2021-22 Florida and/or Arizona

I would love to explore both Texas and AZ, but in consideration of our personal situation (mom in nursing home) I think the best place for our first winter is Florida. We are currently exploring options in the Fort Myers area (easy to hop a flight back to NY). I know it will be more expensive, we can afford it for our first winter, but certainly not every winter! I'm thinking we can explore other parks from there as others have suggested and "learn along the way" what our preferences are. I plan to make some calls to parks tomorrow and find out if we can reserve for 2021-22. I'll let you know!

Jane

magicbus wrote:
Hey BarbaraOK - Too bad you went to the wrong Florida. I worked on the Eastern FL coast then owned a home and lived in the Keys. Now we winter on an island on the Gulf off western FL. No bugs, no buttheads (admittedly because there are no public entrances nearby :w). I love the mountains and rivers, but for me there’s nothing that matches the ocean.

Dave

I’m a west coast girl.

Hey BarbaraOK - Too bad you went to the wrong Florida. I worked on the Eastern FL coast then owned a home and lived in the Keys. Now we winter on an island on the Gulf off western FL. No bugs, no buttheads (admittedly because there are no public entrances nearby :w). I love the mountains and rivers, but for me there’s nothing that matches the ocean.

Dave

You just have to remember the reason you have a RV is so you are not tied to one place, so there is no reason you can't travel and find out for yourself which places you enjoy. It took us almost 15 yrs to find the perfect spot and we are finally getting close to finding it. I think!

What's your budget? Lots of money? Florida or Arizona. Not so much? Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Daytime temps equal to all but the most southern parts of Florida. Cheap food, friendly people. Cheaper and friendlier than either of the other two. Reservations not needed except for a few of the 400 parks.

Warning: Once you experience the same kind of park for $300/month as a Florida park that charges $700, you might be hooked.

I think for our first winter we've decided on the Fort Myers area. I have a 96 year old mom in a nursing home and feel I should be near an airport. Considering Cypress Trail. Other suggestions?

pawatt wrote:

BarbaraOK wrote:


Ate dirty/dust every day when we spent part of the winter in the RGV and we don't do beer bashes and potlucks. Turns out Arizona desert, especially around Phoenix, is great place to spend the winter. Loads of restaurants/shopping, lots of museums, arts centers, concerts, and Spring Training in March with all ballparks being within a 45 minute drive.

As far as wind and dust goes we found AZ to have more of both but in both locations I think it will depend on the park you choose. In the Valley if you choose a park surrounded by open areas or farm fields you will have a lot of dust. If you choose a park surrounded by city or a lot of trees and tropical vegetation it won't be an issue.

Stay away from RV parks/resorts around Luke Air Force near El Mirage west of Phoneix because of the deafing noise of the jets taking off and landing.

BarbaraOK wrote:


Ate dirty/dust every day when we spent part of the winter in the RGV and we don't do beer bashes and potlucks. Turns out Arizona desert, especially around Phoenix, is great place to spend the winter. Loads of restaurants/shopping, lots of museums, arts centers, concerts, and Spring Training in March with all ballparks being within a 45 minute drive.

As far as wind and dust goes we found AZ to have more of both but in both locations I think it will depend on the park you choose. In the Valley if you choose a park surrounded by open areas or farm fields you will have a lot of dust. If you choose a park surrounded by city or a lot of trees and tropical vegetation it won't be an issue.

Once covid is over consider San Carlos or Kino Bay in Mexico, good full service parks and cheaper. Or Rocky Point. No vehicle permits required for any of those.

magicbus wrote:
I keep looking for a beach in AZ but haven’t seen one yet. Can’t turn around in Florida without tripping over one. All depends on what you’re after. We happen to like the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

Dave

Colorado River have beaches all along it. Numerous lakes in Arizona also have beaches. No salt water places if that is what you want. We spent one winter in Florida - bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs everywhere. Plus the huge quantity of people coming from all over the east coast - short tempered, 'entitled' acting, plus businesses/Floridians that want the tourist dollars but not the tourists. Reminded me of Vermont - if you haven't been there for 400yrs, just leave your money, take your picture AND LEAVE.

Ate dirty/dust every day when we spent part of the winter in the RGV and we don't do beer bashes and potlucks. Turns out Arizona desert, especially around Phoenix, is great place to spend the winter. Loads of restaurants/shopping, lots of museums, arts centers, concerts, and Spring Training in March with all ballparks being within a 45 minute drive.