The Best Apps for Discovering Family Activities around DC
I’m all about “knowing before you go” and my friend Jane Johnson at Going Cellular put together this great list of apps to help families “get the inside scoop” before exploring the DC Metro Area. Here are some of her top picks:
Find out where the fun is in DC with these cheap apps
1. Embark DC Metro (iPhone)
Before you make any plans, you need to know how you’ll be getting around; and Embark DC Metro will help you navigate DC public transit easily, with a complete route map as well as helping you find the quickest route to any destination on the Metro. Embark will tell you when the next train comes to any given stop. It also provides real-time updates on maintenance or other possible delays. There are quite a few DC transit apps that will get you from point A to B, but Embark is easily the most attractive and user-friendly. (Cost: free)
2. It Happened Here (Android, iPhone)
It Happened Here allows you to submit your current location and get fascinating information about the area’s history – major news events, movies that were shot there, pop culture happenings, etc. It’s a great opportunity to teach your kids the history that makes DC a special place to live – and with so much history, this app will find momentous events from the past almost everywhere you look. Try hopping on the metro and following events that catch your eye; you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn together as a family. (Cost: $2.99)
3. Yelp (Android, iPhone)
Yelp is by far the best app for an unplanned adventure in DC. Yelp has a comprehensive database of restaurants, live music venues, sports, and other entertainment, and it’s commonly used, so you get a good quantity of reviews to help you decide where to take the family. If you’re using one of the latest T-Mobile phones, you can also access Yelp’s augmented reality feature – just point your phone’s camera at places you pass by to get pricing, reviews, and event information. (Cost: free)
4. Groupon (Android, iPhone)
Groupon is a great way to save money on things that usually take a long time to save up for, including day-trips, museums, concerts, and other family-friendly events. By negotiating limited-time bulk discounts with companies, Groupon is able to slash prices for things that would normally be a huge expense for a family with kids. Groupon’s offers are better in some cities than others, but DC is a large city full of things to do, so there will almost always be some heavily-discounted weekend activity for the family to enjoy. (Cost: free)
5. Scoutmob (Android, iPhone)
Scoutmob is like Groupon, except you don’t pay ahead of time, and all deals are a clean 50% off the top, just for accessing the app from your phone. It’s also focused primarily on finding good restaurants. Feeding a family at a restaurant can become a shockingly expensive proposition – the ability to slice your bill in half can put many more fun family outings within your reach. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive night out, this app may be too focused; but if all you need is a place to eat, Scoutmob is a great place to start looking. (Cost: free)
6. Got Eventz (iPhone, Android)
This app can help you find almost any category of event in Washington, whether for grown-ups or the whole family. This includes charity events, museum exhibits, family-friendly shows; and best of all, it includes a special category for free events, so you can spend more time with the family without breaking the bank. When you need a date night for the grown-ups, Got Eventz has a special category for events happening after 11 pm, as well as reliable information on local nightlife. (Cost: $0.99)
Jane Johnson is a staff writer for GoingCellular, a popular site that provides cell phone news, commentary, reviews and more.
