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sunblade50's avatar
sunblade50
Explorer
Oct 11, 2014

Looking for a place to winter

Hi All:

I am going to be retiring in March. We currently have a park home at Lighthouse Village in Homer MI. What I am looking for is something similar, park home, cabin, etc. that is within a 14 hr. driving radius possibly GA, AL, Tennessee, SC, NC. I don't mind if it's a little cold in the winter, just want to get away from the snow.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
  • We stumbled on Lostbayrv, it is a KOA, first winter we retired. It is Alabama near Pensacola Florida. Has lots of trees so we didn't get homesick for Michigan trees and it is on the bay with water. Not as warm as further south. Lots of activities if interested. Friendly people and good price.
    http://www.lostbayrv.net
  • Foley, AL. 7 miles from Gulf Shores. Anchors Aweigh RV Resort. Good rates, great facilities. Lots of Micigan folks
  • Merrykalia wrote:
    Just a word of caution - GA and AL don't get much snow, but they do get ice! I would rather deal with 2' of snow than 1/2" of ice.


    There is a large portion of GA that does not get ice in winter. The eastern half of the state doesn't get ice. We live in Brunswick, GA which is just a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean. In 7 winters here, we've never had ice. The last time it snowed here was 1989. From what I've been told from some of my neighbors that have lived here all their lives, they've never seen ice like folks in the western half of the state get.

    That being said, Coastal GA RV Resort and Blythe Island Regional Park and Campground are both popular with snowbirds. In Brunswick, the coldest day time temps we've experienced in the last 7 winters was 38 degrees. Usually it is in the upper 40s - low 50s at the coldest part of the winter (usually late January - mid February). However, there have been plenty of early winter days with temps in the upper 70s - low 80s.

    -Michael
  • Myrtle Beach area and Gulf Shores Al and Jacksonville Fl would be good areas to explore.
  • If Texas interests you I suggest looking at Retama Village, Bentsen Palm Village Resort, Green Gate Grove or many others in the Rio Grande Valley area, Far warmer than the areas you mention.
  • I am not looking to rent but to buy. As far as the ice or snow, neither one is a problem for me as it disappears in a day or two. Being that I will be retired by then, I am not going to be all that worried about being a shut in for a few days! No, after last years winter which was the worst winter in recorded history for our area, what is a half of an inch of ice or two or three inches of snow.
    The problem I am having is trying to find campgrounds that have permanent sites that we can winter in. That would be November to April. I am even willing to look at places in the Carolinas and Tennessee.
  • Once upon a time, we left warm, sunny Florida before the month of May, and spent two days stranded in South Carolina waiting for the ice to melt.

    If your idea of an idyllic snowbird destination where you can lounge outside (under an umbrella or not) with a book in one hand and a cold one in the other (Try that in the windy RGV. Ha!), then Florida south of Lake Okeechobee is the place for you.

    We like Imperial Bonita Estates so much that we spend most of the year there and now refer to central Pennsyvania as our "summer place."
  • Merrykalia wrote:
    Just a word of caution - GA and AL don't get much snow, but they do get ice! I would rather deal with 2' of snow than 1/2" of ice. It can be driven in so much better. When Michigan gets a foot of snow, things go on as normal. When Atlanta gets 1" of snow, things shut down! Either go further south, like on the Gulf or head to FL.


    X10! :B
  • Just a word of caution - GA and AL don't get much snow, but they do get ice! I would rather deal with 2' of snow than 1/2" of ice. It can be driven in so much better. When Michigan gets a foot of snow, things go on as normal. When Atlanta gets 1" of snow, things shut down! Either go further south, like on the Gulf or head to FL.
  • Belle Parc RV Resort in Brooksville FL

    http://belleparcrvresorts.com/park-model-rental.aspx

    you didn't say how much you wanted to spend. Woodalls has a listing of places that have park models for rent.
    http://www.woodalls.com/Park-Models-For-Sale.aspx

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