The Best Fourth of July Apps

With the fun Fireworks Arcade (free) app, you can either tap the screen or drag your finger to create firework displays with light and sound. Choose your own music, save pictures of your work, and then shake the phone for one big fireworks finale.

If you plan to fire up the grill, then the Grill Guide ($1) app is a must have. Once you choose your food, the app will help you measure the thickness and let you know how long to grill it; plus it'll tell you the best temperature and whether you should use direct or indirect heat. The app includes seven food groups — red meat, poultry, pork, lamb, fish, veggies, and fruit — and a step-by-step guide of how to grill over 100 different foods.

Nothing says "Fourth of July" quite like a day at the beach. Not sure where to go? Use the Beach Finder ($1) app to locate all the beaches nearby. The database includes over 5,300 beaches, which you can locate by city, town, address, or zip code. You can also use the Locate Me feature to pinpoint your location, then check out a list and a map with all the closest spots.

Turn your firework snapshots into art with the Slow Shutter Cam ($1) app. It allows you to capture images with slow shutter speed effects in three different modes: Automatic, Manual, and Light Trail, which lets you "paint" with light.

Available on Facebook, iPhone, iPad, and the website itself, Foodily (free) offers great options for searching, sharing, and saving recipes. Search through over 500,000 recipes based on your diet, available ingredients, or recommendations from top websites, blogs, and chefs.

Wish you were watching fireworks at the Eiffel Tower? Create your own show with the Fireworks ($1) app and choose from 15 locations around the globe — everywhere from Sydney to Rome to Chicago. The interactive app was designed to sync with your iTunes library, so you can build your show while listening to music on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

If you're sick of the same old standbys, switch up your Independence Day menu with the Grill-It! ($1) app. With recipes separated into different categories, the easy-to-use app adds a new recipe each week for free. Hello, inspiration!

The Fourth of July calls for sweet, seasonal fruit, so check out the 15000+ Fruit Recipes ($2) app to find new dishes to try. Categories make the app extra convenient, with recipes divided by both fruit type and course.