Planning a Summer Road Trip? 6 Mobile Apps to Make the Ride Smoother, More Fun
Summer vacation season is almost upon us, and if you are looking to get out of town with your family on a driving trip, it is always nice to find things that will help pass the time. And you may not realize, there are a ton of apps to help with car travels.
Some of them help you avoid disaster, while others are for pure family fun. Either way, they will help to make your summer trip go off without a hitch. Let’s take a look at the options…
Waze
Waze is a phone app for navigation. It is an awesome little tool to help you get from point A to point B. Waze works by finding the best route and rerouting you if trouble arises. If there is an accident, an unexpected traffic delay or road construction, Waze alerts you ahead of time so that you can avoid any traffic standstill and take the road less traveled.
In addition to keeping you out of traffic jams, Waze tells you where the police are hidden so that you can watch your speed! Nothing can bring a car ride to a screeching halt and ruin your day more than getting a ticket. Waze works by having other Wazers report heavy traffic, police sightings, disabled vehicles and even debris or potholes in the road. It is like having eyes everywhere and is a must to get where you want to go, safely, and without unexpected delays.
Foursquare
Foursquare is an app that is like having a “local” riding along with you. When the kids are hungry, it can pinpoint the best places to eat, voted by the locals who know best. It also has a list of things to do so you can pull over and enjoy the ride instead of being on a mission to get there. If you are going to take a road trip, take time to smell the flowers and get out and stretch your legs. Your destination will still be there if you take time to see things along the way. And you will be building the best memories with your family by seeing some pretty unique sites around America!
TuneIn
Who uses the radio anymore? People who want to hear sports and entertainment! TuneIn has live streams from more than 100,000 radio stations from the U.S. and around the world. If you can’t be at home watching your favorite team on the television, you don’t have to be. You can listen to the game while making your way across the country. If comedy is your thing, you can have the whole car laughing along! It is entertainment of all sorts, and unlike satellite radio, it doesn’t cost a thing.
Trivia Crack
Trivia anyone? If you’re going to be spending a lot of time together in the car, you might as well make it enjoyable. Trivia Crack is a spin-off of trivial pursuit and is an excellent game for the whole family. The answers are easy enough—even for the little ones. If you pair up into teams, you can have a little friendly competition. And who knows, you might even learn something you didn’t know before. Trivia Crack gets its name because it can be totally addictive for everyone.
Sing! Karaoke by Smule
Who says karaoke is just for parties? Whoever it was, never tried Sing! Karaoke. The whole family will have fun singing along to their favorite music. The best part is that you don’t need any extra equipment. All you need is your smartphone, and you can belt it out! Not only a great app for the ride there, but it also doubles as a fun time party game when you reach your destination. After all, a family that sings together…well, you know!
Heads Up!
The only one who won’t enjoy the Heads Up! app while driving is the driver. Heads Up! is just like the board game. You divide the car into teams, and when a phrase comes on your cellphone, you hold it over your forehead while everyone gives you clues about what displays on the screen. It is a great distraction that makes the time go by super quick so you won’t have to hear, “Are we there yet?” over and over. The best part is that it’s a game for almost all ages and one that everyone is sure to love.
Half the fun of a summer road trip should be getting there. And with these handy and fun apps, your trip is sure to be smoother (hold the traffic jam, please) and more fun (let’s have another round of trivia).
Before you hit the highway, be sure to have the team at Hong Kong Auto Service do a trip check. A lot is riding on your wheels, and we want to make sure you don’t have any unexpected breakdowns or problems along the way. Schedule today!