and then a few weeks later went to Disneyland to celebrate with a Zombie Frost (unbelievably good))

After hours upon hours of searching for ideas, I have compiled a list of 21 things to do for your 21st birthday that DON’T involve alcohol. 

For those of you who do drink, that’s fine! I don’t condone underage drinking, but I can’t deny that some of my favorite people in the world do it. I don’t judge or think I am any better for not drinking, it’s just a choice I made. This list is complied to help others who don’t drink or don’t want to drink on their 21st birthday find something fun to do."

21 Ideas For Your 21st Birthday

1. Bowling

I know I know. This sounds super lame and lets face it, we have all done this for a birthday party. Even if it was just a friends party when you were 7, the bowling idea is getting worn out. However, sometimes things that we let go of as a young kid we underestimate as adults. So bowling may seem lame or too slow paced for you, well have you checked if your bowling alley has night bowling? The bowling alley near my house offers $15 night time bowling where there is upbeat club-esque music, huge music video screens and neon lights.

And can we also admit that anything when done with the right group of people can be a fun time. So don’t rule out the bowling lanes until you have taken a good look into your options for events and guest list.

2. Go to the Cinema

Take a look at your nearest movie theater and figure out if there are any films that catch your eye. This may seem like a very traditional move for a birthday party, but don’t underestimate the power of a good film. 

For my 18th birthday party I wanted to take a group of my friends to see the film Love, & Other Drugs with Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal (because of Hathaway, of course). Anyways, one of my friends was not allowed to see the film because she was 16 and her parents vetoed the movie. At first I was really upset because I had my sights set on that film, but then I was eased into the idea of going to see Disney’s Tangled. 

Yes that is a “little kid film” and yes I did LOVE IT. I decided to go all out and just be a goofy kid again. So we bought the plastic table cloth and cups and had a blast. We may or may not have also decided to purchase some Tangled temporary tattoos and cover our faces with them before the movie.

Again like so many other party ideas it really just depends on the people you invite. Due to my amazing friends this night was a blast and we even stopped to take a few photos with Justin Bieber, who we came across in the Cinema.

3. Travel to the City (the nearest big city to you)

For me this means San Francisco, but Los Angeles is only a 6 hour drive away, so that’s not out of the picture quite yet. I may actually take this advice and drive to a large city near me. If you live in an area like I do then you don’t have much around you but farm fields and grocery stores. 

Taking a drive to the city can bring so much joy. In large cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles you will find, great food, shopping, theaters, activities, art, culture, dinning, nightlife, and so much more. Even if you don’t know what to do in the big city, get together with 3-4 of your best friends, take the trip and see what happens.

4. Poker or Game Night

Game nights or Poker nights can be a whole lot of fun. Money doesn’t always need to be involved either. If you and your friends aren’t into betting with money then use candy or a point system. If you use a point system, then you can decide what the values are for each point.

For example, you could say that for every 5 points a person earns they get to do something to the other players(ie; face paint, put makeup on, do their nails, eat odd food, etc.) So if there are 3 people playing and “Person A” has won 15 points, “Person B” won 9 points, and “Person C” won 7 points then you can say that Person A gets to do 3 things to the player of their choosing, while both “Person B” and “C” can only do one thing to the player of their choice.

I know that sounded really confusing, it does to me too, but I think you get the idea. Sometimes it’s just fun to be competitive during a friendly game of poker.

5. Go Clubbing

"But Kirsten this is a list of non-alcoholic activities!” Yes I know! Now while a majority of people that go to clubs also enjoy the alcoholic beverages, that doesn’t mean you have to.

Sometimes it’s just nice to get all dolled up, go out with your friends, and dance to some beat dropping music. Some clubs have a drink limit or an age limit, so be mindful, if some of your friends are not of age yet, then you will want to stay with the 18 and up clubs. If you are not a club goer (like myself) then there are still 16 more things that you may like on this list.

6. Attend a Show (Theater, Comedian, etc.)

This may seem odd or expensive, but if you enjoy the occasional musical or comedy show then this can be a really fun thing to do for your 21st Birthday. While a lot of shows are rather expensive, there are certain shows that you can see that are within the $25-$50 range that are just as good. Also most comedy clubs are not that expensive and are so much fun to be a part of. Just check the areas near you for the upcoming shows.

However, just like the clubs, be mindful, some comedy shows do have a minimum drink limit and if you are trying to have a sober 21st then you need to watch for that. Just call the venue or research online to see if that pertains to their show.

7. Go Ice Skating

This activity is highly underrated. Nobody really takes all of their friends to an ice skating rink for their birthdays. “Ew Exercise?” Even though this may seem like an ankle hurting, but numbingly painful way to spend a birthday it is a whole lot of fun. 

I have probably had about 4 birthdays at the local ice skating rink. Now I am by no means a great ice skater. I can go forewords and turn with some speed but thats about it. Some people are born to be on the ice and can twirl and skate backwards, but if you are not one of those people, then sometimes it’s just fun to make a fool of yourself. 

Plus a lot of times there are handsome strong men that work the ice skating rink and they get paid to help you up if you fall. I may have even payed a friend $5 to do a hard core fall right in front of the cute worker that she could not stop talking about, just so he would help her up. What a waste of $5. I got nothing but an empty pocket, she got the money and the cute guy... fail on my part.

8. Go to the Beach

I myself am not a huge beach person, however I do appreciate good times in the sand with friends. If you are like me and don’t normally go in the water at the beach then think of it this way; you can bring a beach towel or blanket, have a nice picnic lunch, bring some sports equipment and have fun.

Beaches are so beautiful and full of activities. You can bring a football, soccer ball, volleyball, frisbee, dog (with tennis ball), etc. A lot of times we are forced to create the fun ourselves, so even if you aren’t totally keen on the beach birthday idea, let it marinade in your mind for a few days and then decide.

9. Attend a Sporting Event

Do I really need to explain this?

A lot of sporting events such as football can be rather money consuming, but that doesn’t mean all are. Baseball is one sport, while not in season currently, that is very fun and often pretty cheep, depending on the seats. Plus can we all just admit that ballpark food is half the reason we attend sporting events? Even if the food is rather pricey. Oh garlic fries...

10. Finally See that Concert You’ve Been Waiting for

This is your chance. If your friends have been refusing to go to the concert of the year with you then you now have the excuse that it’s your 21st birthday! Go out with your girls (or guys) and celebrate the night with some music, dancing, and fun. You could even go out to dinner before and then drive to the concert while blasting your favorite tunes. Get ready to sing at the top of your lungs because this night is about to a blast!

11. Have a BBQ and Pool Party

Do you have a pool? A friend with a pool? Either way most of us can find someplace to have a backyard pool party with a BBQ lunch. One of my favorite days of my college career was when my best friend and I went to play tennis, then decided to go get burgers, chips, watermelon, and soda and make a BBQ dinner. It was amazing to say the least. We topped off the night with ice cream from the local creamery and some movies (Cloverfield and Fame) at night.

It was so nice to have a full BBQ night. And food always tastes better when you work really hard to make it. So find the person with the most skills on the grill and start your BBQ pool party. It will be a splash!!!! (Too cheesy?)

12. Get all Fancy and Go to a Formal Dinner

I don’t know about you, but me and my friends love to get all dolled up and go somewhere fancy. We even break out our handbags which we have named “Michael”(Michael Kors) and “Bourke” (Dooney & Bourke). Okay too much info. haha. 

Anyways... It’s a blast to take out that little black dress you swore you would wear, those nude heels and a statement necklace. Top that all off with a little hair doing and makeup if you want and you are good to go. If you do decided to do this idea make sure you plan out where you want to go to dinner at least 3 days in advanced and call the restaurant to make reservations. That way you have less waiting to do on the day and you will have more time to eat and socialize with all of your friends.

13. Donate to Charity

This one may seem out of the norm, but don’t get me wrong, I LOVE this idea!!! If you are anything like myself you have always wanted to be able to donate to charity but you haven’t had an outlet or funds to do so. This is the perfect time to do just that. For a birthday gift you can ask all of your friends and family to donate $10 (or an allotted amount) to a charity of your choice.

Even thought you wont get anything material for your birthday you can know that you made a difference in someone’s life. Don’t feel bad if this isn’t your pace of things. It’s just an idea that I have been pondering with for the past few months. It’s an easy way to make a difference for those who may not have the opportunity to celebrate a birthday.

14. Have a Pamper Day

Now this is a total 180 from the last idea, but there is nothing wrong with pampering yourself every now-and-then. A pamper day may be exactly what you need. Ask a few friends to join you in a day of rest, relaxation, and good times. 

This can be the time to try out that new nail salon down the street or the spa around the corner. Wether its massages or mani pedis, your body will thank you after a day of pampering. If you don’t want to spend a whole lot of money you can opt for the at home spa day. Pick up some face masks and nail polishes at your local Ulta or beauty supply shop and work away. Play some relaxing music and focus on being in the moment.

15. Sing Karaoke (it's a lot more fun then you might think)

This may seem a little odd but trust me, it’s anything but. Karaoke may seem intimidating if you have never done it before. If you are a shy person and don’t like to sing anywhere but your own shower, don’t worry, this is perfect for you as well.

Karaoke places can be really sketchy looking but they are a complete blast. Even if the screen is playing Japanese soap operas while your best guy friend is singing the part of barbie in Barbie Girl, Karaoke will bring laughter and tears (the good type). It is a whole lot of fun to be outrageous and sing at the top of your lungs with your group. You can hyper yourself up by first going out to dinner or somewhere fun before hand.

16. Make a Short Film

This can be a music video, comedy sketch, drama, or whatever your heart desires. The idea is to create something great to remember that day by. 

From experience, a few of my best friends and I decided one night that we were going to be crazy and make some music videos. Now we rarely show people due to the absurdity of the outfits and dancing, but it was probably the most fun I have ever had with those girls. We didn’t care about what people thought of us and we just went for it. So we put popcorn buckets on our heads and mustaches on our faces and went 200%. 

The final result? Well just watch for yourself. (P.S. even if film isn’t your forte or much to your liking, I guarantee that the video you make will bring back so many memories of good times.) I absolutely adore looking back on these times.

17. Work with Animals

This may not be your cup of tea if you don’t like animals. However for me this was a great idea. A lot of places that do doggy day car or shelter and relief are often looking for volunteers to help out in their facilities.

My friend and I decided to go work at a dog sanctuary every weekend for a school project and ended up loving it so much that we went back even once the report was over. We could bond with the dogs and take them on walks or play in this area with them for hours on end. It may sound like a chore to some of you, and if that’s the case then just go ahead and skip past this idea. However if you are an animal lover a day with the dogs or any animal may be just what you need for your birthday. Gather a bunch of your friends and spend the day volunteering. Make sure that you check into the place before hand so that way if you need to fill out a waver or sign up you can do so weeks before.

18. Go Racing

This may seem a little out of reach, but don’t worry, I’m not talking about the big Daytona 500 tracks. Find a race track near you. A lot of places will have indoor racing where you get all suited up in a sexy padded onsie and zoom around the track.

Now if you live by a real race track, it’s in your budget, and they offer deals to drive around then by all means go for it. For me this is a little out of reach besides, I’m pretty sure I would only go about 100mph then be scared and crash or vomit. haha. A day on the track can be a lot of fun and will bring out your competitive side. 

19. Be a Kid Again

For my 18th birthday party, as stated above, I decided to make it a Disney’s Tangled themed party. I bought the matching table cloth, cups, napkins, plates, stickers, temporary tattoos, and we even went to the movie midnight premiere. You can even do the whole goodie bag thing but place more adult items in the bag if you wish.

Another way to celebrate as a kid is to have a themed party based on when you were born(or your favorite years). For me I was born in 1992 so I would have a 90s themed birthday. Have your guests dress up in 90s outfits (ie; overalls, hair scrunchies, etc) and spend the night playing 90s themed games such as Pokemon, Dream Phone, Pretty Pretty Princess, and more. Dial in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and maybe even have some old shows playing in the background or watch them in the evening. Break out your old CD and Tape collection and Pump Up The Jam. Even make the menu themed with your favorite foods from the 90s. 

This may sound a bit crazy, but it can be a very nostalgic and fun night catered towards you. Just make sure everyone gets involved by getting dressed up and bringing a food or game, because it really gets exciting when everyone is in it 100%. 

(Side note: I may have been blasting some TECHNOTRONIC while writing that one)

20. Just Relax

This may not be the obvious answer to what to do for your birthday. A lot of times when we plan events and birthdays we forget that sometimes its fun to just step back, sit down, and do nothing. Now I'm not saying to stay in bed all day (unless that would really make you happy). I'm saying stay at home with family and friends or go out and do every day activities. Watch a movie at home. Make some food (maybe a cake or some brownies). Go for a walk and spend time with those around you.

You're 21 now, but that doesn't mean you forgot where you came from. Take the day to just be with those you love and love you. Be relaxed and be rested. This day is for you.

21. Go to Disneyland!!! (Most Likely what I will be doing. (Update: I did!))

This is by no means the cheapest option, but since I have an annual pass I figure I might as well take advantage of it. Plus Disneyland and Downtown Disney have entertainment, rides, food, drinks(alcoholic and non-alcoholic), hotels in abundance, music, people, souvenirs, etc. This is the best of all worlds to me. Disneyland is my second home. I can tell you where every restroom, food cart, ride, restaurant, shop, ect. is. 

If you don’t love Disneyland or long lines then I wouldn't suggest this to you. However, if you can plan your trip in a cold or rainy season then do that. A lot less people attend the parks on days when it’s cold and/or raining. Now Anaheim rarely gets super cold, but when it rains it’s truly magical. My mother and I once arrived at Disneyland around 9am by 10am it had started to rain. By the time noon came around all the lines were under 20 minutes and the park was empty. 

(For a Disney lover this option is the only option. haha.)

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this post and got some good ideas for your upcoming birthday. If you need me, I’ll be at DISNEYLAND!!!!