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Scavenger hunt ideas

We’re about to leave for a 3 week road trip through Northern Italy (Dolomites, Venice, Stresa), Switzerland (Wengen), France (Colmar) and Germany. (Bacharach). We’re traveling with our 2 sons (16 and 19), who have been to Europe before, along with my sister and her husband, who have never been to Europe.

I’m thinking of making a scavenger hunt for our trip and I’m hoping for ideas. Things like:

*Try a mystery gelato flavor (no translation or samples)
*Best photo of a city/town taken from above
*Order a drink you’ve never heard of before
*Try a mystery dessert
*Best photo of wildlife

Any other ideas for experiences or activities to keep an eye out for? On our last trip, our kids collected items from various stops (keychains and coffee mugs), which was a lot of fun and kept them engaged. Hoping to switch it up a bit (and save some luggage space!)

Posted by
5367 posts

I really like the first one. They are all good, tho.

We like to take pix of-
Weirdest warning signs ( I like the European signage - pix of folks falling off cliffs, getting caught in boat propellers, do not stand on toilets., old people warnings, etc)
Instructions for dogs ( usually very visual- we are dog people.)
Weirdest item for sale ( Marmot cream, anyone, Salzburg)
Strangest flavor of coke ( Diet Coke cinnamon , Rothenburg)
The most New York Yankees baseball hats sighted- it's crazy.
Hometown baseball caps.
Have fun!

Posted by
9067 posts

Buy stamps, write and mail a postcard to themselves
Light a candle in a church
Climb a bell tower
Make a mask
Take a pasta making class
Wander about farmers markets
Rent and ride bikes or horses
Attend a local sporting event
See a play or concert
Picnic and people watch

Posted by
626 posts

Learn to recognize three native birds (magpie and 2 others)
Try a new food (quite a challenge when my boys were teens)
Speak to a server in the language of the country you're in.
Best photo of a streetlamp (or fountain).

Posted by
2464 posts

I’m loving these already! I mentioned to my 19 year old that I’m making a scavenger hunt. Let’s just say he’s not enthused!

I’ll have to add one for picture of the longest word on a sign. We’ve seen some doozies in Germany.

Posted by
17191 posts

For Venice: a photo of them white marble Miracoli church

For the Dolomites: a photo of a sign in 3 languages—-German, Italian, and Ladin

Posted by
792 posts

if you are open to them mingling with other people, how about things like
-traveler from our hometown/home state
-help someone with directions
-someone who is celebrating a birthday/anniversary/special occasion

other ideas
film site - you could even get specific on a movie if you want

Also, to increase interest/enthusiasm, you could make it into a game/competition. every day, you pick 5 at random and whomever completes the list first gets to pick where you eat dinner/pick an activity for the next day/earns money towards souveneirs etc.

I think this is such a fanstastic idea and will be “borrowing” it!

Posted by
626 posts

Maybe the 19 year old should make the scavenger hunt!

Posted by
2587 posts

Having recently traveled with my 20 year old nephew, I would suggest (tongue in cheek for some): 1) something about girls :) 2) scenery/sets from movies/tv shows; 3) try a weird potato chip flavor; 4) funny signs (usually bathroom associated, because, boys); 5) funny pub/drink/food names.

Posted by
1930 posts

What a phenomenal itinerary - a greatest hits album of places to visit. And the scavenger hunt is a fun idea.

Spotting license plates from all the EU countries.

Most German words containing "farht."