Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

4 best apps to make your family’s Fourth of July better

Dawn Miller
By

The Fourth of July is a huge summertime celebration. There’s backyard grilling for family and friends, picnics, 5K’s, lawn games, and, of course, fireworks. A lot of preparation and food shopping goes into making your Fourth of July festivities sparkle. Don’t let yours fizzle like a bad firecracker because of traffic jams, grilling accidents, or getting caught in a rain shower while waiting for the fireworks to start. Yes, there are Fourth of July apps to help ensure your Fourth of July parties or firework excursions go off with a bang. From firework apps to grilling apps to an app to make sure the family dodges any raindrops or thunderstorms, we’ve got the best apps for your smartphone or iPad to make your July 4 stand tall like Lady Liberty.

Family enjoying fireworks at night
FamVeld/Shutterstock

Cave Tools BBQ Recipe Journal

Before you head out to watch the fireworks, you know the grill will be fired up with all sorts of dishes. Be the ultimate grill master with Cave Tools BBQ Recipe Journal. With this comprehensive grilling app, you get access to delicious recipes shared by the Cave Tools grill-loving community, a meat smoking guide, a meat temperature guide, and three integrated timers to help make sure your dishes are grilled to perfection. Another plus to adding this app to your smartphone menu is its price. The app is free to download.

Recommended Videos

Waze

When it is time to pack up the car to drive to the nearest or most fabulous fireworks display in the area, make sure to have the Waze app before pulling out of the driveway. It’s rated tops for keeping drivers updated on accidents, road closures, and other annoying traffic issues that can make you miss the fireworks, or worse, not be able to get a parking space. Traffic updates are in real-time. The app is free to download, but it is notorious for draining battery life quickly, so be sure to have a charger on hand in the car.

Weather apps

Mother Nature really can rain on any outdoor activity. Staying updated on the weather and those fast-moving thunderstorms in the summertime is a big plus on the Fourth of July. Dark Sky is a highly rated weather app that gives you that hyperlocal forecast you crave, along with a minute-by-minute forecast so you know if you need to make a mad dash to the car. The app is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and the Apple Watch. It will cost you to download though. If you prefer a free weather app, try the Weather Channel app. It does have advertising and in-app purchases but is free to download and will give you a decent forecast.

Fireworks Arcade

While some love the bang and sparkle of the Fourth of July, others not so much. Fireworks can be torture for young children, people on the autism spectrum, and others diagnosed with disorders like misophonia and phonophobia, which cause sufferers to be super sensitive to loud sounds. Fourth of July fireworks also make dogs and cats crazy. With a cool fireworks app like Fireworks Arcade, users can enjoy the best of both worlds. You can watch the beauty of a fireworks display without the noise from anywhere. Kids who are afraid of fireworks can watch a fun display from the comfort of their own backyard. If you have to stay home for the furbabies, you can still savor the excitement of fireworks while keeping the pets calm. The app by Big Duck Games is free and does include in-app purchases. It also features games.

A great deal of preparation goes into organizing a fun day of festivities on the Fourth of July. Apps are a convenient way to help ensure the planned activities go off without a hitch. Leave putting the bang into the Fourth of July to the pros. With these easy-to-navigate apps, you have traffic, weather and grilling covered. If you, the kids and pets stress over fireworks, make your own display right on your smartphone or iPad with the Fireworks Arcade app. There isn’t a reason to stress over the Fourth of July holiday because yes, there is an app for that.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
8 great Father’s Day gift ideas for every kind of dad
Shopping for awesome Father's Day gifts? Here's what dads love!
Little girl with dad holding a wrapped gift

If you're shopping for your dad or helping your kids shop for theirs, skip the tie and sock section because he doesn't need more of those. We've got awesome Father's Day gift ideas for those dads who seem to have everything. The key to finding the ideal Father's Day gift is to stick to those hobbies Dad loves best, whether it's sports, backyard grilling, or Star Wars collectibles. Pair that special gift with a cool outing, and you've got the perfect Father's Day present.

Best Father's Day gifts
Before heading out to the mall or going online to order a Father's Day gift, take a moment to think. Focus on what your dad really enjoys doing. Is he a weekend sports dad going to games or is he the resident grill master? We've got awesome Father's Day gifts for all types of super cool dads.
Baseball dad
If the dad you're shopping for is the ultimate baseball fan and has patiently stood on the sidelines or been watching you play since T-ball, a personalized baseball mount will be a treasured gift. The baseball-themed block mount is available in different sizes. All the kids' names can be printed on the baseballs. This will look great next to all of the kids' baseball trophies.
Soccer dad
Soccer dads have been on the sidelines through all kinds of weather. Make his time at games and those long tournament days extra cozy with an ALPHA CAMP sturdy canopy lounge chair. Dad will truly appreciate the sunshade on sunny and rainy days. This chair features a cup holder and is great for the beach and camping trips, too.
Star Wars dad
Okay, so May the Fourth has passed, and Darth Vader certainly would never have been voted Father of the Year, but you can celebrate your Star Wars-loving dad with a Darth Vader Father of the Year shirt. It's available in an array of colors and comes in different designs featuring the best father in the galaxy.
Hockey dad
If the dad you're shopping for faithfully gets up with your rink rats to get that early morning, late evening, or whenever there's ice time, he deserves something super cozy to keep himself warm in those subzero rinks. CQR's thermal fleece pullover is sure to keep Dad warm and snuggly all year long, whether he's coaching from the bench or watching behind the glass.
Tech dad
Is your dad online for the newest Apple devices? Okay, so you are shopping for a tech dad. Chances are he's got all the hot and trendy tech stuff hot off the presses. So, how about a binary clock from CafePress? Binary is the language computers speak, and wouldn't a binary clock make a unique gift for your technology-loving dad?
Grill master dad
You've been chopped! Well, no, not really, but if Dad is addicted to the Food Network and would love to have Guy Fieri on speed dial, then a grill-related gift is in order. The Cuisinart CGS-W13 set is sure to please. The set comes complete with 13 pieces, and the grilling tools feature wooden handles. Personalize the handles with a special message for Dad using paint markers.
Fisherman dad
Would Dad rather be fishing? Then he will thank you every time he uses Swiss Ascent's fishing multitool. This multipurpose tool works as a hook remover, scale scraper, tape measure, bait cutter, flashlight, knife, scissors, weight scale, bottle opener, and foldable stand. Now, how cool is that?
Outdoor dad
Does your dad love being in the great outdoors? Do most vacations revolve around a national park or a new hiking trail? Then, he will really love a copy of America's Best Day Hikes: Spectacular Single-Day Hikes Across the States. Be prepared though! He'll definitely be planning some fun family road trips after reading this.

Read more
A simple guide for talking with your grade schooler about LGBTQ+ identity
LGBTQ+ identity could be a tough subject. Here's how to talk to your kids about it
Rainbow flag for Pride Month

Pride Month is celebrated in June. The month coincides with the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969, which is considered to be the catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Today, times are much different from the '60s and even the 1980s and 1990s when LGBTQ+ identity wasn't a topic of conversation. Many parents may struggle with the thought of talking to their kids about LGBTQ+ identity, and that's okay. The first step is understanding the need, and the second is discovering how to talk to kids about LGBTQ+ identity.

What does LGBTQ+ identity mean?
Before understanding how to talk to kids about LGBTQ+ identity, it's a good idea to understand what the acronym means. In the later 80s, LGB or lesbian-gay-bisexual took the place of the blanket term gay. In order to be more inclusive, the acronym was expanded in the 90s to LGBT or lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender.

Read more
Family fun: 5 amazing Memorial Day weekend getaway destinations that are off the beaten path
Skip the crowds and check out these Memorial Day getaway ideas instead
An American flag on a deserted beach signifying Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. Depending on where you live, the kiddos may be finished with school or about to wrap up the academic year. Even if the kids still have a few weeks left, many families are itching to kick off summer when the calendar hits the end of May.

The problem with most Memorial Day weekend getaway spots is the crowds. People typically head to the seaside, a lake, a national park, or amusement park destinations to celebrate the impending arrival of summer. Others yearn to savor the long weekend by avoiding traffic jams, parking issues, and long wait times. If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path getaway this May, think about these Memorial Day vacation ideas.
Memorial Day weekend getaways
If considering heading to the shore on Memorial Day weekend or a Six Flags amusement park gives you anxiety, you may want to consider Memorial Day vacation ideas that don't attract as many people. Here are five Memorial Day weekend destinations that won't be as hectic as the usual spots, but are just as much fun.
Boston, Massachusetts
Steeped in history, Boston is a wonderful place to spend a long weekend with the family. There are loads of kid-friendly activities to do, such as walking the Freedom Trail, exploring the New England Aquarium, or taking part in the Boston Tea Party. While many people exit major cities like Boston on Memorial Day weekend, visitors will find them less crowded and more inviting. Other cities to consider exploring on Memorial Day weekend are NYC, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is one of the oldest cities in the United States, nestled in Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish Country. It's a lovely spot to take the family on a Memorial Day weekend getaway. There are lots of fun things to do, like taking a ride on the Strasburg Railroad, exploring the National Toy and Train Museum, and seeing a working Amish farm. Be sure to leave time to take a horse and buggy ride. The kiddos will love it.
Annapolis, Maryland
If you're looking to spend Memorial Day somewhere the family can appreciate the history of it, head to Annapolis, Maryland. This is another historic gem located along the Severn River, which sits at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Annapolis is a family-friendly city that offers plenty of indoor and outdoor activities. Take a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy and enjoy kayaking in Quiet Waters Park. There's also a Memorial Day Parade down Main Street to remind visitors what the holiday is about.
Stowe, Vermont
Vermont is, of course, stunning in the fall and a wonderland for skiers and snowboarders in the winter. Why not experience the beauty and peacefulness of Vermont on Memorial Day when it is much less crowded? Stowe is a quintessential Vermont small town with plenty to enjoy outdoors, along with nearby excursions like the Von Trapp Family Lodge and the Ben and Jerry's production facility. A tour is quite yummy.
Yellowstone National Park
It may sound odd, but spring is actually Yellowstone's least crowded season. Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park can still be pretty chilly in May and the crowds don't typically start rolling in until school is out for summer. Memorial Day weekend will attract visitors, but not as many as when the calendar officially says summer.

Read more