Challenges are exciting - both participating and throwing 
In 2025, local guides created more than 35 challenges, and 100s participated with great zeal and enthusiasm.
Challenges revolved around topics like street art and goosebump moments to movie spots and night stars. Each theme pushed local guides to see familiar places in new ways.
Participants shared images from different corners of the world, creating a mosaic of cultures, traditions, and landscapes.
Above all, the challenges proved to be a great community-building experience, taking the Connect platform to the next level 
In no chronological order, this post shines the spotlight on 17 memorable challenges in 2025
Love is in the Air and on the Map by @Rahul001
What a romantic way to start the year 
This challenge saw 50+ entries from all over the world.
Beat the Heat - Sips to Support Small Business by @MathanVibranarayan
This challenge came in at the right time, at the beginning of summer.
Local guides jumped in huge number showing off their favorite ice cream spots and juice centers 
FridgeStories - Share your fridge magnet collection by @MerlinThomas
This was a refreshingly new challenge loved by many.
What a great way to recollect your travel memories through the fridge magnet collection.
Street Art Challenge by Madan Vibranarayan
Everyone loves capturing street art during travel.
This amazing challenge by Madan sent everyone into their photo collections, digging deep for their treasured street art photo to show everyone 
Monsoon Adventures Challenge umbrella_with_rain_drops🌩️ by @DurgaK03
When it starts raining, no one can stay at home 
This adorable challenge by Durga prompted everyone to chase the clouds and reach out to the rainbows
Maps, Movies, and Me - 3MChallenge by Merlin Thomas
Another amazing challenge by Merlin captured the hearts of many.
Local guides participated enthusiastically, sharing photos of places they traveled where movies were shot 
Spring Blossom Photo Challenge 2025 by @TusharSuradkar
This probably had the top participants with more than 250 photos pouring in from all over the world.
Local guides showcased how superb the spring blossom looked in their neighborhoods.
Relive your High School Memories by Tushar Suradkar
This challenge took local guides down their memory lane.
Participants shared places they haven’t visited for decades and fondly shared their memories via Google Maps.
Chai Pe Charcha Tea Talks by Tushar Suradkar
This is probably the most popular and talked about challenge on Connect.
Local guides enthusiastically thronged to tea shops, sipping tea, chatting, exchanging ideas, and a great community building around Google Maps.
Support Local LGBTQ+ Friendly Businesses by Rahul
This challenge added a new dimension to the local business support activity.
Rahul did a yeoman’s job of educating about this relatively unknown category on Google Maps.
Authentic Traditional Restaurants - RealRoots by @Amitsharma007
This refreshingly new challenge took everyone to the old town areas looking for small businesses that served authentic dishes.
Share your Thali Photo Challenge by Tushar Suradkar
This culinary challenge was loved by one and all.
More than 300 Thali photos poured in from all over the world, giving a glimpse into the rich food culture in every town, region, state, and country.
Share Your Goosebumps Experiences by Tushar Suradkar
This challenge saw entries ranging from skydiving to walking with tigers 
Night Star Challenge - Support 24x7 Business by @mahatokoushik623
This unique challenge sent local guides back to supporting small business who helped them keep going even at odd hours.
No Disposable Cup Day - Challenge by Rahul
This challenge raised awareness among local guides about sustainability practices.
Names Have Stories - NameHunt Challenge by Merlin Thomas
This super interesting challenge let local guides look out for small businesses that bear their name.
This challenge was loved by local guides of all ages
GI Tagging using Google Maps - Challenge by Tushar Suradkar
This interesting challenge allowed local guides to feel proud about the great traditions and achievements of the place they live or originated from.
From headgears to fruits, and fabric to toys, local guides participated enthusiastically in this challenge.
Khaana Khazaana! – A Flavorful Challenge by Ajit Thite
This challenge invited users to share homemade dishes.
This was a great hit during the lockdown since local guides explored cooking at home 
Favorite Indian Breakfast Dishes Challenge by @Ssiddharth2000
Another culinary challenge that was loved by everyone globally.
Favourite breakfast dishes saw an overwhelming response.
Accessible Airports Challenge @AnshukMitra
This was a fantastic way to put our waiting time at airports to great use.
Local guides on their way to Connect LIVE 2025 in Bengaluru took time to check accessibility via this meetup challenge.
Local Guides Love Challenges
These and many other challenges fostered a sense of belonging, as local guides rallied around shared themes.
The challenges sparked conversations, collaborations, and friendships across borders.
Regular participation by local guides sharpened their technical skills, like photo composition and writing skills.
Challenges exposed local guides to diverse styles and inspired them to participate more on Connect.
Increased Contribution
With every challenge participation, local guides became more active, sharing not only photos but also tips and travel stories. The collective energy kept the community vibrant and engaged.
Which of these challenges would you continue to participate in 2026?
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