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Kick Boredom to the Curb Thanks to These 75 Creative Things To Do With Friends

"I don't know, what do YOU want to do?"

Author:
Stephanie Osmanski
Updated:
Jun 8, 2023

Ironically, being alone doesn't have much to do with being bored. You can be bored even in the presence of other people—even in the presence of friends!—and research shows that boredom is a stark reality for most Americans. According to a Carnegie Mellon University study, 63 percent of adults in the U.S. feel boredom at least once every 10 days. But the next time you're feeling listless or lonely amongst loved ones, flip the narrative by staving off boredom with these 75 things to do with friends.

From fun, unexpected activities to in-depth conversations that allow you to get to know each other better, you'll never find yourself playing that annoying "IDK, what do you want to do?" game ever again. And you know? Your friends will probably thank you too.

Whether you're looking for the younger crowd, or adults, we've got plenty of options for everybody. Keep reading for the ultimate brainstorms for things to do with friends.

75 Things To Do With Friends

1. Start a podcast.

Across the globe, there are more than 2.4 million podcasts, but hosting an audio show isn't a business venture for everyone. Plenty of people do it just to do it! No matter the content or format of your podcast, getting together with a friend a few times a month to record—either virtually or physically—can lead to some fun moments and memories, not to mention a shared purpose.

Interested? Check out free recording platforms like Buzzsprout, Podbean, and Spreaker.

2. Make your own karaoke night.

Or you know, book a studio at a real karaoke place! But in the interest of keeping your plans as cheap as possible, you can always do a makeshift karaoke night at someone's home. Just pull up instrumental versions of your go-to songs on YouTube and sing your little hearts out. No mic? No problem. Sing into a hairbrush or a turkey baster if you have to!

3. Take a mixology class.

Don't sleep on the unparalleled fun that is a mixology class. Uncommon Goods offers tickets to virtual ones that you can do from home—which are so worth the $$—but there are plenty of in-person experiences to check out too.

If you're close to New York City, sign up for Regarding Oysters, a unique shucking-and-shaking experience from the party host, cocktail expert, and oyster enthusiast behind the bestselling book Regarding Cocktails, Georgette Moger-Petraske.

Down south? Check out the key to crafting the perfect cocktail at the speakeasy-esque Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia.

Or if you're headed to the Caribbean, stop by Casa Bacardí in Cataño, Puerto Rico, where you can tour the property, learn about the history of rum, and shake and make two delicious cocktails like a pro.

4. Visit a local museum.

When in doubt, see if any of your friends want to visit a local museum. Sure, the standard fare—art and historical relics and whatnot—are always interesting, but sometimes museums even host events like VIP tours, open art nights, parties and more.

5. Play bingo.

Did you know that millennials play bingo more than any other age group? Not your grandmother's Tuesday night anymore, playing bingo with your friends is a hotter activity than even trivia right now!

And if you can't find a local watering hole that's putting on bingo—no worries. You can always play bingo virtually too.

6. Take a virtual cooking class.

Just as exciting as mixology experiences (albeit a little less boozy), virtual cooking classes can be a cool thing to do with your friends. If you bond over food or are always trying each other's signature dishes, sign up for a virtual cooking class through Cozy Meal, where international recipes from international chefs reign supreme.

7. Buy tickets to the filming of a show.

Hotspots for show filmings include New York and Los Angeles, so kudos if you live there or are traveling nearby. But no matter where you are in the world, there's always a chance that something is filming nearby. Use On Camera Audiences to get more info on audience opportunities near you!

8. Go thrift shopping.

Thrift shopping definitely had a moment back when Macklemore famously rapped about it in 2011, but popping some tags and wearing your grandma's coat has always been a thing. Hitting the local thrift stores is universal and particularly adventurous (and cheap!) if you and your friends only have $20 in your pockets. Who says you can't have fun on a budget?

9. Take a hike.

Literally, take a hike. It doesn't have to be warm to hit the trails but even if it's cool, hiking with a few extra layers will only make a bond even closer. New to hiking? Download the AllTrails app to see maps of nearby trails.

10. Bingewatch a show that aired when you were younger.

What's more nostalgic than taking a trip down memory lane? With so many "old" shows now experiencing a renaissance thanks to streaming services—we see you, Laguna Beach, now airing on Netflix—it's the perfect opportunity to go back, back to the beginning and remind yourselves who you were when the show first launched. Did you watch it back then together too? Even better!

11. Host a seed swap.

If you live in a warm climate year-round or it's almost Spring, hosting a seed swap is a meaningful way to take an interest in each other's gardening hobbies. Take the seeds you have from leftover gardening seasons (or purchase new ones!) and compare what you and your friends have. Hey, maybe you have one BFF who hasn't gardened at all! Start 'em strong with a few of your favorite seeds and maybe next year, they'll repeat the favor.

12. Take a day trip.

Anywhere! You can literally go anywhere. Drive an hour away, drive three hours away. Take a ferry, ride a train or pay for an Uber. Maybe there's a nearby place you've always wanted to take a day trip to but just haven't had the time for it. Make the time! Or if you live a few hours away from a friend, you can both meet somewhere in the middle.

13. Write a fictional book.

Like, together. You can write a book of short stories, switching on and off you write one, a friend writes one, and then back and forth. Or you can write one fictional story, taking turns writing each chapter in different third-person perspectives.

14. Make a collaborative playlist.

If your playlist is feeling a little dull, sharpen it up by investing the help of your friends! Chances are you're on the pulse of different songs worth being shared, so if you make a collaborative one, you can all enjoy each other's taste. Sharing a playlist may even make a good conversation starter at other events with your friends too.

15. Shop each other's closets.

Have you ever envied your friend's style? Treat each other's closets like they're your local Anthropologie and go shopping! Rules are up to you: You can borrow, you can swap, you can donate to one another. Either way, you'll somehow leave feeling like you have a totally new wardrobe!

16. Try your hand at a Paint and Sip.

Paint-and-Sip events had an iconic moment in the 2010s but they're not dead yet! (TBH, we don't think they ever will be.) Try a local studio for an in-person night or opt for a BYOB virtual class like Paint Your Pet or Paint Your Home with Uncommon Goods.

17. Catch flights at a local brewery.

No, not the kind in which you leave on an airplane—the kind in which you drink brews! Even more so than say, stopping by a bar for a quick beer, sharing a flight or two at a local brewery can create a more social atmosphere. A drink is a drink but a flight is a shared new experience!

Want to log your findings? Download the app Untappd.

18. Set up a photoshoot.

Want awesome pics but without paying the price? Be each other's photographers and capture as many great snaps as you can.

19. Attend a local trivia night.

Bingo might be the "IT" activity of the moment, but trivia is still a fan favorite. Local bars, restaurants, and other types of venues almost always have a trivia night at least one night a week, but if you can't find one at a nearby haunt, you can always play virtually or set up shop at someone's house. (Just whip out your Trivial Pursuit board game from the 90s!)

20. Host a sleepover at a Getaway cabin.

The adult version of a sleepover is renting out a Getaway location—a two-hour drive from most major cities—and spending the night in a tiny cabin together. Stays start at $79 per night and all you need to bring with you is some wine and pizza (IMHO).

21. Attend an open mic night.

Just like how bingo and trivia are big draws to bars, open mic nights happen all over town. Whether you sing or perform spoken word poetry or just want to watch, an open mic night is always a light, social environment with low stakes.

22. Take a dance class.

You can book a variety of experiences on Viator, a booking platform from Tripadvisor, but one fave go-to is dance class. While salsa dancing and merengue are more of a date night kinda thing, classes like Bollywood or line dancing make a great event for friends.

23. Join an amateur sports league.

Whether it's a volleyball team or a cornhole league, joining an amateur sport gives you an "excuse," if you will, to see your teammates on a weekly basis. The stakes are low but the fun is high!