Finding an app that you love is one of the small and simple joys of our modern era. Because the apps on our electronic devices are valuable tools that we use daily, it’s always exciting when we discover a great one. Some of the best apps are merely about convenience and efficiency; they help us manage our lives better, giving us more time to engage with our surroundings.
Our town has so much to offer, and most of us are eager to find more ways to enjoy it all. Luckily, there are many handy and fun apps that can help us make the most of living here. Check out our favorite mobile apps for Boulder residents:
Weather Apps
Although we’re blessed with a plethora of sunny days, Boulder also gets its fair share of rain and snow. Be prepared for bad weather by using the AccuWeather and Storm Shield apps. Both show the local forecast and will alert you of severe weather warnings in your area. Storm Shield even has voice alerts, for when you’re driving or sleeping and need to be warned about impending dangerous weather.
Fitness Apps
Outdoor fitness and recreation are a big part of Boulder’s culture. Whether you’re going hiking, running, or biking, there’s an app that’ll help you manage your workout.
You can use Boulder County Trail Guide, the official trail map for Boulder County’s mountain parks and open spaces, to plan out your hike, climb, or bike ride. It’s a mobile GPS that features crucial updated information, including trail conditions, lengths, and difficulty levels.
RunSafe provides assurance for solo hikers and runners. Created by a Boulder resident, the app provides different ways to notify loved ones if something goes wrong during your workout. It tracks your activity and location, sharing it with a select group of family and friends, and it will them know if you don’t return home by a specific time. There’s also a panic button that sends out an immediate alert signal, which you can press if you injure yourself or feel threatened.
While RunSafe gives you the confidence to run alone, RockMyRun can help you increase your stamina. The app has a huge selection of music that’s designed to adjust to your speed. The music will change tempo in order to match your pace and help you hit your stride.
Transportation Apps
Riding a bike falls under both fitness and transportation so cyclists really need their own special app, like the GPS mobile program MapMyRide. It shows you paved bike paths, helps you map out your route, and lets you share your activity with other users.
For sharing information with other drivers, the best navigation app is Waze, which gives you up to date road news, thanks to its active community of users. Waze users inform each other about traffic, recommend the fastest routes, and even suggest where to find the cheapest gas.
Another helpful program for Boulder drivers is Parkmobile, which lets you pay for parking using your smart phone. By connecting your credit card or PayPal account to the app, you can use it to pay for meters and designated spots around town that have the Parkmobile sticker/sign. It’ll even notify you when your parking session is about to end.
Don’t have a car or need to take a break from driving? Then Uber it. The popular rideshare program is available in Boulder, giving you access to local drivers who can readily pick you up when you need a lift.
Food Apps
While it’s fun to go out to the Farmer’s Market or one of Boulder’s specialty food retailers, some days we just don’t have enough time. That’s when Instacart can help. The grocery delivery service connects you with personal shoppers who will pick up the items on your shopping list, from your choice of local stores, and drop them off to you at home. Participating stores include Whole Foods, Costco, and Kings Soopers.
Another convenient app is OpenTable Mobile, the smart phone and tablet friendly version of the popular online reservation system. It can help you quickly find and reserve seating at Boulder’s finest restaurants.
LocalEats is a great app for visiting and resident foodies. It helps users find locally owned and operated eateries with various search criterions, including cuisine type, neighborhood, price, and editors’ picks. It also includes restaurant menus and local area maps.
In addition to our appreciation for local eats, we love craft beer here in Boulder, which makes Untappd the ideal app for beer enthusiasts. It tells you which beers are currently on tap at nearby bars, recommends new brews to try, and lets you share photos and reviews with other users.
Whether you want to connect with others, gain useful information, or use your time more effectively, there’s an app that can help you do it. Download a new one from this list and apply it to your Boulder lifestyle. Have any to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below.