The Travel Activity That Turned My Kids Into Explorers (and Gave Us A Great Souvenir!)
A Color Hunt for Kid Kids in Nice, France
Traveling with kids is magical… and let’s be honest, sometimes a little chaotic. (We waited until our kids were 5+ to do a big international trip!)
Between the walking, the waiting, and the “when are we getting snacks?” moments, I’m always looking for simple ways to turn a regular afternoon into something they’ll actually remember.
On our trip to Nice, France, we stumbled into what is now my new favorite travel tradition: a Color Hunt — and it completely changed the way my kids experienced the city.
I have three kids (10, 7, and 5), and keeping all of them engaged at the same time is no small feat. So instead of dragging them from one “must-see” spot to another, I gave them a mission.
The Setup (So Simple It Almost Feels Like Cheating)
Each child picked a color:
My oldest chose red.
My middle picked green.
My youngest went with yellow.
Their challenge? Spend the afternoon finding 6–9 things in their color around the city. No two pictures could be the same.
That’s it. No complicated rules. No prep. No extra cost.
Just curiosity, a little creativity… and a lot of walking. (Hello, 10,000 steps.)
Why This Worked So Well
Instead of rushing through Nice, something shifted. They slowed down. They noticed things.
Suddenly, it wasn’t just “another street” — it was:
A bright red café chair tucked into a quiet corner
A green shutter or door on a centuries-old building
A perfectly yellow lemon stand glowing in the afternoon sun
They weren’t just in the city — they were interacting with it.
Letting Them Capture Their Own Memories
As a mom, I’m usually the one behind the camera, documenting everything on my iPhone. But this time, I did something different.
I let them take the photos.
Now, we do limit screen time pretty carefully. Don’t worry—we still use it because it is SO helpful when we do need it. No shame here.
But this felt different — this was purposeful. Creative. Active.
If I had a camera to capture memories, why shouldn’t they?
And honestly? It made the experience even more special.
They weren’t just looking — they were framing, choosing, deciding:
“Wait, Mom — this counts as yellow, right?”
“Look at this green door!! Take a picture!!”
They were proud of what they found.
(Although, let’s be real — the zoom feature is still a challenge for them!)
The Unexpected Magic: Their Own Souvenirs
By the end of the afternoon, each of them had a mini collection of their color across the city.
That night (and later when we got home), we turned their photos into collages. (Thanks, Canva.)
Not store-bought souvenirs.
Not something that’ll end up in a drawer.
But something they made.
Something tied to a memory they experienced firsthand.
We’re printing them for their rooms — and I already know these will be pieces they actually care about years from now.
Why Every Traveling Mom Should Try This
If you’re heading to Europe (or honestly, anywhere), this is one of the easiest activities you can do with your kids:
✔ No planning required
✔ No cost
✔ Works in most cities (I mean, these cities are BEAUTIFUL.)
✔ Keeps kids engaged for a whole
✔ Encourages creativity and observation
✔ Doubles as a built-in souvenir
And maybe most importantly — it gives them ownership of the experience.
A New Travel Tradition
What started as a simple way to pass an afternoon in Nice turned into something so much bigger.
It was an adventure.
A creative challenge.
A memory-making moment.
And now? I’ve decided it’s officially part of how we travel.
Next stop… a new city, new colors, and three very excited little explorers.
Try a Color Hunt on your next trip, I promise — you’ll never see a city the same way again. Here’s the final product:
