The 21st Birthday is somewhat a milestone in our society, the age of maturation in the eyes of institutions big and small. You only get one chance to celebrate it, one chance to forge memories which must live on for the rest of your boring adult life. Of course, everyone has differing interests; some may find my suggestions unsavory whereas others may be inspired by them. It is for the latter group which I write this.
10. House Party
Perhaps the most obvious birthday celebration idea ever, but for a reason. The house party has been with us for a long, long time and offers those who opt for it a familiar surrounding coupled with (mostly) familiar people and as crazy time as they wish. Whether you go for sophisticated champagne and canapé type affair or loads of booze and a metal band, there is much fun to be had with this option. Another pro is budget, having a house party is one of the cheapest ways to celebrate your 21st Birthday. So whether you’re a struggling student or just don’t have all that much money to blow, a house party might be the choice for you.
9. Clubbing
Another rather obvious choice, clubbing can be a lot of fun. Every moderately sized city in the country possesses some kind of club scene, and now you’re finally old enough to get involved! Whether with your better half or a group of 35 friends, clubbing allows you to choose your preferred atmosphere with a little prior research. Not the most original of ideas, considering you theoretically have the rest of your life to do it, clubbing does however pretty much guarantee the opportunity to meet some new people- which is always good fun. Depending on your desired destination, budget varies- the bigger and more renowned the city the more $ you’ll need.
8. Dinner Party
Perhaps an option for the more sophisticated young people out there, a dinner party can be the ideal way to celebrate your 21st quietly with a special group of friends, family or even a love interest. Whether cooking yourself or even hiring a chef, the food is paramount in importance (closely followed by the wine), so make sure it’s perfect. With this option, you would do well to have a backup plan in place should the party meet sudden or unexpected peril, why not head out to a club?
7. Barbeque
Think of this option as a less formal version of the dinner party. A group of friends/family, an ice bucket full of extremely cold beer and loads of fresh meat- sounds good to me. Of course, being from the UK, I don’t get that many chances to have a barbeque- so when the time comes I try to do it right. You will need some music too, in the background of course- just to keep things flowing along nicely. Location is quite important but anywhere outdoors and private will do. Swimming pools win you extra points.
6. City Break
Go somewhere you’ve always wanted to go! Whether for a night, a weekend or even longer- a trip away with some friends, your partner or on your lonesome is always refreshing. Whilst budget comes into play to an extent, something can always be worked out no matter how much you have to spend. Early planning can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary spending later on, as can planning your itinerary down to the finest detail. If you are of the spontaneous variety- it’s probably advisable to accumulate as much cash as possible.
5. Camping Trip
There are only a select few things you can do these days that take you back a couple of centuries, to the days of the nomad. Camping is one of those things, and is something you could consider doing to celebrate your 21st Birthday. Its positives far out-weigh its negatives in my opinion, if you’re in the woods relaxing around a fire with friends then who cares about not being able to shower? Lakesides are prime for this option, so pack up the car with beer and food and head off. It’s as simple as that. Don’t forget your tent though, or your dinghy for that matter.
4.Road-trip
A classic student pastime, the road trip is truly an all-American institute. Driving ridiculous distances can be a lot of fun, well so I hear anyway. As well as offering you the chance to spend a lot of time with people you may like spending a lot of time with, you get to see sites and experience parts of a vast country you may never get the chance to again. Part of the fun with this option is in the planning, every detail should be thought about meticulously. Or, you could just start driving and see what happens.
3. Sky-diving
Some people just dig extreme sports. Many would state the sky-dive as being the king of such sports, one of the ultimate must dos in modern adrenaline junkism. It can be pricey however, and so when better to justify the money on throwing yourself out of a plane than your 21st Birthday?! Getting someone else involved may add to the fun, as it’s always better to be completely terrified with someone you know and love. With this option, fear is however known to quickly subside for ecstasy- making this option seriously worth consideration.
2.Beach Getaway
If you’re one of those people that love’s lazing about on a sunny beach for days and days on end, then this; the second in my top 10, could be just the way for you to spend your 21st birthday. There are a range of destinations to fit all budgets; however you will need a good bit of dollar to get this one off the ground. Whether heading to Florida, Cali or the Caribbean- as long as there’s sun, sea and cocktails- you’ll be on the right tracks. Top tip: don’t get drunk then go swimming.
1. Music Festival
Earlier this year I spent my 21st Birthday at one of the world’s biggest Rock festivals. It rained the whole time, the mud was knee deep in some places- but I had one of the best weekends of my life. Spending time camping out in a field with close friends (and 80,000 like-minded strangers), occasionally staggering off to see some great bands, is from experience- an excellent way to spend your 21st. Although ticket prices are steadily on the increase, prior planning can once again reduce expenditure and guarantee a great time for any music lover. This is strictly for people whose birthdays fall over the summer of course…
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