10. A Fishing Trip

It sounds antiquated, but it can actually be a lot of fun—and you don’t even need to catch anything. Write your own Fish Stories with a group of close friends for this special birthday—plan for a great meal over an open campfire or in a park’s grill, if restrictions are in place. Spend the afternoon and evening bonding with your buddies, exchanging news, fishing, being peaceful in each other’s company.

It means a great deal to have a group of friends you feel you can trust at age 30—no longer a adolescent or a young buck, but a grown man for which priorities may shift. The art of being friends is often underappreciated, but easy to revive with a little food, drink, and time to talk.

11. Literary Aspirations

If your buddy is a bookworm, plan a weekend vacation centered around their favorite authors. You could visit Hemmingway’s favorite domestic haunts, the homes of D.H. Lawrence or Carl Sandberg, even make time to head to Santa Fe and George R.R. Martin’s retro theater—the Jean Cocteau Cinema.

Believe it or not, it will forever impact the way your friend sees his favorite writers. Occupying space they do or did adds another dimension to our understanding of a writer’s work, even those who dabble in worlds that never were.

12. Get Into the Game

We’ve talked about going to see a sporting event, but if your buddy is one who still enjoys participating in local sports, getting involved is a great way to show you truly care. You could organize a pickup game of soccer or baseball with the local men’s league to which your friend belongs.

Alternately, reserving time at the paintball range, playing a game of ultimate Frisbee in the park, or even arranging for practice shooting at a local gun range are great ways to get involved. Afterward, a celebratory dinner at a restaurant he enjoys is essential—even if your team did not carry the day.