Mobile Location Services Aren't Only About Checking In
If you are an active traveler with a smartphone, you probably have come to depend on your GPS-enabled iPhone or Droid to help you find your way to new destinations. You may search for locations by name or use your browser to find a hotel room.
But when you are sitting in the rental car wondering where the closest dive bar is or lingering at the Starbucks chatting up a cute guy before your plane leaves, your mobile phone may be your best friend. 
Check out these indispensable location guides that are available for free on your smartphone.
1. FLYSmart - Now you can have an airport directory with you when you need it most, in an unfamiliar terminal. In addition to having access to retailers and service providers in the surrounding area, you can access flight schedules and airline updates in real time.
2. Greenopia - With thousands of listings, Greenopia is the #1 source for green-rated stores and services. Greenopia covers 59 major cities and delivers. You can make restaurant reservations and check in to make it easy for your friends to find you when you arrive at your table.
3. Santa Monica Official Guide - The Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau has compiled a guide to everything from dog parks to happy hours deals. The app is dynamically updated with user reviews and enables access to Wikipedia entries to learn about local attractions.
4. Geodelic - This nationwide network of branded and local user-generated guides is available through a simple UI that lets smartphone users see their interactive content triggered by their surroundings.
You can find a fun assortment of insights from community experts, like "All The Free Stuff in Vegas." And if you are ever caught in York, PA with an urge to play Texas Hold 'Em, there's a guide for that!
Anyone can create a GeoGuide using simple web-based tools to identify and categorize places of interest, and easily publish into the Geodelic network. In no time at all, your friends and fans can find your favorite locations right from their iPhone or Android device.
Disclosure: Geodelic is a client of Waldo Finn, which also employs this author.
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