Image via Complex Original
It's the time of year where the weather is hot, days are long, and the nights are strange. Summer is the season to make things happen, regardless of whether you're out of school for a just a bit or you had to ask the boss for a vacation. You're going to have to make the most of what you can get--and luckily, there are a few select apps that can help you achieve that. We've compiled the best apps for your smartphone to ensure you can make the most out of this warm weather. Just make sure to get out of the house and away from this screen before it's too late.
Roadside America
Platform: iOS; $2.99
If you are in the mood to hit the road and burn some fuel, Roadside America is a great app that will guide you into some unexpected adventures. If you're hitting a long stretch a highway, bring out the app to find the strange, historic and natural attractions in the area that you may have otherwise missed. The app really sells itself on containing a bunch of odd attractions that don't necessarily get much advertisement outside of where they are located. The app has more than 6,000 roadside stops ready to go, in categories such as Crime, Dinosaurs, Freaky Hoo-Ha, Monsters, Route 66 and Zombie Army. Real life monster quest, anyone?
Packing Pro
Platform: iOS; $2.99
One of the least enjoyable experiences of going on a trip is packing. Did you take enough of this? How much of that? And you'll almost always forget the one thing you need. So if you're the type that tends to fall on the forgetful side of things, Packing Pro may just be for you. The app gives you a sample list of items to pack, and you can create your own list and mark off the items you have already packed away. Packing Pro is good for other reminders as well, such as booking those all important reservations. Don't want to be caught without the essentials when you need them the most.
Yahoo! Weather
Though the summer generally means you'll be seeing a lot of sun and shine, knowing the day's forecast is essential for planning trips with the crew. Yahoo! Weather is a beautiful, detailed app that makes checking the weather as captivating as it is informative. The app will pull up an image from Flickr that was taken near your location, just by gathering your coordinates and time of day. At sunset, you'll be given the best sunrise shots from your area. The app also breaks down hourly forecasts, five-day forecasts, and what it's going to "feel like," along with precipitation and wind. Trying to make it to the beach to watch the sunset with your girl? It will even tell you the time it'll be going down.
Kayak
Sometimes a road trip isn't the best, or easiest, way to go. When it isn't, it's time to hop on a flight. Kayak is clean and simple flight app that is an extension of the website (Kayak.com). Just scroll through, pick out dates, times, locations, and boom--there you have it, all the flights available are at your disposal. You can also look up hotel and car rental deals, book a hotel, and the all important baggage fees, straight from the app.
AllTrails
One of the best things to do in warm weather is to experience nature up close and personal, especially if you're coming from the big city. If you want to trek up some mountains in Los Angeles or New York, and everywhere in between, AllTrails has you covered. You can choose from over 40,000 different trails, and get reviews from other AllTrails users and write your own. From there, it's all up to you: choose paths for mountain biking, fly fishing, or some other great adventure. The app will keep track of your trail through your phone's GPS as well. Found yourself in LA with nothing to do? Why not take a hike up to the Hollywood sign. Bet you didn't know you could do that, did ya?
Swim Guide
Platform: iOS; Free
If you're lucky enough to live by a beach, or are planning on taking a trip this summer, Waterkeeper's Swim Guide is essential when it comes to finding a good one that won't leave you regretting the trip. The app has descriptions of more than 1,300 beaches in Florida, California, New Jersey, and the Great Lakes. You'll want to avoid those dirty beaches as much as possible. Avoid a beach fail with this app
Airbnb
If the travel bug is hitting you during the summer (as it should), you might want to go to a few places where hotels don't cut it. Airbnb is a social site that aims to connect travelers with people who have space to share. With the Airbnb app, you can book a space, find some last minute spots, and keep in contact with the hosts. Hey, you can even take it a step further and see how much your place is worth to rent out if you're not going to be there while you're out and about. Be careful if you're in New York though, renting out your apartment could cost you a fine if you're caught.
RunKeeper
You can buy the most stylish swim trunks in the store, but if you've got a beer belly, you'll probably want to do something about it. So before hitting the beach this summer, take out RunKeeper to lose those extra few pounds you gained over the year. You'll be better off for it. RunKeeper keeps track of how far and how long you've run, and you can control your music straight from the app. It will also log the history of your runs and personal records, so you can keep those speeds up and the calories down.
Camp Finder
Platform: iOS; $2.99
Produced by the team behind CampingRoadTrip.com, Camp Finder is a great way to find the best camping spots out of 14,000 campgrounds and RV parks in America. It's a breeze to use: just type in your location or have the GPS set your location, and the app will display all of the camp locations around you. Are you the type that can't live without surfing the net? The app will also show you what spots have Wi-Fi. If the price of a campground location is a little much for you, you can search by price as well to find a more affordable spot.
Glasses.com 3D Fit
Platform: iPad; Free
One of the must haves during a summer expedition is a pair of nice, good looking sunglasses. But it could take a couple of trip to a few different stores in order to find the right ones. So, if you had the chance to find the perfect pair of sunglasses from the comfort of your home-why not? With the soon-to-be-released Glasses.com 3D Fit App for the iPad, all you have to do is take a video of your face while rotating to the left and right, then the app will create a 3D rendering of your face, so you can try on different glasses straight from the app. Once you find the right one, you can order it straight from the app. Sweet.
Audible
If you're an Audible.com user, the Audible app is a must have. Audible is a collection of spoken word books and newspapers, the perfect thing to listen to when you're laying out in the park or on that road trip. Didn't have time to read The Great Gatsby before the movie came out? Or want to listen to the Game of Thrones books before catching up on the season? This makes the process a lot easier, so why not have another excuse to be a little productive when you relax this summer?
WebMD Allergy
Platform: iOS; Free
WebMD is your own personal doctor in the palm of your hand. If you're the type who gets sensitive to the change of seasons or the presence of extra pollen in the air, WebMD Allergy is the app you need to ensure you have the best time in the wilderness and outdoors. The app delivers daily weather and pollen forecasts, while also giving you a description of what allergens are in the air on that day. You can set up the app to give you notifications if allergen levels get a little too high, and it will in turn give you tips on how to relieve symptoms.
Netflix
If you're making a trek with a buddy through the middle of the west coast, chances are you'll get a little tired of hearing each other talk after being stuck in a hot car for hours. Luckily, Netflix's app for the iPhone and Android lets you play movies on the go. Since you'll probably switch off driving responsibilities every so often, whoever is in the passenger's seat can control what movie goes on. We suggest getting a mounting kit to dock the phone on the car's dashboard to make it that much easier and carefree.
Weber's On the Grill
Platform: iOS, Android; $4.99
Summer time is grillin' time. With Weber's On the Grill app, you'll have more than 300 grill recipes, including 40 recipes for rubs, marinades, and sauces. If you're a newbie to the whole thing, it comes with short video tutorials and tips to make the best meal when you're poolside or throwing a party. Worried about leaving the meat on the grill a little too long? The app acts as a grill timer to let you know when your food is done. This app has got you covered with everything--well, except buying the food.
Pandora
Back in the day, people had to bring huge boom boxes with them to listen to the radio during those hot summer days. Nowadays, we don't see too many boomboxes anymore thanks to our smartphones. If your phone music collection is already full with some not-so-summer-time beats, just switch on Pandora and choose your favorite station (you can even choose stations like 'Summer Hits from the 90s' or '2000s'). We recommend picking up a portable speaker dock for maximum effect.
