I spent 6 weeks in FLA 2 years ago and am planning on making it 8 weeks this Feb + Mar. I read another thread where many switched from FL to AZ & like it better. I like FL because I fish and the ocean is right there, and AZ is further from me. But, I am interested in learning more about AZ (I have relatives & friends in Tucson). What is better about AZ?

steveh27 wrote:I spent 6 weeks in FLA 2 years ago and am planning on making it 8 weeks this Feb + Mar. I read another thread where many switched from FL to AZ & like it better. I like FL because I fish and the ocean is right there, and AZ is further from me. But, I am interested in learning more about AZ (I have relatives & friends in Tuscon). What is better about AZ?1. Feb. and March is the high seson for snow birders because of the weather and spring training baseball. Reservations have to be made 6 or more months in advance for the larger rv parks offering a lot of amenities, pool, golf, tennis, pickle ball etc. 2. Ariz. typically around the 75 deg. mark.3. There is some fresh water fishing in Ariz.4. the nearest ocean fishing is in Rocky point in Baja Mex. about 8 hrs. away.5. Ariz. has many points of interest i.e. museums, botanical gardens , many shopping malls for the wife and of course about 11 Spring training baseball parks allowing you to see MLB teams play every day.6. a numer of Casinos

I would search for either one in the Snowbirds category and read on.

Stayed at both...like both. Biggest difference is water (a real pro for FL) and cost (AZ is much cheaper). AZ has a lot less traffic too.

We towed the condo to FL last Feb and folks were shocked that we didn't stay in AZ. Apparently they thought AZ was no different than FL for the winter. Me? I live in Tucson (not Tuscon) and prefer FL.

If ocean fishing is your thing then you wouldn't like Arizona. If hiking and enjoying far off vistas without buildings or people around, you'll love Arizona. Arizona has many golf courses, tennis and now, pickleball is a big thing at most parks. The weather is awesome in Feb/March but can be very nice in other winter months - today will be 80 but the weekend will drop to the 60's. However, it is rare that the sun doesn't shine and that's important for winter. It can be in the 30's at night but by 9-10am you could be in shorts. Winter is not typically a windy season nor is it the rainy season. Snakes are hibernating so you won't see one. You won't be bothered by bugs. Birds are plentiful. We're from Michigan but Arizona is now our favorite state. Our last trip to Florida was one November and we planned to stay the season. We couldn't stand the bugs and humidity and we left within the week. We've tried Florida other times but it's just not for us. Obviously, many like it because it's crowded.There are lakes in southern Arizona and they are stocked with trout in the winter. The state parks are awesome - scenic and clean. Big rigs fit in them with no problem. The greater Phoenix area has many Maricopa County parks with campgrounds and electric/water. They're extremely popular so reservations now are a must. They have lush vegetation. You won't find better surroundings and camping in the Phoenix area than Lost Dutchman State Park with lakes nearby. Tucson has Catalina State Park - beautiful.It just boils down to what kinds of activities you want.... and if you want SUN and no bugs. :)

FLA vs AZ | Good Sam Community

BarbaraOK
Explorer
Dec 22, 2016
pawatt wrote:

I strongly disagree with your assessment of South Texas.

Dirt isn't blowing from Jan through April as the fields are plowed?

How many world class museums are there (anything like the Heard
Museum or Musical Instrument Museum), how many large and medium performing arts centers, how many visual arts centers, science centers/museums?

How many superb restaurants - not just grill or Mexican?

TCP, major league sports, Spring Training, etc.

We spent 1 winter all along the RGV valley. Only good thing was going to Big Bend as we left in the early spring. Going over the bridge into Progresso isn't my idea of shopping/restaurants/wonderful day. We geocache the area, visited the small museums, looked for great restaurants (found none) and visited with friends. During the whole time what we saw was that people like going there to visit with friends, have continuing patio parties (how their liver survives is beyond me), and go across the Rio Grande for cheap drugs, and somewhat cheaper monthly rates. Not idea of what we would want for our winter.

Barb
pawatt
Explorer
Dec 21, 2016
BarbaraOK wrote:
We spent one winter in Florida. Didn't like the bugs - way to many, didn't like the attitude of "oh ****, the snowbirds are here - just leave your money and get out of our way", did I mention the bugs, didn't like the poor quality of seafood restaurants, which is strange when you realize they are surrounded by sea; did I mention the bugs. Spent another winter in the RGV - some bugs, blowing dirt from all of the farming area, some cold days, blowing dirt (thick enough to chew), nothing in terms of cultural arts, concerts, great shopping, etc.

We spent several winters wandering around Arizona before we settled on Mesa - just has everything we want. Great access to performing arts, great shopping, great restaurants, fantastic museums, universities, 20 minutes and we're up in the mountains, sun from October to April, shorts most if the winter, great medical care (tht becomes more important as one ages), and SPRING TRAINING with 12 major league teams playing all within 45 min drives at the most from each other. Life is good.:C

Barb

I strongly disagree with your assessment of South Texas.
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Dec 21, 2016
We spent one winter in Florida. Didn't like the bugs - way to many, didn't like the attitude of "oh ****, the snowbirds are here - just leave your money and get out of our way", did I mention the bugs, didn't like the poor quality of seafood restaurants, which is strange when you realize they are surrounded by sea; did I mention the bugs. Spent another winter in the RGV - some bugs, blowing dirt from all of the farming area, some cold days, blowing dirt (thick enough to chew), nothing in terms of cultural arts, concerts, great shopping, etc.

We spent several winters wandering around Arizona before we settled on Mesa - just has everything we want. Great access to performing arts, great shopping, great restaurants, fantastic museums, universities, 20 minutes and we're up in the mountains, sun from October to April, shorts most if the winter, great medical care (tht becomes more important as one ages), and SPRING TRAINING with 12 major league teams playing all within 45 min drives at the most from each other. Life is good.:C

Barb
GoPackGo
Explorer
Dec 21, 2016
I spent a winter in Phoenix and have now spent 3 in Florida.

Arizona is definitely cheaper. Nice sunny days with no clouds. I liked the desert as a change of pace.

It is definitely warmer in Florida in winter (south of I-4). I got tired of not seeing anything 'green' in Arizona. And you can't beat watching the sun set over the Gulf or heading down to the Keys.
Us_out_West
Explorer
Dec 15, 2016
Mike Boutet wrote:
Ivylog wrote:
November is too early to go to south Fla, heck the highs for the next week in WPB are 80+ and lows in the low 70s. Come Christmas and Jan/Feb the average 76/58 temps are hard to beat without gale force winds.

Is it windy Az?

All about Arizona.
Mike_Boutet
Explorer
Dec 15, 2016
Ivylog wrote:
November is too early to go to south Fla, heck the highs for the next week in WPB are 80+ and lows in the low 70s. Come Christmas and Jan/Feb the average 76/58 temps are hard to beat without gale force winds.

Is it windy Az?
Ivylog
Explorer III
Dec 14, 2016
November is too early to go to south Fla, heck the highs for the next week in WPB are 80+ and lows in the low 70s. Come Christmas and Jan/Feb the average 76/58 temps are hard to beat without gale force winds.
steveh27
Explorer
Dec 14, 2016
Thanks everyone for your replies. I was in AZ 30 years ago & know what the weather is. I may go there sometime, but think FL for Feb and MArch is good for me. I enjoyed it 2 years ago although they had a week of record highs which were a bit hotter than I like. I'll probably visit 2 cousins in Lantana & Ft Lauderdale, then go to the Keys were a buddy should let me park for a week and might have a chance to go out on his boat. Then to the everglades again to stay for a week or two just for the warmth and isolation, then on to the SE corner of Tampa bay for a couple weeks. I saw 2 spring training games 2 years ago & hope to see more. I may try to charter a boat for a few half days on the Atlantic side targeting wahoo, dolphin, king mackerel, etc.

This is not expensive as the Senior pass gets me half off in the glades camp and the camp nearer to Tampa gives senior discounts too.
JohnnyPaul
Explorer
Dec 14, 2016
Leaving the U.P. soon and heading south and west. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, "Nobody goes to Florida anymore, it's too crowded".
lbrjet
Explorer
Dec 14, 2016
I lived outside Tampa for five years and now live outside Phoenix. The desert is something you have to experience in person to have any idea of what it is like. We like the desert better, but some people don't. The average high in the winter is 65 and Tampa was 70 so it is a little cooler here.

Forum Discussion

FLA vs AZ

About Campground 101

Related Content

Safest Route Tucson, AZ to Brookings, Or.

frostproof fla

Fla Keys

titleing in fla

Quartzite AZ