22 Creative 38th Birthday Ideas

Thirty-eight will be a memorable year if you start it off strong by choosing a suggestion from this list of amazing 38th birthday ideas! Let Peerspace inspire your plans with 22 of our favorite ideas for an unforgettable birthday party. From 38th birthday gifts to themes you can organize the day with, these ideas are guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face!

1. Hunt for free birthday deals

This 38th birthday idea involves some advanced planning but is a lot of fun once you pick out each shop you want to hit up. Many stores and businesses offer free goodies on your birthday. For example, Baskin Robbins gives out a free scoop of ice cream and IHOP gives the gift of pancakes!

2. Hire a yoga instructor for a private lesson

If you’re passionate about yoga, dance, and other movement arts, then think about hiring a talented instructor. Make it truly special with a private lesson where you have 60-90 minutes of time where you aren’t competing with a huge class for pointers. 

All you need is to book your favorite instructor and have them come to the venue of your choosing. You can find amenity-filled yoga studios right here on Peerspace, the nation’s largest online marketplace for event venue rentals! Spaces like this 1,200 sq. ft. dance studio in Sacramento, CA, with lights and a sound system are perfect for a private movement arts class.

3. Spoil yourself with a fancy dinner

Restaurants are always a great option when planning a birthday. Make it truly memorable by choosing a venue known for an incredible experience. Many states have Michelin-star restaurants known for exceptional service and menus. Or you could try a culinary experience like dining in the dark, where the meal is just one aspect of the fun!

4. Visit a niche museum

One activity you ought to squeeze into your birthday schedule is finding a niche museum to visit. These are smaller museums that aren’t as well known as your city art or history museum. Museums dedicated to musical instruments, ice cream, and Spam are just a few of the options nationwide that will be as educational as they are fun!

5. Really catch them off guard with a surprise party

Once you’ve seen one birthday you’ve seen them all, right? A surprise party is just the thing to catch your birthday celebrant off guard with! Get everyone inside the venue in advance and turn on the lights, blasting “Happy Birthday” just like in the movies!

Plan it to perfection using our step-by-step surprise party planning guide!

6. Head to a paintball arena

Feel like getting a little competitive on your birthday? Play a few rounds of paintball with your friends! You’ll need masks, guns, and other equipment but most arenas have rentals you can use. Paintball games include free-for-all and strategy-based games where you work as a team.

7. Give the gift of your time with a volunteer project

Sometimes giving is the best gift of all. Block off a few hours to volunteer for a project you’re truly passionate about. Sign up for a seed collection outing, tree planting, feeding the homeless, or organizing shelter goods. Both you and the organization get something out of doing so!

8. Take the pups to a dog bar

How many of your friends and family have dogs? You can always make your birthday a doggie day out and bring the pups to a dog bar for a play date! Many dog bars even have fully enclosed, air-conditioned outdoor runs for your pups to play in. The dogs get to get outside of the house and their humans get to enjoy beer and snacks: a win-win!

9. Gift a new plant for a plant momma or daddy

House plants can become something of an obsession. If you know a birthday celebrant is a plant momma or daddy, then pick up a plant they’ve had their eye on! If you’re not sure what plants are best, a succulent is always a good option since they require little care and are small enough to not take up a lot of space.

10. Buy a gift certificate to a local tattoo parlor

How tatted out is your 38th birthday-celebrating friend or family member? You obviously don’t want to buy them a tattoo – those are super personal choices! But a gift certificate to their favorite parlor? That’s a 38th birthday idea they’re sure to enjoy.

11. Host a movie night with friends

Do you have a favorite movie or series you want to catch up on? Get everyone together for an epic movie night! Start with a few of Peerspace’s best movie night snacks that aren’t popcorn and choose a venue with a big screen and other amenities! You could even rent an entire screening room, like this 10-seat venue in New York, NY, for a more intimate box-office experience!

12. Get your game on at an arcade bar

Arcade bars are the grownup version of the arcades where you spent much of your childhood. The classic standup games are still there as are the tokens and tickets. Just add beer and wings to the equation and what’s not to like? You can even book a private party room at many arcade bars for gift exchanges and an even better time!

13. Take a cooking class with your friends and family

We can all use a chance to upgrade our kitchen skills. Gift your friend or family member celebrating their 38th birthday lessons at a local cooking college. Or you can even make it a group event where everyone attending gets to learn how to make pizza, curry, or lasagna. Plus, you get to eat what you make at the end!

14. Start the day watching the sun rise

Sometimes it’s the little things that really matter. If you want to enjoy every second of your birthday, then take a short hike to the top of a local mountain or head to the beach and watch the sun rise. It’s something we don’t do enough of and will be a strong start to the rest of your birthday!

15. End the day with some stargazing

If you started with a sunrise then why not end with stargazing? All you need is a good telescope and an astronomy guide (or a stargazing app) for 38th birthday ideas like this. Pick out constellations, observe planets, and hope for a shooting star to wish on as you sip cocoa and enjoy each other’s company!

16. Rise above it all with a hot air balloon ride

Looking for a new perspective on life as a 38th birthday idea? Rise above everything with a hot air balloon ride! You can take a trip above the desert, your city, or even the mountains. Some hot air balloon rides even include champagne for toasting a special event like your birthday.

It’s never too early to start planning that next birthday milestone, so check out these 40th birthday party themes and start getting excited!

17. Free fall at an indoor skydiving facility

Skydiving is incredible for adrenaline junkies but not all of us are quite so brave. You can still experience weightlessness minus the 10,000 ft drop by visiting an indoor skydiving facility. Here you can be completely safe but still get a taste of what it’s like to escape the bounds of gravity!

18. Enjoy the outdoors during a kayaking trip

Kayaking and canoeing are a great outdoor experience for cities with large rivers, lakes, or the ocean nearby. It’s relaxing and scenic, especially if you organize a kayak tour with a leader who can take you through the local history of your region.

19. Go hiking at a local park or nature preserve

If you love the outdoors, then plan a hiking trip as a 38th birthday idea. Bring your friends and family along your favorite hike, letting them see what views and wildlife make it special to you. At the end, you can either move on to another activity or set up chairs and a BBQ for an outdoor party!

20. Stay comfortable outside with a glamping adventure

Camping can get harder in our late 30’s. Rocky dirt floors and no showers isn’t as romantic as it once was. You can skip all that and enjoy a kitchen, shower, and Wi-Fi while still being steps away from the best outdoor experiences in the country with a glamping trip! Peerspace has incredible glamping destinations like this geodesic dome in Joshua Tree, CA, just 10 minutes from the national park!

21. Sing your hearts out at a karaoke lounge

Many people like karaoke but don’t want to sing off-key in front of a bunch of strangers. Fortunately, many karaoke bars and Asian restaurants have private karaoke lounges you can hire for birthdays and other special events. You’ll even have your own machine stocked with thousands of classic and contemporary hits!

22. Hire a tarot card reader for your group

If you want to take a metaphysical peek at the Universe’s plans for your 38th year, then think about hiring a tarot card reader for your birthday party! They can do readings for you and your friends. Everyone will learn a little more about themselves and each other.

38th birthday ideas: conclusion

Did you like what we have to offer? Peerspace is not only a space for great 38th birthday ideas but also a massive collection of event venues for special occasions of all kinds. While you’re here, think about browsing some of our birthday party venues near you for the upcoming celebration!

Find unique party venues for your birthday on Peerspace