Winter Snow Birding in Florida

Florida wasn't up to par this year but it was far from terrible.
We still went to the beaches and the only complaint I had this year was
it seemed to be a little more windy than usual.
But the gulf water for March and April was beautiful, ran around 68 for March and upward from there up to 78 when we left on May 1st.
No matter what I'm not giving up my spot in Cortez to try anywhere else at this point, it's too hard to get that close to the beaches anywhere south of Tampa.

Sher

silversand wrote:
Reading the OP's responses carefully, the OP is really an ocean-front kinda guy (like us).

We're experimenting with Florida snowbirding, and the following are our observations thus far (including this past "winter" in Florida):

-the Atlantic-side and Gulf-side water temperatures are Arctic-like over most of the winter season north of Ft Myers (Gulf) and Miami (Atlantic); we sampled the waters this winter, and I almost froze my feet just north of Cape Canaveral and in the Cedar Key region (I mean stone-cold numb in ~20 seconds or less)

-when you are established sea-side, the winter oceanic winds are bloody cold 'll tell you in Florida north of the above discussion (we had to wear Pertex winter expedition jackets ~40% of the time walking the beaches against terrific cold damp winds when they were blowing from over the salt water on to shore!)

-we had the massive heater (60,000+ BTU) CRANKED at the ocean-front condo just north of the Orlando latitudes during part of January and most of February (I couldn't even imagine being in an RV anywhere near the ocean from Naples/Miami on north; if you do park an RV close to the ocean/Gulf north of the aforesaid locales, bring lots of money for propane and/or electricity for heat, and make SURE that your furnace is in exceptional condition, and bring spare electric blankets!)

-the Florida Panhandle this past winter (and I mean from Cedar Key on North(!!) could only be equated to deep Fall in Northern Vermont (I couldn't EVER imagine dumping off the DW in the Panhandle over winter, to return home from a commute to a pile of divorce papers awaiting me).

Some say that this winter (both in the RGV region of Texas, and MOST of Florida) was anomalous; I say: just investigate the past 6 years of temperature choropleth maps at NOAA for regions north of Naples/Miami/Ft Lauderdale, and they may convince you that this "Polar Vortex" situation will be with us to stay for the rest of our natural lives (some winters may be moderate in Florida and the RGV, and the next season may be a hellacious Arctic onslaught far into the deep south).

So, concluding, our experience tells us that even toying with wintering at the latitude of Ft Myers could be iffy; I mean if you are spending the BIG BUCKS to winter ocean-front, why gamble it on ANYTHING but a sure thing! Perhaps yours and my idea of shorts and T-shirt weather criteria may differ somewhat? My idea of S & T weather wouldn't include ANY locale north of Key Largo or Marco Island latitudes...that is for sure.

This has been our experience; your mileage may vary based on your criteria of what "warm weather" means to you...

Good luck!
Silver-

Winters are like a "box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get"
Last winter in Florida, I was in Palmetto, the Winter was fantastic, went swimming at Venice Beach, DeSoto state park, water was great. I alway monitor the weather in three places, that Winter Florida had better weather than South Texas, and Yuma, winter weather in Yuma was alful that Winter.
This Winter I went to Yuma, you could not ask for better weather, infact, early March we were getting into the low 90's for a few days. While South Texas wasn't worth bragging about and Florida was terrible.
But where ever you go, any of these three, it has got to be better than up North.

We stay in Buttonwood Inlet RV Resort in Cortez, it's about an hour south of Tampa.
Sure we have cool days but generally it warms up pretty quick and we wear shorts all winter.
We usually swim from late October when we get there up to the new year, sure January can be iffy almost anyplace in the state but we usually have many beach days. We have even had a couple of winters where we still were in the Gulf in Jan and Feb too.
My point being that every winter is different, some are better than others but every winter we are down there is better than anything New York has to offer.

Sher

Reading the OP's responses carefully, the OP is really an ocean-front kinda guy (like us).

We're experimenting with Florida snowbirding, and the following are our observations thus far (including this past "winter" in Florida):

-the Atlantic-side and Gulf-side water temperatures are Arctic-like over most of the winter season north of Ft Myers (Gulf) and Miami (Atlantic); we sampled the waters this winter, and I almost froze my feet just north of Cape Canaveral and in the Cedar Key region (I mean stone-cold numb in ~20 seconds or less)

-when you are established sea-side, the winter oceanic winds are bloody cold 'll tell you in Florida north of the above discussion (we had to wear Pertex winter expedition jackets ~40% of the time walking the beaches against terrific cold damp winds when they were blowing from over the salt water on to shore!)

-we had the massive heater (60,000+ BTU) CRANKED at the ocean-front condo just north of the Orlando latitudes during part of January and most of February (I couldn't even imagine being in an RV anywhere near the ocean from Naples/Miami on north; if you do park an RV close to the ocean/Gulf north of the aforesaid locales, bring lots of money for propane and/or electricity for heat, and make SURE that your furnace is in exceptional condition, and bring spare electric blankets!)

-the Florida Panhandle this past winter (and I mean from Cedar Key on North(!!) could only be equated to deep Fall in Northern Vermont (I couldn't EVER imagine dumping off the DW in the Panhandle over winter, to return home from a commute to a pile of divorce papers awaiting me).

Some say that this winter (both in the RGV region of Texas, and MOST of Florida) was anomalous; I say: just investigate the past 6 years of temperature choropleth maps at NOAA for regions north of Naples/Miami/Ft Lauderdale, and they may convince you that this "Polar Vortex" situation will be with us to stay for the rest of our natural lives (some winters may be moderate in Florida and the RGV, and the next season may be a hellacious Arctic onslaught far into the deep south).

So, concluding, our experience tells us that even toying with wintering at the latitude of Ft Myers could be iffy; I mean if you are spending the BIG BUCKS to winter ocean-front, why gamble it on ANYTHING but a sure thing! Perhaps yours and my idea of shorts and T-shirt weather criteria may differ somewhat? My idea of S & T weather wouldn't include ANY locale north of Key Largo or Marco Island latitudes...that is for sure.

This has been our experience; your mileage may vary based on your criteria of what "warm weather" means to you...

Good luck!
Silver-

Crabbypatty wrote:
Yup want tshirts, shorts and an adult beverage when I arrive. Looking for beach front with a sunset view. Thanks for the input on Red Coconut. Might be to tight. But when Im over the road I try to pick sites with some sort of view. Not that I dont mind looking at the side of my neighbor but a view is relaxing. I do agree that I might make this res sooner than later. Any other suggestions from the pan handle to the keys Gulf Coast really cherry rv parks?

Thanks

I checked out the Red Coconut, it is tight, but I would never pay that price they are asking, if I were to pay that kind of money I would go to Naples or Key West. Besides, I bet they are booked up already.
Last year I stopped to check out Butternut inlet rv park in Cortez, Fl. great location less than a mile to the beach, you walk over the bridge and your there. Lots go for around $1,000-$1,100. they had a 3 page waiting list. Imagine, putting your name on the list, going home and hope they call, if they don't you out of luck, so I would believer the Red Coconut is already booked and has been for a while.
I like the Tampa, Lakeland, Winter Haven area, a lot cheaper and lots to do.

Yup want tshirts, shorts and an adult beverage when I arrive. Looking for beach front with a sunset view. Thanks for the input on Red Coconut. Might be to tight. But when Im over the road I try to pick sites with some sort of view. Not that I dont mind looking at the side of my neighbor but a view is relaxing. I do agree that I might make this res sooner than later. Any other suggestions from the pan handle to the keys Gulf Coast really cherry rv parks?

Thanks

If I am going to spend my money to go south I want to see warm weather, T shirt and shorts weather to have this you must get south of Lake Okeechobee ,

Crabbypatty wrote:
Thanks for thre replies and placing this post in the right place! I am looking to put the rig on the waterfront for the winter. The gulf coast I saw something called Red Coconut in Ft Meyers. I need to be near an airport so I can leave the DW behind and fly up for work and back. Any other thouths would be appreciative

The Red Coconut Campground is a great location right on the beach in Ft. Myers Beach, and not too far from the Ft. Myers airport. The beach is beautiful, and the park management and staff are nice, but the sites are really tight - they park your trailer for you using a tractor - and, being on the beach, it is pricey. If you want to be on the beach side of the street (as opposed to the larger area across the street from the beach) it books up way in advance.

Ft. Myers Beach has plenty to do, but really gets crowded during the season. The main drag is pretty much gridlocked from late morning to late evening ....

I like T shirt and shorts weather, to have that most of the time you must be south of Lake Okeechobee in the months of Jan and Feb

Do you need beach? More $
How warm? South is warm, but more $
We have been staying in the middle, around the I-4 area. Far enough south, for us. 1 hr to Gulf, 1 1/2 hr to Atlantic. Cost is MUCH lower.
But, if you want warmer and closer to beach, go for it.

Too many variables you left out.