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40th Birthday Ideas for women

By an Award-Winning Professional Event Planner

Creative and unusual ways to celebrate a women's 40th birthday

About This Site

If you're tired of the same old clichéd party ideas, and are looking for something more inspiring or just a little bit different, this site is packed with original and creative party ideas. I'm Matt James, an award-winning professional event planner who has produced events for many celebrities including Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Stella McCartney, among others. On this site I'll share professional tips, advice, and trade secrets—that anyone can do—in order to add some creative touches to your party or celebration; whatever your budget.

Note: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may recieve a small commission on any sales (at no extra cost to you).


matt james

40th birthday Ideas for women

Turning 40 is a big deal. Some women embrace it, while others would prefer to ignore it. And not every woman wants a traditional 40th birthday party celebration with a party at home.

So pause for a minute and consider which category the woman in question falls into—then plan the type of 40th birthday celebration accordingly. If she's feeling sensitive about turning 40, the last thing you want to do is plan a huge surprise party with lots of family and friends.

Instead, she might prefer to get a smaller group of 5-10 friends together for some sort of group activity. Just going out for dinner doesn't feel special enough for a 40th birthday, so make it something out of the ordinary or a bit adventurous.

My approach to buying someone a birthday gift is always to choose something that they wouldn't ordinarily buy themselves—so that it feels like more of a treat or a luxury. I recommend taking the same approach when choosing how to celebrate their birthday. Organize something they'll enjoy, but is not something they do often (or have ever done before!). This will create unique memories associated with their 40th birthday.

So check out some of the more creative and unusual group activties and experiences below that lend themselves to 40th birthday celebration's for women.





Still Want to Throw her a 40th Birthday Party?

While this page deals with creative and unusual 40th birthday ideas for women, based around group activities and experiences, you can also check out my main page of 40th birthday party ideas (for women and men!) which contains lots of creative ideas for throwing a party at home—including party themes, countdown ideas, invitations, food & drink, decorations, gifts, and ways to include memories, surprises, and thoughtful ideas to make them feel special on the day.

40 reasons we love you
fruit name party drinks stirrer
surprise birthday party fan faces
40th birthday photo booth props





Fun & Games

For fun-loving big kids, there are lots of theatrical and immersive group experiences, games, and challenges which would make for a truely unique and memorable 40th birthday activity. 'Doing stuff' together as a part of a group—rather than just standing around drinking and making small talk—always raises everyone's spirits. It allows people to bond with each other over a shared experience and generally ensures that they all 'let go' and get stuck in.

crime scene adventure
Crime Scene Adventure
The Illuminati Hunt
The Illuminati Hunt
escape from death row
Escape from Death Row
plan a heist
Plan a Heist


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the fun & games category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • Escape from death row
  • crime scene adventures
  • Paintballing
  • BULLDOZER ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND DAYS
Find These Activities & more here
  • plan a heist
  • davinci's gold scavenger hunt
  • the illuminati hunt
  • Murder mystery dinner / cruise

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



Food & Drink

So many 40th birthday celebrations just fall back on the same old boring idea of booking a table a fancy restaurant for a group dinner. Snore! Instead, if the birthday boy is a foodie, get a group of friends together to try something a little more creative—something you wouldn't just do any night of the week. Believe me, you're guests will thank you. No one gets that excited by yet another big birthday dinner (at that restaurant you just went to last week). Plus, a lot of these experiences allow for more socializing, so your guests are not just stuck at a dinner table chatting to the same two people all evening!

Brewery Tours
Brewery Tours
Cooking Party in Your Home
Cooking Party in Your Home
Champagne Tasting & Sabering
Champagne Tasting & Sabering
Chef's Table Tour
Chef's Table Tour


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the food & drink category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • wine & chocolate pairing masterclass
  • chef's table tour: dine & meet the chef's at 5 restaurants
  • sushi making party for 10 at home
  • cocktail mixing class
  • wine tasting party in your home (up to 20 people)
Find These Activities & more here
  • the personal chef experience: host the ultimate dinner party
  • spend a day with a master sommelier
  • champagne tasting & sabering
  • a Private wine education tour
  • indian cooking class

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.





outdoor & adrenaline

These outdoor and adrenaline activities are a great way to induldge in something completely different. No one is going to roll their eyes and think 'urgh, not again' with one of these group activities.

Ziplining & Canopy Tours
Ziplining & Canopy Tours
sunset horseriding
Dude Ranch Adventure Days
Accelerated Free Fall Sky Diving
Accelerated Free Fall Sky Diving
snowmobile tours
Snowmobile Tours


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the outdoor & adrenaline category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • Zipline and canopy tours (inc moonlit options)
  • Sunset Horse Riding
  • winery bike & kayak tour
  • wilderness & survival clinics (optional overnight survival trip)
  • hike with adoptable hounds
Find These Activities & more here
  • Accelerated free fall skydive
  • whitewater / night vision rafting
  • snowmobile tours
  • group river paddleboarding
  • Beginner's mountain climbing adventure

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



tours

Tours are a great way to keep a group entertained; as you move from stop to stop, everyone is constantly stimulated by new things to see, taste, or learn about. Often, these tours operate in your own town, but they're the type of activities that local residents just never get around to trying—so a birthday celebration is a great excuse.

zombie tours
Zombie Tours
Mad Men Cocktail Tours
Mad Men Cocktail Tours
segway tours
Segway Tours
Hike with Adoptable Dogs
Hike with Adoptable Dogs


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the tours category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • zombie tours
  • winery / chocolate / dessert tours
  • Cave tours
  • segway tours (inc night time options)
  • hike & howl at a wild wolf preserve
  • architectural tours
Find These Activities & more here
  • chocolate & cocktail tours
  • latin flavors food & culture tour
  • 3 day wine tasting kayak tour
  • cupcake crawl
  • jet ski adventure tours
  • horse drawn sleigh & dine ride

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



learn & discovery

The learn & discovering category is all about trying someting that you've never done before—and probably wouldn't have if someone hadn't organised it for you! Some of these are pretty 'out there' unique experiences, while others offer an introduction to a hobby or activity the birthday girl might have expressed an interest in—but never actually gotten around to doing. So make it happen for them!

Create Your Own Signature Perfume
Create Your Own Signature Perfume
Open Fall Stunt Diving Class
Open Fall Stunt Diving Class
Group Introductory DJ Lesson
Group Introductory DJ Lesson
Action Hero Stunt Training
Action Hero Stunt Training


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the learn & discovery category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • circus school days
  • create your own signature perfume
  • introduction to sailing
  • introduction to snowboarding
  • open fall stunt diving class
Find These Activities & more here
  • group introductory dj lesson
  • creative drawing party
  • beginner's kayaking
  • Painting & wine party with an expert
  • group surfing class

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.





drive

Ok so not all of the driving activities will appeal to all women, but I've left this category in because I'm sure there are still quite of few that might be into these sorts of experiences.

hummer tours
Dirtbiking
Stunt Driving School
Stunt Driving School
ATV quad bike adventures
ATV (Quad Bike) Adventures
NASCAR Stock Car Driving
NASCAR Stock Car Driving


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the drive category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • nascar stock car driving
  • exotic car driving (lamborghini / ferrari / corvette etc)
  • motorbike tours
  • stunt driving school
Find These Activities & more here
  • learn to drive like a spy
  • jeep tours (wineries / desert / national parks etc)
  • hummer tours (mountain / forest / desert)
  • atv (quad bike) adventures

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



fly

The fly category offers a more gentle experience for groups to see and explore, plus they're often combined with other things such as wine tastings, jeep tours, and dining. If you are holding a more traditional group dinner at a restaurant, why not start off by taking everyone for champagne in a hot air ballon or helicopter beforehand—it's any easy way to make the occasion more special and memorable.

Hot Air Balloon Ride & Wine Tour
Hot Air Balloon Ride & Wine Tour
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter Tours
Zero Gravity Flight Experience
Zero Gravity Flight Experience
Cessna & Jeep Tour & Dine
Fly a Jetpack


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the fly category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • champagne hot air balloon flight
  • zero gravity flight experience
  • night time / celebrity homes helicopter tours
Find These Activities & more here
  • cessna & jeep tour and dine
  • scenic / sunset / coastal helicopter tours
  • fly a jetpack

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.



water

Fortunately, water activities range from the extreme and immersive (cage diving with great white sharks) to the more leisurely and relaxed (lobster and beer sail), so there's something for pretty much everyone.

Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
White Water Rafting
White Water Rafting
Private Yacht Hire
Private Yacht Hire
Paddle & Brewery Tour
Paddle & Brewery Tour


Some of the 40th birthday ideas for women in the water category, that are suitable for groups, include:

  • cage diving with great white sharks
  • tall ship sail & beer tasting tour
  • dolphin tours
  • schooner wine tasting tour
  • white water rafting
  • sunset cocktail / dinner cruise
Find These Activities & more here
  • sushi & saki sunset sail
  • lobster & beer sail
  • wine & cheese tasting cruise
  • paddle (canoe / kayak / BOARD) & brewery tour
  • beer & bbq riverboat cruise
  • sunday brunch sail

Unfortunately, not all activities are available in every city, but to check availability in your area and to book places, click on the link above. These are just a small selection so if you can't find a particular activity in your area, you might discover some new ones.





More 40th Birthday Ideas for women

Check out my other page of 40th Birthday Ideas (for women and men) for more tips and suggestions including party themes, countdown ideas, invitations, food & drink, decorations, gifts, and ways to include memories, surprises, and thoughtful ideas to make them feel special on the day.

balloon desssert table backdrop
40th birthday cake topper
40th birthday t shirts for women
too late to die young balloons




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Many thanks

Matt



40th birthday ideas for women


About Matt James

Matt James is a professional event planner and owner of event agency Left Field Productions, which has produced events for Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kevin Spacey, Stella McCartney, David LaChapelle, John Waters, and Elvis Costello & Diana Krall. Since 2004, Left Field Productions has won 30 industry awards for excellence including Production Company of the Year.


matt james

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  • 40th Birthday Ideas for women

    by an award-winning professional party planner