20 Rewarding Hobbies to Try After 50 or in Retirement
Looking for something new? From pickleball and genealogy to woodworking, birding and volunteering, here are hobbies that keep you active, social and engaged.
In this article
Retirement, or simply having more free time, is a chance to rediscover old passions and try things you never had time for. The best hobbies keep you moving, learning and connected with other people. Here are twenty ideas to get you started.
Active hobbies
- Pickleball: one of America's fastest-growing sports. It's social, easy to learn and played at parks and community centers nationwide.
- Walking or hiking clubs: explore local trails with others.
- Golf: combines walking, skill and social time.
- Swimming or water aerobics: low-impact and easy on the joints.
- Dancing: ballroom, line dancing or square dancing classes are great for fitness and meeting people.
- Gardening: fresh air, light exercise and homegrown food. See our gardening guides.
Creative hobbies
- Painting or drawing: watercolor and acrylic classes are widely available.
- Woodworking: build furniture, birdhouses or gifts.
- Photography: capture travels, grandkids and nature.
- Quilting, knitting or crochet: relaxing, and often social through guilds and circles.
- Writing a memoir: preserve your stories for future generations.
- Learning an instrument: it's never too late to pick up the piano, guitar or ukulele.
Learning hobbies
- Genealogy: trace your family history through online records, libraries and DNA testing.
- Learning a language: great before a trip abroad.
- Lifelong learning classes: many universities host Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, and many community colleges offer reduced or free tuition for older adults.
- Puzzles and games: crosswords, chess, bridge and trivia nights. Try our free word games.
Outdoor and social hobbies
- Bird watching: peaceful and accessible from your own backyard. See our bird identification guide.
- Fishing: relaxing and a great way to spend time with family.
- Road trips and travel: explore America's small towns and national parks.
- Volunteering: mentor, tutor, help at food banks or serve through programs like AmeriCorps Seniors.
How to choose
Think about what you enjoyed as a kid, what you always wanted to try and whether you want something social or solitary. Try a few things without pressure, and check your local library, parks department or senior center for low-cost classes and clubs.
