Park recommendations?

5rdriver wrote:
Are most of the parks filled up during the winter season or are there enough spaces available that we could come for a week or two just to look around without advance reservations?

There are usually open sites at most parks. Pick a park that you think you'd like and give them a call. Coming down for a look around at first is a good idea.
We're headed that way next Tuesday,12-15. You're welcome to follow us to the Valley.

If you get into one of the big parks in the 'valley' you'll probably be talking to folks who are going to do a day trip to nearby Progresso Mexico. Ask them if you...and your wife...can tag along to observe the 'know hows' of crossing the border. Have a nice lunch and a margarita, shop a little, buy some medications if you need them and you'll have a great day. I can guarantee that your new friends will welcome you along. Then you can both see for yourselves that Progresso is a lively, fun town where you'll also see thousands of fellow 'valley' RVers visiting. It's absolutely safe.

For a few years in a row there I would bump into another snowbird couple in a park north of Austin each fall on both our flights south. He was a wood worker, and really enjoyed his southern winter TX park. I think it was this one:

RGV park.

Good Luck, and there are many parks with openings from what I can tell. It's a very smart idea to not book long term, but to see for yourself what is being offered.

Thanks for all the replys.

Are most of the parks filled up during the winter season or are there enough spaces available that we could come for a week or two just to look around without advance reservations?

We have been coming to the RGV for many years and feel totally safe. This year we are going to FL just because we have not been there for a long time. That is why we travel with an rv so we can see different things. I have seen some statistics showing that the murder rates are much lower in the RGV then a lot of other area that are popular with snow birds.

Teacher's Pet has a relative who used to spend every winter there. We have visited them there and it's a nice park with nice people. They have been known for their Rock n Roll jam there. Sadly, we heard the Canadian couple who ran it were killed in an RV accident on their way home last year. So I'm not sure they still have that Jam, although they do have a country Jam. There are other Jams in the valley and you can visit any of them. I would suggest if/when you come to rent a spot for a week and visit other parks in the area, then you can decide where you want to stay. You might want to do a week at many different parks to see what they have to offer. There is plenty of availability.

Dale

Yeah I've talked to enough people about it that I have no reservations about the RGV area but like I said she's a little paranoid. It's just her nature. If I ever get her down there she'll probably get over it.
I've been looking at a park called Canyon Lake RV Resort in Mission on the Web that looks pretty nice. Anyone familiar with it?

Certainly no one spending the winter in the valley has had any "horror" stories of life down here. Everything is normal, just as it is in Corpus, etc.

Are there illegals coming across the border? Well, yes. Are they raping and pillaging in our retirement parks? NO! We don't see them. That is not a reason for not coming to the valley. We have great weather. This year has been spectacular down here, lots of activities and festivals for entertainment. Parks have lots of different activities and you can stay very busy if you like.

Our park is gated, but the gates are open during the day. We don't have any problems with security, etc. Lots going on, great restaurants, etc. I enjoy sitting out after dark (no bugs) and feeling the gentle breeze, reading, or just watching the walkers and bike riders go by. Very safe to be out any time of the day or night. Nothing to fear.

Corpus is nice as well, but I think our weather is a bit better in the Rio Grande Valley. Why not try it out?

Dale

We would recommend the Rockport area and I would be making reservations for next year by the first of the year. The area has gotten super popular and most folks will be reserving when they leave this spring! Not sure about resorts with wood shops?? But the amenities should list these items on their various web pages. Like to visit the Corpus Christi area, but would not stay there.

http://www.rockportrvparks.com/

http://www.rockport-fulton.org/

My in-laws have been in the area during the winter almost 30 years, due to their advanced ages this year they didn't venture south. We have been coming to the same park that they own in now for 10 years. We own our lot and are 3 miles from the border west of Mission on I-2/US83. We are in a gated community as many are here in "The Valley". When people cross the border the last thing they do is hang around here. They head north asap, The Border Patrol catches some at check points on US77 and US281 about 60 miles north of The Rio Grande.
You will see Border Patrol vehicles just about anywhere on I-10 and south, so if she is concerned about "US non-residents" being in the area, it's going to greatly limit your options for warm weather. We do not cross the border any more. At one time we would cross a couple times per month, but not in the past 3-4 years. BTW way the weather has been great since we got here in early November, the best we've had in the past two years. The low last night was 64°, now at 11AM it's 78° and breezy. The high temps have been in the mid-80's for the past week or so.