Q: We have a family camp in the mountains, and there are multiple cabins on the property. We are having trouble keeping track of who is going to be there on what date and common camp grocery needs (butter, ketchup, etc.). Is there a website where a family can sign in to see this type of calendar, or a smartphone app that could be used to keep this organized?
– Lisa Cook, Wilkesboro, N.C.
A: It sounds like you have a great piece of mountain property the whole family can enjoy for years to come! However, juggling schedules, grocery lists, maintenance tasks and more can be tricky when you share your beloved retreat with many other loved ones.
Thankfully, there are a number of digital tools to help you keep everything organized in one place. The integrated ability to share these tools among family members means everyone can stay informed (maximizing fun time and minimizing headaches).
Finding the right digital calendar app for your family can be daunting. Some are free, while others offer more services and options for a monthly or annual subscription fee. Some are very simple and basic, and others are more complex. The key is to find the one that is easy enough to use and works best for all members of your family.
Here are a few online calendar tools that may be helpful, from the most basic to the more advanced:
GOOGLE CALENDAR (basic) – One of the more popular digital calendars, this free tool is available both in desktop and Android app formats. It’s simple and easy to use, and you can schedule tasks and events and share the calendar with family members. Beyond that, its services are pretty limited. For more info: www.google.com/calendar.
COZI (intermediate) – This app is great for those who share cabins. Each person who is granted access can log in using only his/her email address and a shared master password. Besides the standard calendar, Cozi also allows for the creation of shopping lists, to-do lists, meal plans, a family journal and a family photo screen saver. You can also assign a different color to each member. For example, if you assign the color red to Uncle Bob, red will show up on the calendar during the weekend that he plans to be at the cabin. Best of all, this app works across multiple platforms, including iPhone/iPad and Android devices. The basic app is free, but you can also upgrade to Cozi Gold for even more options ($29.99 per year). For more info: www.cozi.com.
THE VACATION CALENDAR (advanced) – Specifically geared toward vacation home owners, this website includes a lot of cool features, such as a house blog and a photo album where everyone can post photos and comment on them. Authorized users can schedule vacations in the calendar, and the house bulletin board offers a convenient place to store contact information, cabin rules and instructions, directions, area attractions and more. If you’re really ambitious, you can even list and schedule out individual cabin bedrooms, so you never have to worry about whether there will be enough room for everyone. Of course, all of these options come at a cost: $20 a year (free to try for the first month). For more info: www.thevacationcalendar.com.
Other calendar apps that might be worth a closer look are: Coolendar (daily task list), 1calendar (Facebook-driven), 30 Boxes (simple, easy to use) and Zoho Calendar (variety of options). Good luck finding the online calendar that’s best for you and your cabin guests!
