Ah, the heart of summer. With the holiday weekend approaching fast, it’s time to hit the open road or simply go outside and enjoy your own backyard. We’ve collected some apps that can help keep your summertime adventures rolling no matter what your style.
• For the road warrior: There’s something magical about a good road trip, but highway travels can also be a logistical nightmare if you have a low tolerance for getting lost. Some would say that’s the point but it’s hard to make that argument when you’re out of gas and nowhere near a gas station.
Gas Buddy is a staple on best travel app lists, but that’s just because it works really well. As you can probably guess from the name, this app acts as your guide to finding gas stations near you, and at a price that you’re willing to pay. Prices are user-submitted, which means you can submit them too, and tend to be fairly reliable. It’s certainly worth a download if you’re the kind of driver who likes to drive until you’re running on fumes, or just like to grab the best deal. Free, for iOS and Android.
• For the staycationer: Vacation is a state of mind. If you have a pool, a park or even just a really great tree near you, you don’t have to go very far at all to enjoy the lazy days of summer.
Weber makes a few apps that can be your ultimate grilling companions. They all have an excellent repository of recipes for the grill that range from your standard burgers to vegetarian options and grilled fruit desserts. Weber Grills on the iPhone or Weber on Android also have built-in timers to help make sure that everything is cooked to perfection. And if you need a little grilling instruction, you can find that too. Free, for iOS and Android.
• For the jet-setter: Traveling further afield also means having to prepare a different toolkit. Here are a couple of apps to help you if you find yourself in far-off lands. Foreign language learning apps are also good to download before you go — top-rated apps include Duolingo and Babbel.
• For the explorer: Getting off the grid may not sound compatible with downloading apps, but your smartphone can be a valuable tool even when you’re trying to unplug. One tip, though: if you’re going to have lousy cell service anyway, it’s a good idea to head into airplane mode while you’re hiking to save battery.
AllTrails boasts more than 50,000 hiking and biking trails across the United States. You can sift results by difficulty. A pro version, which costs $30 per year, lets you access maps offline as well, which can be good when you are away from it all. Free, for iOS and Android.
