Field Trip for iOS

Field Trip sends you notifications whenever you're near something of interest, whether you're wandering around your hometown or exploring a new city. If you're interested in the history of an area or just want to find a great local restaurant, this app has the information you're looking for.

Pros

Multiple sources: This app uses multiple and varied sources to provide you with information about everything from historical sites to restaurants and entertainment. You can read Zagat reviews of area restaurants, or learn about the architecture of the buildings in your neighborhood from multiple industry Web sites.

Customizable notifications: If you want, the app will send you a notification any time you come near something that pops up in its search results. You can set these notifications to appear frequently, occasionally, or never, depending on your personal preference. Even if you're not getting notifications, though, you can still go into the app at any time to see a list of attractions close by.

Cons

Unclear radius: We were unable to find any information about the search radius the app uses to produce its results. While a large search area would be preferable in a more rural or suburban setting, a smaller one would be more manageable if you're exploring a new city. The results do appear in order from closest to farthest, however, so that helps a bit.

Map bugs: In addition to a list view with distances from your current location included, there is also a map view, so you can see where everything is in relation to you. However, while the map, itself, always showed up during our tests, the notable sites weren't always marked on it.

Bottom Line

This app is a great resource when you're exploring a new city, and it's a lot of fun to play with, even in areas you know quite well. There may be a few kinks to work out, but on the whole, this free program performs well and provides a lot of interesting and useful information.