Summer vacation is in full swing! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite apps that will help you make the most of the season, whether you’re heading off on a vacation, hanging out with friends, or looking for some good eats.
Embark on the journey
If you’re jet setting off to a big city or spending time relaxing on the beach, Flickr (iOS & Android, free) can help you share your memories with loved ones at home. Create custom albums and invite friends and family to follow along.
No summer is complete without a family road trip, and apps like Waze (iOS & Android, free) can help you get there efficiently by taking advantage of real-time updates from fellow drivers. When you need to refuel, look no further than GasBuddy (iOS & Android, free), which can help you find the best gas prices or closest stations.
Finally, if you want to make getting there (more than) half the fun, use apps like Roadtrippers (iOS & Android, free) or Google Trips (iOS & Android, free) to organize your itinerary and find things to check out while en route to your final destination.
Create new family memories
Bond with family and friends over apps like Sing! Karaoke (iOS & Android, free) or Heads Up (iOS & Android, $0.99). Get your game face on and see who can belt out the best tunes or become the master of charades.
Interested in the great outdoors? Download an astronomy app like SkyGuide (iOS & Android, $2.99) that can help you identify constellations, stars, and planets. Budding botanists will take delight with SmartyPlants (iOS, $2.99), an app that will help you take care of plants in your garden with reminders of when they need to be watered, fertilized, or pruned.
Eat your heart out!
When you’re exploring a new city, turn to apps like Yelp (iOS & Android, free) to find a nearby place to eat and easily sort restaurants by price or cuisine. If you want to skip the wait time for any restaurant, check OpenTable (iOS & Android, free) to see if you can make a reservation in advance.
For the foodie family, apps like GrillTime (iOS, $1.99) can take the guesswork out of grilling so your food is cooked to perfection each and every time. When you’re in need of cooking inspiration, try the Allrecipes Dinner Spinner (iOS & Android, free) for recipe ideas or seasonal dishes. These apps are sure to make the cooking process an activity the whole family will enjoy!