Travel better in these US cities with destination-specific apps
Websites, blogs, tour guides and books — they’re all part of the travel arsenal to help you plan your adventure and maximize your travel time.
Before venturing to a new city, check for smartphone apps designed to help you connect with the destination on a deeper level, especially if the spot is known for a particular experience. Taking a barbecue pilgrimage to Austin? There’s an app for that. Looking for compelling art installations in New York? There’s one for that, too.
Use these 12 apps to save money, get around more efficiently, organize your travel itinerary, see points of interest you might have missed, and share your experiences with friends and family through social media integrations.
Related: 11 apps all solo women travelers need to download before their next trip
Orlando: Visit Orlando
Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort both have robust apps that can help you maximize your theme park visit but Visit Orlando’s app (for both Android and iOS) helps travelers experience the city outside the tourism corridor.
Find “best of” lists for restaurants and shopping, live weather updates (essential in Central Florida’s unpredictable tropical climate) and a calendar of events for a taste of the city’s local culture.
Portland, Oregon: Truckster
A day exploring Portland’s famous food trucks is a must. However, these roving restaurants can be hard to find because they roam the city, setting up in different locations every day. Truckster can help.
The app's list of trucks and their locations is updated daily. Users can view menus, order online and leave ratings. The app also features a listing of local breweries and suggests pairings for food truck items with local craft beers.
Related: Not just for hipsters: Portland, Oregon, with kids
Minneapolis: Skyway Map
In a city that regularly reaches below-zero temperatures during the winter months, Minneapolis’ network of enclosed pedestrian walkways is a lifeline for transportation.
The Skyway system covers 80 full city blocks over 11 miles. With it, pedestrians can access the city's entertainment venues, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, banks, apartments, corporate and government offices and more. The app shows access points and allows users to place markers near frequented spots.
California Coast: YourCoast
What’s a visit to Cali without a walk on the beach? Developed by entrepreneur Sean Parker and launched in 2019, the YourCoast app curates all the information about the Golden State’s 1,500 public beaches into one platform.
Users can tap on a particular access point and find photos of the path to the beach, parking information, access for disabled visitors and restroom and fishing facilities.
Related: The 22 best beaches in California
Chicago: WTTW’s Loop Walking Tour
Skip the expensive Chicago architecture tours and use the self-guided walking tour on the WTTW Loop Walking Tour app, narrated by Chicago expert and WTTW host Geoffrey Baer.
The tour script features stories behind the Loop’s buildings, their design and designers, art influences, heroes and villains. Discover the backstories of Chicago’s sparkling jewels, like the Harold Washington Library, as well as lesser-known gems of modern design like the Fisher, Old Colony and Monadnock buildings.
All told, this app takes users through more than 20 edifices, and you can linger as long as you like.
Los Angeles: Trails LA County
Hikers and bikers will love the functionality of the new Trails LA County app. It maps more than 550 miles of the California county’s public trails from the Mojave Desert to Santa Monica.
The app is built around offline mapping and navigation, so even if you’re out of cellphone service range, you won’t wander off track. Filter search by difficulty, location or trail type, including dog- and kid-friendly trails, biking trails and more.
Washington: Smithsonian Visitors Guide & Tours
A visit to the world’s largest museum, education and research complex — the Smithsonian Institution in our nation’s capital — is a daunting undertaking. With 19 museums and a zoo, planning is the key to success, and the Smithsonian app is an essential download.
Most of the museums have their own apps, including the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. However, the Visitors Guide app condenses the important nuggets you’ll need, including lists of daily events and must-see exhibitions. It also includes an augmented reality feature to find a museum based on your location, as well as audio guides and information on ticketing and showtimes.
Related: Best Smithsonian exhibits for kids (beyond the Air and Space Museum)
Miami: Discotech
You’ll be the MVP of your VIP nightclub hop with the Discotech app for Miami’s hottest clubs and lounges.
Find clubs near you, book tables with bottle service, sign up for discounted guest lists and buy tickets and pay covers on your phone. It also features a curated list of events so you know where to go and when. Users can filter clubs by type, music genre and neighborhood, as well as find out where their favorite DJs are spinning.
Texas: Texas Monthly BBQ Finder
With more than 100 featured barbecue spots on the app, users can plan a food tour of their own in all the major Texan cities and rolling plains and hills in between.
The magazine’s barbecue editor, Daniel Vaughn, guides ‘cue seekers through the state with a list of the top 50 places for barbecue. After you’ve gotten your fill, leave your own review and read reviews from other users.
San Francisco: Bay Ferry App
Tickets and schedules for the “best way to cross the Bay” are now in the palm of your hand with the Bay Ferry app. You can even track and share the location of any boat en route. The San Francisco Bay Ferry connects the city with Oakland, Alameda, Vallejo and Richmond daily.
Related: San Francisco’s historic hotels you can book on points
New York: NYArtBeat
The art scene in New York is so vast that it may seem almost impossible to choose what galleries and exhibitions to see and when.
The NYArtBeat app categorizes art shows by type, including installations, street art, calligraphy, illustration and more. It also allows users to bookmark events, share them with friends to organize a meetup and browse the most popular art events happening on a certain day.
Related: Art lovers paradise: A review of the Conrad New York Downtown
Hawaii: Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide’s self-guided audio driving tours of each Hawaiian island make taking a full survey of the island chain a cinch.
The app uses turn-by-turn navigation based on your phone’s GPS to guide you to specific points of interest, tell immersive stories and help you plan the best trip based on your interest: culinary, adventure, history and more. The tours of each island are available offline, too, since service can be spotty in some areas of Hawaii.
Bottom line
Planning a trip is hard work and the more tools you have in your travel arsenal, the better. These apps make taking a deeper dive into your areas of interest easier, whether you're a barbecue maven, an art enthusiast, need a little more flexibility than a tour can provide, or want insider tips about the most popular routes and attractions along the way.
This is just a sample of some of the most useful destination apps out there, so take a few moments and research what's available for your destination before you firm up your itinerary.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.